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Ludwig Van Beethoven. 1770-1827 Born in Bonn Died in Vienna. LIFE-TIME-LINES. BEETHOVEN 1770-1827. MOZART 1756-1791. HAYDN 1732-1809. 1750. 1820. Childhood. Father and Grandfather were musicians. Father was Ludwig’s first music teacher. His father was an alcoholic
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Ludwig Van Beethoven • 1770-1827 • Born in Bonn • Died in Vienna
LIFE-TIME-LINES BEETHOVEN 1770-1827 MOZART 1756-1791 HAYDN 1732-1809 1750 1820
Childhood • 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
Young 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.
Return to Vienna • When Beethoven was 22 (1792), he moved to Austria and never returned to Germany. • He studied with Haydn
Beethoven and Money • made his living by: • selling compositions to publishers • giving piano concerts • 1st musician to make a living almost exclusively through composition
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. His temperament
Beethoven’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.”
Beethoven’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)
Beethoven’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.”
Beethoven, the pianist • the most virtuosic in Europe • dazzling technique and power • genius improviser • a composer • much music for piano • piano is being developed • cast iron frame (stronger, more powerful instrument) • larger range (Beethoven wrote notes that were not on current pianos, then told manufacturers to build new instruments)
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. Losing his hearing
Beethoven’s Deafness • 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
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 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.”
“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 Pathos • 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
Beethoven’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, the composer Wrote many works for piano Wrote music that required improvement of the piano For years, his compositions drew mixed reactions Critics and journalists hassled himIntellect, 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
