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Classical Questions

Classical Questions. The opening of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony was associated with what during WW II? Morse code for “V”, meaning victory. Who wrote the “Ode to Joy” which was set by Beethoven? Schiller Which of Beethoven’s symphonies uses the “Ode to Joy”? the 9th. Beethoven Questions.

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Classical Questions

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  1. Classical Questions • The opening of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony was associated with what during WW II? • Morse code for “V”, meaning victory. • Who wrote the “Ode to Joy” which was set by Beethoven? • Schiller • Which of Beethoven’s symphonies uses the “Ode to Joy”? • the 9th

  2. Beethoven Questions • Beethoven substituted the________in place of the minuet in his symphonies. • scherzo • How many symphonies did Beethoven write? • 9 • What makes were Beethoven’s last two pianos? • Broadwood and Graf • Which of Beethoven’s pianos was strung with 4 strings per note? • the Graf

  3. Beethoven’s Place inthe classical tradition • Called the culmination of the Classical era • The heir to Haydn and Mozart • Radical • Showing new possibilities for music • All composers must now consider Beethoven’s accomplishments

  4. Beethoven’s Life and Career • Born in Bonn in 1770 • Musical talent at an early age • First public appearance in 1778 • 1787 went to Vienna to study with Mozart • Mother ill, could not return to Vienna until 1792 (Mozart was dead at this time) • Studied with Haydn • 1790s made reputation in Vienna as a pianist • Gradually became known as a composer

  5. Beethoven’s Career • End of decade was ready for the symphony and string quartet • Career divided into three sections • early, middle and late • The middle period is called the heroic decade • began with the Eroica symphony of 1803 • most famous works have a drive previously unknown • 1813 - 1819 change from middle period to late period • Suffered from a total loss of hearing and withdrawal from social life

  6. Beethoven’s Career • Works of great power • 9th symphony • Hammerklavier sonata • All classical elements compressed into compact forms • The music was misunderstood in his day • Now seen as some of the most imaginative works of musical art

  7. Musical Vienna • Capital of the Austrian Empire • The crossroads of musical influence • The modern concert series was just getting started • Much of Beethoven’s music was heard in the church as part of the service or in the homes of wealthy aristocrats • Early public concerts • The middle class expressed interest in music

  8. Musical Vienna • Concerts were very different than they are today • 3-4 hours long • variety was the order • a movement of a symphony, arias, solos, improvisations, concertos, choral work, more symphony • Audiences consisted of aristocrats and middle class • Pieces were not identified as they are today

  9. Symphony No. 5 in C minor • While sketches of the 5th symphony date to 1804, it was composed mostly in 1807. • The premiered took place on December 22, 1808, in Vienna. • The all-Beethoven concert lasted from 6:30P.M.-10:30P.M. and consisted of: • The 6th Symphony • The 5th Symphony • The 4th Piano Concerto • The Choral Fantasy • A concert aria Ah, perfido • Two movements from the Mass in C • E.T.A. Hoffmann reviewed the program. Hoffmann viewed Beethoven as a colossal new figure in music. • Beethoven said “Thus Fate knocks at the door.”

  10. Beethoven’s Orchestra • Strings: • Violins in two sections • Violas • Cellos • Double basses • Woodwinds in pairs: • Flutes (introduced the piccolo in the 5th) • Oboes • Clarinets (added in the 1780s) • Bassoons (introduced the contra bassoon in the 5th) • Brass • Horns • Trumpets • Trombones (introduced the trombone in the 5th) • Percussion • Timpani

  11. Symphony No. 5 in C minor • 1st mvt. - Beethoven achieves unity through the use of a “motive” - the famous 4-note figure • 2nd mvt. - For a change of pace and mood, Beethoven alternates between variations of two themes • 3rd mvt. - A scherzo - light and rapid - in A-B-A form with a contrasting section called a “trio” (three instruments?) this section leads into the finale • 4th mvt. - A Sonata-Allegro form, Beethoven adds trombones, piccolo and contrabassoon to the orchestra, extending the range of sound while also giving it weight and power

  12. New Ideas • Virtually no introduction in the first movement • Economical thematic material (the 4-note motive) used for the entire work gives it remarkable unity • Oboe cadenza in the re-capitulation of the 1st movement • Extended coda • Two themes with variations • Scherzo and trio • Transition using material from the 4-note motive • Finale is in a major tonality rather than the key of the piece (c minor) • Addition of piccolo, contrabassoon, trombone to the orchestra

  13. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 • Movement No. 1 - Allegro con brio • Movement No. 2 - Andante con moto • Movement No. 3 - Allegro • Movement No. 4 - Allegro • New Horizons in Music Appreciation

  14. Beethoven Quiz 1 • 1. Which of Beethoven’s 9 symphonies is called the “Choral” symphony? • 1. #3 • 2. #5 • 3. #6 • 4. #9 • 2. Which of Beethoven’s pianos was strung with 4 strings per note? • 1. Broadwood • 2. Steinway • 3. Graf • 4. Beckstein • 3. An unusual feature of Beethoven’s 5th symphony is • 1. There is no pause between the 3rd and 4th movements • 2. There are two minuets • 3. It does not use the sonata-allegro form • 4. The introduction to the 1st movement is very long • 4. Beethoven’s 5th symphony starts in C minor and • 1. Ends in C minor • 2. Ends in C major • 3. Ends in a giant fugue • 4. Ends iin G major

