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Ludwig Van Beethoven . 16 December 1770- 26 March 1827. Early Years. He was born in Bonn, Germany , Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age and was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and Christian Gottlob Neefe .
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Ludwig Van Beethoven 16 December 1770- 26 March 1827
Early Years • He was born in Bonn, Germany • , Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age and was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and Christian GottlobNeefe. • During his first 22 years in Bonn, Beethoven intended to study with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and befriended Joseph Haydn. • Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 and began studying with Haydn, quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.
Beethoven • About 1800 his hearing began to deteriorate, and by the last decade of his life he was almost totally deaf (and is still generally thought to be one of if not the greatest musician who ever lived). • He gave up conducting and performing in public but continued to compose; many of his most admired works come from this period. • His late music is considered the beginning of the romantic era or the end of the classic era. • Beethoven never married and was often unhappy in his personal life, which suffered because of his health problems and his constant worrying about his nephew Karl, over whom he had guardianship.But in 1812 Beethoven wrote, but did not mail, a love letter to an unidentified woman whom he referred to as 'Immortal Beloved.' This is one of the most famous love letters written today.
About his music • He studied very closely with Joseph Hayden. His early works shadowed the style of Mozart but drastically changed when he lost his hearing. • He wrote 9 great symphonies, 32 superb piano sonatas, and 16 masterful string quartets. • He dedicated his 3rd Symphony (The Heroic") to Napoleon. • He was the first composer to use a chorus in a symphony (i.e., his 9th Symphony aka "The Choral Symphony")
Beethoven's Works • 1798 Completed the Sonata in C minor op. 13 (Pathétique) • 1801 Composed the Sonata in C-sharp minor op. 27/2 (Moonlight) • 1804 Completed the Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major op. 55 (Eroica) • 1805 Completed the Sonata in F minor op. 57 (Appassionata) • 1808 Completed the Symphony No. 5 in C minor op. 67 • 1809? Was granted an annual salary by Archduke Rudolph and other members of the nobility, which allowed him to live as an independent musician • 1818 Completed the Sonata in B-flat major op. 106 (Hammerklavier) • 1823 Completed the Mass in D major op. 123 (MissaSolemnis) • 1824 Completed the Symphony No. 9 in D minor op. 125 (Choral)
How did he compose music when he was deaf? • For a composer as brilliant as Beethoven, with symphonies as complex as those he composed, hearing the music in his head would have been no difficulty whatsoever. • He used a special rod attached to the soundboard on a piano that he could bite—the vibrations would then transfer from the piano to his jaw to increase his perception of the sound. A large collection of his hearing aids such as special ear horns can be viewed at the Beethoven House Museum in Bonn, Germany.
Another story is… • Another story is told that Beethoven cut off the legs of the piano so he could hear the vibrations of the piano. (This is perhaps not necessarily true, as many pianos of the time were made with removable legs so they could be carried into the various courts of the kings and emperors for performances), by laying the piano flat on the ground, Beethoven could distinguish the vibrations and harmonies. • Bear in mind that most of us can hear music in our heads but sometimes it can be a problem! An experienced musician does it all the time and it's not difficult for a professional composer to imagine the music and write it down. It isn't strictly necessary for a composer to use an instrument while composing, even though many like to do so.
Let’s listen… • Turkish March: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYbxNk8o8dI • Symphony no. 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM3y09RjKLs&list=PL41CC64E1F449F44A • Symphony no. 9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDViACDYxnQ • Moonlight Sonata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHd8jwXBzXE • FürElise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAsDLGjMhFI • Pathetique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79gzdskOGu4
