A tourist in Vienna is going through a graveyard and all of a sudden he hears some music. No one is around so he starts searching for the source. He finally discovers that it is coming from a grave with a headstone that reads :
“Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770 - 1827”.
Then he realises that the music is the Ninth Symphony, and it is being played backwards. Puzzled, he leaves the graveyard and persuades a friend to return with him.
By the time they arrive back at the grave, the music has changed. This time it is the Seventh Symphony, but like the previous piece, it is being played backwards. Curious, the men agree to consult a music scholar.
When they return with the music scholar, the Fifth Symphony is playing, again backwards. The expert scholar notices that the symphonies are all being played in the reverse order in which they were composed. The Ninth, then the Seventh, then the Fifth.
By the next day the word has spread, and a throng are gathered around the grave.
Just as they are all listening to the Second Symphony being played backwards, the graveyard’s Caretaker ambles up to the group.
Someone in the crowd asks him if he has an explanation for the music.
The Caretaker turns to the crowd and says incredulously, “Don’t you get it?”
“HE’S DECOMPOSING!”
“Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770 - 1827”.
Then he realises that the music is the Ninth Symphony, and it is being played backwards. Puzzled, he leaves the graveyard and persuades a friend to return with him.
By the time they arrive back at the grave, the music has changed. This time it is the Seventh Symphony, but like the previous piece, it is being played backwards. Curious, the men agree to consult a music scholar.
When they return with the music scholar, the Fifth Symphony is playing, again backwards. The expert scholar notices that the symphonies are all being played in the reverse order in which they were composed. The Ninth, then the Seventh, then the Fifth.
By the next day the word has spread, and a throng are gathered around the grave.
Just as they are all listening to the Second Symphony being played backwards, the graveyard’s Caretaker ambles up to the group.
Someone in the crowd asks him if he has an explanation for the music.
The Caretaker turns to the crowd and says incredulously, “Don’t you get it?”
“HE’S DECOMPOSING!”