Beethoven and Bread: Timeless Nourishment for the Soul
By Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim
Bread is more than food. Across cultures, it has symbolized life, ritual, and connection. It is what we break to gather at the table, what we share to sustain one another. Out of the simplest ingredients — flour, water, salt, and time — comes something that transcends simplicity.
For me, both bread and rice are comfort foods. Rice connects me to my Korean roots — the daily anchor of every meal growing up. Bread, on the other hand, has always felt equally nourishing in a different way, something I reach for when I want warmth, simplicity, and comfort. They may come from different traditions, but both hold the same meaning: sustenance, care, and community.
Beethoven as Nourishment
Beethoven’s music holds that same power. Built from the smallest motifs, his sonatas rise into works that carry the weight of humanity itself. Like bread or rice, his music nourishes us in ways both physical and spiritual — sustaining, comforting, and eternal.
The first movement of the “Moonlight” Sonata has always reminded me of this timeless quality. Its steady triplets move like the quiet rhythm of breathing, or like dough rising, or rice simmering gently in a pot — alive, patient, full of hidden strength. Beneath its calm surface lies a depth of longing and tenderness that resonates across centuries.
It is music that, like bread and rice, endures.
The Beethoven 32 Project
Looking ahead, I am honored to be leading a monumental celebration: the Beethoven 32 Project in 2026. To mark the bicentennial of Beethoven’s passing in 1827, I proposed an event where thirty-two pianists come together to perform all thirty-two of his piano sonatas.
Each pianist will bring their own voice to a single sonata, and together we will weave a complete cycle — a living tribute to Beethoven’s genius.
This project is truly a work of community. Though I am organizing, producing, and fundraising for it, what excites me most is how many hearts have already joined in — pianists, audiences, and supporters all eager to make it a reality.
Just as bread gathers people at the table, Beethoven’s sonatas have gathered us across time and place, inviting us to share something that nourishes both spirit and soul.
Listen & Reflect
Here is my performance of the Moonlight Sonata, Op. 27 No. 2, first movement.
May it remind you that what is essential is never plain — it is eternal.
Bonus: Piano Teaching Insight
Curious about how I teach and think through the music? Here’s a glimpse into my teaching process:
👉 Watch the Piano Teaching Video