  15. Beethoven and the Piano • Until 1794 Beethoven was supported by the Elector at Bonn • He found patrons among the music-loving Viennese aristocracy and enjoyed success as a piano virtuoso, where he played in private houses and palaces rather than in public • Beethoven’s public debut was in 1795 • 1802 was a year of crisis for Beethoven as he realized his hearing was impaired (he had noticed this for some time) • It was incurable and only got worse

  16. Beethoven on Beethoven’s Pianos • The Broadwood piano • 1815 • Given to the composer by the London Philharmonic Society • Beethoven loved the instrument and used it so much that, at the time of his death, the piano was ruined • Passed to various owners • Franz Liszt • Budapest Museum for Old Instruments • Sent to Bonn for the bicentenary of Beethoven’s birth - December 16, 1970

  17. Beethoven on Beethoven’s Pianos • Bagatelle in E-flat Major, op. 126, No. 3 • From Beethoven’s last collection of Bagatelles, Op. 126 • Played on a Graf piano • In the collection of the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn • Presented to Beethoven by Conrad Graf • Graf tried to strengthen the sound with 4 strings in the upper register • Beethoven was very happy with this piano • Graf also built pianos for the Schumanns, Chopin, Mendelssohn and Schubert • Performances by Jorg Demus, December 16, 1970, in the Beethoven House in Bonn

  18. The “Appassionata” • Piano Sonata No.23, Op.57 ("Appassionata") wasComposed 1804-05 in Vienna and dedicated to Count Franz von Brunsvik • Beethoven's "van" in his name was not of noble origin His sponsors were among others: Prince Karl Lichnowsky (dedicated pianotrios, published as op.1), count Franz von Brunsvik, count Rasumowsky (Russian Ambassador in Vienna), prince Lobkowitz (he dedicated 5. and 6.symphony to Rasumowsky and Lobkowitz), prince Nikolaus Eszterházy (Beethoven composed the mass in C major Op. 86 for him), duke Rudolph (composition pupil,Beethoven composed the Missa solemnis Op. 123 for him)

  19. The “Appassionata” • Beethoven was once asked to explain the meaning of the Sonata in D Minor, Op.31 no.2 and the Appassionata Sonata. His said "Read Shakespeare's Tempest.” • The "Appassionata" is so demanding for both the performer and the instrument, so novel in structure that it was virtually incomprehensible at first • It went unplayed in public until more than three decades after Beethoven's death • Virtuoso passagework and display is an issue • Beethoven in 1804

  20. The “Appassionata” • Movement I - Allegro assai (sonata form) • Movement II - Andante con moto (theme and variations) • Movement III - Allegro non troppo; presto (sonata form)

  21. The last years • Beethoven in 1806 • From 1819, Beethoven was completely deaf, his friends had left him and visitor's communicated with Beethoven through writing • 1821 he had jaundice • 1824 his 9th symphony was first performed in Kaerntnertortheater, Beethoven never heard it. • From 1825 Beethoven suffered from cirrhoses of the liver, pneumonia, dropsy, leg swelling, four operations did not help.

  22. The last years • On March 24, 1827 Beethoven received last rites and died on March 26, 1827 around 5:45 P.M. • The painter Josef Danhauser made a death-mask • The funeral celebration took place three days later • Thousands of Viennese attended • Lead poisoning was assumed to be the cause of death • Scientists of the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois and the McCrone Research Institute in Chicago discovered this by doing a hair analysis • The administrator of the estate Stephan of Breuning auctioned the estate for 1,000 florins.

  23. Beethoven Trivia • Beethoven's favorite food was macaroni and cheese. He also loved strong coffee - exactly 60 coffee beans per cup • Beethoven never married even though he did propose to plenty of women. (who rejected him) • Beethoven’s Third Symphony was originally dedicated to Napoleon but, when Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor, Beethoven went into a rage and destroyed the title page • Beethoven composed his ninth symphony after he had become totally deaf

  24. Beethoven Quiz 2 • 1. Beethoven’s hearing aids were made for him by his friend, • 1. Kreutzer • 2. Maelzel • 3. Schubert • 4. Demus • 2. The number is 32. • 1. What is the meaning of life • 2. What is the number of coffee beans Beethoven used per cup • 3. What is the number of Piano Sonatas composed by Beethoven • 4. What is the number of residences occupied by Beethoven in Vienna • 3. Beethoven Symphony No. 9 • 1. What musical composition dictated the capacity of the compact disc • 2. What composition did Leonard Bernstein conduce to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall • 3. What Beethoven orchestral work uses a text by Schuller • 4. One, two, and three are all true • 4. The most popular composition by Beethoven is • 1. Symphony No. 9 • 2. The “Moonlight” sonata • 3. The “Grosse Fugue” Quartet • 4. Symphony No. 5

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