Ludwig Van BeethovenLudwig Van Beethoven

1770-1827

Born in Bonn

Died in Vienna

1770-1827

Born in Bonn

Died in Vienna

LIFE-TIME-LINESLIFE-TIME-LINES

BEETHOVEN 1770-1827

MOZART 1756-1791

HAYDN 1732-1809

1750 1820

ChildhoodChildhood

Father and Grandfather were musicians.

Father was Ludwig’s first music teacher.

His father was an alcoholic

Supported his family as a child

Showed an interest in composing very early

Father and Grandfather were musicians.

Father was Ludwig’s first music teacher.

His father was an alcoholic

Supported his family as a child

Showed an interest in composing very early

“Louis van Beethoven… a boy of 11 years and a most promising talent. He plays the clavier very skillfully and with power, reads at sight very well… This youthful genius is deserving of help to enable him to travel. He would surely become a second Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were he to continue as he has begun.”

– Christian Gottlob Neefe

“Louis van Beethoven… a boy of 11 years and a most promising talent. He plays the clavier very skillfully and with power, reads at sight very well… This youthful genius is deserving of help to enable him to travel. He would surely become a second Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were he to continue as he has begun.”

– Christian Gottlob Neefe

Young adulthoodYoung adulthood

Beethoven went to Vienna, Austria to learn more about composing when he was 17. He played for Mozart

He had to return home when his mother died, and help raise his brothers.

Beethoven went to Vienna, Austria to learn more about composing when he was 17. He played for Mozart

He had to return home when his mother died, and help raise his brothers.

Return to ViennaReturn to Vienna

When Beethoven was 22 (1792), he moved to Austria and never returned to Germany.

He studied with Haydn

When Beethoven was 22 (1792), he moved to Austria and never returned to Germany.

He studied with Haydn

Beethoven and Money Beethoven and Money

made his living by:

selling compositions to publishers

giving piano concerts

1st musician to make a living almost exclusively through composition

made his living by:

selling compositions to publishers

giving piano concerts

1st musician to make a living almost exclusively through composition

His temperamentHis temperamentBeethoven was not easy to be around. He had a temper, and he was very demanding.

He would get lost in his own thoughts and would get impatient with others when they didn’t do what he thought they should do.

Beethoven was not easy to be around. He had a temper, and he was very demanding.

He would get lost in his own thoughts and would get impatient with others when they didn’t do what he thought they should do.

He criticized other musicians when they didn’t perform his pieces the way he wanted them to sound.

His whole life was very ‘stormy’ …there were many sad and discouraging times.

He criticized other musicians when they didn’t perform his pieces the way he wanted them to sound.

His whole life was very ‘stormy’ …there were many sad and discouraging times.

Beethoven’s ContractBeethoven’s Contract

“But as it has been demonstrated that only one when he is free from care as possible can devote himself to a single department of activity and create works of magnitude which are exalted and which ennoble art, the undersigned have decided to place Herr Ludwig van Beethoven in a position where the necessities of life shall not cause him embarrassment or clog his powerful genius.”

“But as it has been demonstrated that only one when he is free from care as possible can devote himself to a single department of activity and create works of magnitude which are exalted and which ennoble art, the undersigned have decided to place Herr Ludwig van Beethoven in a position where the necessities of life shall not cause him embarrassment or clog his powerful genius.”

Beethoven’s ContractBeethoven’s Contract

His Imperial Highness, Archduke Rudolph

1500 florins

The Highborn Prince Lobkowitz

700 florins

The Highborn Prince Ferdinand Kinsky

1800 Florins

Total…. 4000 florins (150,000 dollars)

His Imperial Highness, Archduke Rudolph

1500 florins

The Highborn Prince Lobkowitz

700 florins

The Highborn Prince Ferdinand Kinsky

1800 Florins

Total…. 4000 florins (150,000 dollars)

Beethoven’s ContractBeethoven’s Contract

All Beethoven had to do was to declare Vienna his home.”

It is good to walk among the aristocracy, but first you must MAKE them respect you.”

All Beethoven had to do was to declare Vienna his home.”

It is good to walk among the aristocracy, but first you must MAKE them respect you.”

Beethoven, the pianistBeethoven, the pianist

the most virtuosic in Europedazzling technique and powergenius improviser

a composermuch music for piano

piano is being developedcast iron frame (stronger, more powerful instrument)larger range (Beethoven wrote notes that were not on current pianos, then told manufacturers to build new instruments)

the most virtuosic in Europedazzling technique and powergenius improviser

a composermuch music for piano

piano is being developedcast iron frame (stronger, more powerful instrument)larger range (Beethoven wrote notes that were not on current pianos, then told manufacturers to build new instruments)

Losing his hearingLosing his hearing

Beethoven began hearing buzzing in his ears.

At first he tried to hide his loss of hearing from his friends.

He continued to write music when he was deaf.

Beethoven began hearing buzzing in his ears.

At first he tried to hide his loss of hearing from his friends.

He continued to write music when he was deaf.

