LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

BY : TY CRAGUN

“A crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and

Romantic eras” (wikipedia, 1)

Background

Ludwig van Beethoven played an important role in the transition of eras.

His music was inspiring, essentially tragic, compelling, and often times breathtaking; giving it a feeling of romance and power.

The music he composed was different from that of other famous composers in the way it was composed, played, and the way that it sounded, making Beethoven a popular figure in his time and in ours.

He composed music that had emphasis and power despite the great odds that he faced in his life.

Beethoven also had many instructors throughout his life that formed him into the great musician and composer we know today.

Early Life

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany on 16 December 1770 to parents Johann van Beethoven and Maria Magadelena Keverich.

The first influential teacher in Beethoven’s life was his father who had an extensive musical background as a tenor and a piano teacher.

At an early age he learned the skill of playing many instruments including the piano, organ and violin.

Early Life

His first public performance was in March 1778 at the age of seven (wikipedia, 2).

Other key teachers in his life included Gilles van den Eeden, Tobias Feriedrich Pfeiffer, and Franz Rovantini who was a close personal relative.

These influential leaders in his life prepared him for his life in Vienna where he would learn from others and expand on his ability to write, compose and play music.

Vienna

In Vienna in the early 1790’s Beethoven had the fortunate opportunity to study with Joesph Haydn who at the time was a legend and well-known musician. During this period he also advanced his knowledge and skills of playing instruments and composing music through the guidance of other skillful instructors. Vienna proved to be a place where Beethoven could establish himself among the most noble of people.

Vienna

He had many opportunities to play in public settings and publish various arrangements, which proved to be very lucrative and increased his social status. He eventually influenced the upper class and won them over with his romantic, moody, and mercurial image (best piano lessons, 2). He eventually obtained a social status among those of Viennese nobility.

Accomplishments

Throughout his career Beethoven composed a number of pieces including: one opera called Fidelio, 32 piano sonatas along with shorter pieces which included composites of some of his other works, works including piano accompaniment such as, ten violin sonatas, five cello, a sonata for French horn, 16 string quartets, five string quintets, seven piano trios, five string trios, more than a dozen combinations for wind instruments, and a significant amount of chamber music.

Early Period

The pieces of the early period include works such as the first and second symphonies. Also during this period he composed a set of six string quartets Opus 18, the first two piano concertos and the first dozen or so piano sonatas, including the famous Pathetique sonata, Opus 13 (wikipedia, 8).

Middle Period

In the middle period he composed such pieces as symphonies 3-8 and the last three piano concertos. He composed numbers 7-11 of string quartets and several others piano sonatas. During this period he also composed is only opera, Fidelio.

Late Period

The late period consisted of pieces such as the Ninth Symphony and the String Quartet, Opus 131.

Overcoming Trials

Beethoven is a hero to many. He achieved what most didn’t or couldn’t through immense trials and adversity.

During his early childhood Beethoven experienced great sorrow as he saw his family be torn apart by illness and addictions.

Out of seven children born to Johann and Maria only Ludwig and his two younger siblings survived infancy.

This means that at a very young age Beethoven suffered through the pains of losing loved ones.

Overcoming Trials

When he was just seventeen he experienced another tragedy when his mom died. This tragedy caused his dad to further involve himself in alcoholism. This left Beethoven to care for his two younger siblings, which was a great trial for him. However, dedicated as he was Beethoven was able to triumph over these odds and he continued his education in music and with the support of many was able to move to Vienna.

Overcoming Trials

At a later stage in his life he suffered another trial that would ultimately be the end of this beloved musician. At the climax of his career Beethoven began to notice changes in his hearing. The slight decline in his ability to hear worsened at a rapid pace causing him immense grief and depression. Despite losing his hearing Beethoven tried to communicate with his contemporaries and strived to communicate and even still compose music. Beethoven tried many things such as writing in notebooks and even trying to speak, but these would only give him solace for a period of time. By 1820 he was completely deaf and become a recluse.

Death

He died 7 years later. However, Beethoven’s music lives on and has become more popular in these later centuries. Tragedy did not stop this marvelous man nor could his death ruin his music. It lives on in every soul who listens to it and those who learn it and play it, honor it.

Conclusion

Ludwig van Beethoven was an amazing composer/musician. For this reason does his music echo in music halls and concerts still to this day. He was the pioneer of the Romantic era with his music that captivated the soul. He became an example for all those who would follow him and was not afraid to do things differently. He was a perfectionist and was very diligent in his methods to compose the perfect piece. If we don’t learn something from his music we can at least learn from him as a person. His music was very powerful and influential.

In Memory

He will forever be a fascinating composer for generations to come.

Listening guide Music Beethoven- Symphony no. 3 in E-flat major 0:00- Violins started out playing sixteenth notes at forte 0:25- Flutes begin to play the same theme as the violins did in the beginning 0:30- there was a brief crescendo then decrescendo 00:45- strong crescendo to return to theme. Played in ff 1:35- violins return to theme in forte 2:01- crescendo into variation b and was played in ff 2:42- French horns start a new theme 3:10- bass begins to play in background 3:30- rit. 3:35- speeds up to normal speed of piece 4:00- another rit. With the cello playing 4:20- return to first theme with the violins 4:50- cello plays low 5:00- crescendos into the original theme again 5:15-accents on quarter noted 5:49- piece closes with all instruments ends at 6:01

Listening guide music no.2 Beethoven’s Allegretto from the album String Quartets vol. 9 0:00- violin starts out piece with the bass in the back, violin plays

melody 0:10- tempo picks up to allegro to start the first variation 0:50- the violins start to play an octave higher 1:10- crescendo to forte 1:37- tempo returns to the original from the start 1:45- violins played a 4 count measure which was repeated by the

cellos while the violins rested for 4 counts. This occurred twice in a row. 1:55- cellos played solos for 20 secs. 2:28- crescendo here to return to the theme 2:45- speed up to allegretto once again 3:12- went back to normal speed 3:40- crescendo to mezzo forte 4:13- violins begin to play 32nd notes until 4:29 5:00- different variation starts until the end at 6:00

Works Cited

All About Beethoven, The Ode to Joy. Beethoven 9th symphony, 15 February 2010, < http://www.all-about-beethoven.com/symphony9.html >

Best Piano Lessons, Famous Composers, 15 February 2010. <www.bestpianolessons.com/piano-composers>

Wikipedia, Ludwig van Beethoven, 15 February 2010 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven >