Alexander the Great vs. Beethoven

I've noticed people like to make comparisons, so I'd like to have your opinion on the question if Beethoven was a better composer than Alexander was a general?

Or alternatively, would Beethoven have been a better general than Alexander a composer? If Alexander would have written music, how would it have sounded? And how would Beethoven have tried to defeat Darius?

Beethoven began mastering his art at age 4, Alexander in his mid teens. It is easy to see who is more precocious.

Beethoven would play his music and Darius would have his head chopped off. Alexander was one of the greatest generals in history, that trumps any composition ever written....

Beethoven, no contest. It's a choice between creation and destruction... easy.

It's a draw.

I read that Alexander's unfinished symphony was a work of pure genius. Especially the last movement of the climactic finale where the conductor leaps into the audience and proclaims to the MET ticket holders, " I hearby rename this auditorium as Alexander's Metropolitan Opera".

Beethoven would have made quite the proud generalissimo of his day. One can visualize him burning Persepolis while muttering 'Ode An die Freude'.

Originally posted by Adalwolf Originally posted by Aelfgifu Beethoven, no contest. It's a choice between creation and destruction... easy. Alexander created an empire...

He also destroyed a few empires.

What use is an Empire to anyone but him? Beethovens work we can still enjoy, Alexanders work was gone as soon as himself. I was not even a lasting Empire. Flimsy excuse.

Originally posted by Aelfgifu What use is an Empire to anyone but him? Beethovens work we can still enjoy, Alexanders work was gone as soon as himself. I was not even a lasting Empire. Flimsy excuse.

Well right now since we are all so civilized we say Beethoven, back then people would have picked Alexander over 10 of the best Thracian singers the ancient world ever had.