Beethoven tried many hearing devices, but none of them worked.

He could watch people’s lips to understand what they were saying, or have them write in a notebook.

Beethoven tried many hearing devices, but none of them worked.

He could watch people’s lips to understand what they were saying, or have them write in a notebook.

Manifests itself as early as 1796

By 1820 he could barely hear

Heiligenstadt Testament

Letter Beethoven writes in 1802

Describes his illness and his melancholy

Manifests itself as early as 1796

By 1820 he could barely hear

Heiligenstadt Testament

Letter Beethoven writes in 1802

Describes his illness and his melancholy

Beethoven’s DeafnessBeethoven’s Deafness

Ca. 1799, Beethoven learned his increasing deafness was irreversible. Deep in despair, he remained in Heiligenstadt the summer and fall of 1802 contemplating suicide.

Beethoven’s DeafnessBeethoven’s Deafness

“Though born with a fiery, active temperament I was soon to withdraw from society, to live a life alone. If at times I tried to forget all this, oh how harshly was I flung back by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing. Yet it wasn’t possible for me to say to people, “Speak Louder, shout for I am deaf! Ah, how could I possibly admit to an infirmity in the one sense that ought to be more perfect in me than in others, a sense that I once possessed in the highest degree.”

“Though born with a fiery, active temperament I was soon to withdraw from society, to live a life alone. If at times I tried to forget all this, oh how harshly was I flung back by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing. Yet it wasn’t possible for me to say to people, “Speak Louder, shout for I am deaf! Ah, how could I possibly admit to an infirmity in the one sense that ought to be more perfect in me than in others, a sense that I once possessed in the highest degree.”

“How humiliated I have felt if somebody standing beside me heard the sound of a flute in the distance and I heard nothing...It is impossible for me to say to people, ‘Speak louder, for I am deaf.’ How would it be possible for me to admit to a weakness of the one sense that should be perfect to a higher degree in me than in theirs. So forgive me if you see me draw back from your company which I would so gladly share. I would have ended my life. It was only my art that held me back for it seemed impossible to leave the world until I have brought forth all that is within me.”

— Beethoven

“How humiliated I have felt if somebody standing beside me heard the sound of a flute in the distance and I heard nothing...It is impossible for me to say to people, ‘Speak louder, for I am deaf.’ How would it be possible for me to admit to a weakness of the one sense that should be perfect to a higher degree in me than in theirs. So forgive me if you see me draw back from your company which I would so gladly share. I would have ended my life. It was only my art that held me back for it seemed impossible to leave the world until I have brought forth all that is within me.”

— Beethoven

Beethoven’s PathosBeethoven’s Pathos

Shows up in his music.Sense of despair.

Sense of acceptance

Sense of reconciliation

Sense of victory over despair.

EMOTION

Shows up in his music.Sense of despair.

Sense of acceptance

Sense of reconciliation

Sense of victory over despair.

EMOTION

“I am resolved to rise superior to every obstacle. With whom need I be afraid of measuring my own strength? I will take Fate by the throat. It shall not overcome me. O how beautiful it is to be alive—would that I could live a thousand times.”

-Beethoven

“I am resolved to rise superior to every obstacle. With whom need I be afraid of measuring my own strength? I will take Fate by the throat. It shall not overcome me. O how beautiful it is to be alive—would that I could live a thousand times.”

-Beethoven

Beethoven’s deathBeethoven’s death

Beethoven died in Vienna, Austria on March 26th, 1827.

Thousands of people lined the streets during his funeral procession to pay tribute.

Beethoven died in Vienna, Austria on March 26th, 1827.

Thousands of people lined the streets during his funeral procession to pay tribute.

Beethoven, the composerBeethoven, the composerWrote many works for pianoWrote music that required improvement of the pianoFor years, his compositions drew mixed reactionsCritics and journalists hassled him

Intellect, Intellect, Intellect. Why must Herr Beethoven write such difficult and complex music? It sounds like cats fighting! Cannot he write a decent singable melody?

Wrote many works for pianoWrote music that required improvement of the pianoFor years, his compositions drew mixed reactionsCritics and journalists hassled him

Intellect, Intellect, Intellect. Why must Herr Beethoven write such difficult and complex music? It sounds like cats fighting! Cannot he write a decent singable melody?

“I carry my thoughts within me long, often very long before I write them down. As I know what I want, the fundamental idea never deserts me. It mounts, it grows in stature. I hear, I see the picture in its whole extent standing all of a piece before my spirit, and there remains for me only the task of writing it down.”

-Beethoven

“I carry my thoughts within me long, often very long before I write them down. As I know what I want, the fundamental idea never deserts me. It mounts, it grows in stature. I hear, I see the picture in its whole extent standing all of a piece before my spirit, and there remains for me only the task of writing it down.”

-Beethoven

Ludwig van BeethovenDecember 16th, 1770-

March 26th, 1827)

Ludwig van BeethovenDecember 16th, 1770-

March 26th, 1827)

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN