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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Beethoven Connoisseur: Campbell resident Dr. Thomas Wendel, sits in front a replica of a Dulcken piano from around 1795.
Public Citizen
Beethoven Guru
By Moryt Milo
Campbell resident Dr. Thomas Wendel, one of the initial founders and current chairman of the executive board of the American Beethoven Society, says: "In America [San Jose State University] is the spot. You'd have to go to Bonn, Germany, and visit the Beethoven House to do better."
The Beethoven Center, established in 1983, is the "only institution in North America devoted solely to the life, works and accomplishments of Ludwig van Beethoven," according to the center's website. "Scholars from all over come to consult the first editions," says the 76-year-old retired professor and music lover.
He speaks with pride when stating, "We have the largest collection of published first editions in North America including the Library of Congress."
The center was established through a generous donation from Ira F. Brilliant, who donated his personal collection of published first editions to the university because his son lived in the area and had a close friend on the school's facility.
According to Dr. Beth Fleming, the center's administrative assistant and the society's membership secretary, the center houses one of the most unique composer databases in the world. It is the only composer bibliography database of its kind on the Internet, a project Wendel credits to the center's current director, Dr. William Meredith.
Wendel, who retired from teaching colonial history at San Jose State University in 1990, says the university "jumped on" the donation when it was offered. "People say [a Beethoven center] in San Jose," to which Wendel has an emphatic response, "Why not?"
As a young boy growing up in Oregon, Wendel was surrounded by music. His father would play opera tunes on the piano, whetting his and his brother's appetites before taking them to hear the opera company traveling through town.
Today, he still plays the piano and harpsichord. "I've been very involved in music all my life," says Wendel.
"I came to San Jose in 1964 and shortly thereafter got involved with the San Jose Symphony and was a board member from 1972-1987." In addition on and off he wrote the program notes for the symphony, the chamber music society and the Steinway's Bay Area website.
Wendel, a Campbell resident for more than 37 years, and his wife Charlotte, who passed away in 1994, were always looking for ways to enhance the arts in San Jose. He says his wife led a group to save the building, which houses the San Jose Museum of Art. "[My wife believed] an art museum would help anchor a new downtown," says Wendel. "She was very farseeing."
Nominated by Dr. Meredith for his contributions to the community, Wendel will be honored in San Francisco on Aug. 15, along with 25 other individuals at the Point of Light Celebration. "It's a very nice thing for the Beethoven Center," says Wendel.
With the society's membership at 300, Wendell says he would like to see the membership grow. "It seems to me something over 300 is sad for a figure as tremendous as Beethoven." But with the center slated to move in 2003 to its new home in the university's new library, Wendel is looking toward a future of heightened exposure.
The Beethoven center is open Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. Groups, schools and individuals interested in visiting the center can call 408.924.4590 or visit its website at www.sjsu.edu/depts/beethoven.
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Campbell, California
