Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) is a historical person.

• Context:
  • They can (typically) be associated with a Ludwig Van Beethoven Composition, such as a Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy).
  • They can (often) be a Musical Genius.
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  • They can have been a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical Period (Music) and Romantic Music.
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• Example(s):
  • Beethoven, 1787 (age 16), when he traveled to Vienna to meet Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, though the meeting is unconfirmed.
  • Beethoven, 1795 (age 25), when he premiered his Piano Trios, Op. 1, marking the beginning of his public career as a composer.
  • Beethoven, 1800 (age 30), when he premiered his Symphony No. 1 (Beethoven), launching his symphonic career.
  • Beethoven, 1802 (age 32), when he wrote the Heiligenstadt Testament, expressing despair over his increasing deafness but also his resolve to continue composing.
  • Beethoven, 1804 (age 34), when he premiered his revolutionary Symphony No. 3 (Eroica), marking the beginning of his "middle period."
  • Beethoven, 1808 (age 38), when he premiered both Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven) and Symphony No. 6 (Beethoven), two of his most famous symphonies, in a single concert.
  • Beethoven, 1812 (age 41), when he composed Piano Sonata No. 26 (Beethoven), known as Les Adieux.
  • Beethoven, 1813 (age 43), when he premiered his Symphony No. 7 (Beethoven), with its highly celebrated second movement Allegretto.
  • Beethoven, 1824 (age 53), when he premiered his monumental Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven), including the Ode to Joy, despite being completely deaf.
  • Beethoven, 1825 (age 54), when he composed the groundbreaking String Quartet No. 14 (Beethoven), which had seven movements played without pause.
  • Beethoven, 1827 (age 56), when he passed away in Vienna, leaving a profound legacy on Western classical music.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), a composer from the earlier Classical period whose style influenced Beethoven but differed in its lighter, more ornate structures.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach, a Baroque composer known for his complex fugues and counterpoint, preceding Beethoven’s time.
  • Franz Schubert, a contemporary of Beethoven known for his lyrical compositions but less focused on structural innovations.
• See: Composer, Classical Period (Music), Romantic Music.

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References

2019

• (Wikipedia, 2019) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven Retrieved:2019-11-3.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the classical and romantic eras in classical music, he remains one of the most recognized and influential musicians of this period, and is considered to be one of the greatest composers of all time.

    Beethoven was born in Bonn, the capital of the Electorate of Cologne, and part of the Holy Roman Empire. He displayed his musical talents at an early age and was vigorously taught by his father Johann van Beethoven, and was later taught by composer and conductor Christian Gottlob Neefe. At age 21, he moved to Vienna and studied composition with Joseph Haydn. Beethoven then gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist, and was soon courted by Prince Lichnowsky for compositions, which resulted in Opus 1 in 1795.

    The piece was a great critical and commercial success, and was followed by Symphony No. 1 in 1800. This composition was distinguished for its frequent use of sforzandi, as well as sudden shifts in tonal centers that were uncommon for traditional symphonic form, and the prominent, more independent use of wind instruments. In 1801, he also gained notoriety for his six String Quartets and for the ballet The Creatures of Prometheus. During this period, his hearing began to deteriorate, but he continued to conduct, premiering his third and fifth symphonies in 1804 and 1808, respectively. His condition worsened to almost complete deafness by 1811, and he then gave up performing and appearing in public. During this period of self exile, Beethoven composed many of his most admired works; his seventh symphony premiered in 1813, with its second movement, Allegretto, achieving widespread critical acclaim. He composed the piece Missa Solemnis for a number of years until it premiered 1824, which preceded his ninth symphony, with the latter gaining fame for being among the first examples of a choral symphony. In 1826, his fourteenth String Quartet was noted for having seven linked movements played without a break, and is considered the final major piece performed before his death a year later. His career is conventionally divided into early, middle, and late periods; the "early" period is typically seen to last until 1802, the "middle" period from 1802 to 1812, and the "late" period from 1812 to his death in 1827. During his life, he composed nine symphonies; five piano concertos; one violin concerto; thirty-two piano sonatas; sixteen string quartets; two masses; and the opera Fidelio. Other works, like Für Elise, were discovered after his death, and are also considered historical musical achievements. Beethoven's legacy is characterized for his innovative compositions, namely through the combinations of vocals and instruments, and also for widening the scope of sonata, symphony, concerto, and quartet, while he is also noted for his troublesome relationship with his contemporaries.

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