Every day after lunch, Beethoven put a pencil and some paper in his pocket and set out on a long, vigorous walk into the woods around Vienna. RNZ Concert's Cynthia Morahan has also become a devotee of the daily nature walk.
Beethoven's walk in nature, by Julius Schmid. Photo: Public Domain
I have been taking a daily walk in the wild for a couple of years now. I'm lucky enough to live close to a skyline walk and some beautiful native bush. It started out as a bit of exercise, but has turned into more of a ritual.
Unlike Beethoven, the chances of any ground-breaking symphonies coming out of my walks are pretty slim, but I treasure the solitary time. I find solutions to problems, my mood is always improved and occasionally, racing the dog on the way down is a hilarious highlight.
A scene from Cynthia Morahan's favourite walk Photo: Cynthia Morahan
Send us your photo of the nature walk that inspires you and you could win a box set of Beethoven Symphonies. We'll also add some of the entries to this story, so check back here to watch the Nature Walk take shape!
Click here to enter our NZ Nature Walk Photo Contest.
We'll draw the winner after the 5pm news on Friday, 5 June.
Cynthia's Walking Playlist
Handel's Va Col Canto, from Clori, Tirsi E Fileno Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (mezzo)
Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata in A minor D821 (1)
Maurizio Cazzati's Ciaccona
BEETHOVEN: Benedictus, from Mass in C Op 86
This Friday The Beethoven Pastoral Project invites us to think about our relationship with nature through music, and this year in partnership with the United Nations, World Environment Day (5 June), has been dubbed "Beethoven Pastoral Day".
