Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Musician of the Belle Époque
Biography
Who
Composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 17, 1770 to Johann Beethoven and Marie Magdalena Keverich. His father was a tenor at the Court of the Elector of Cologne and acted as Beethoven's very first music teacher. He later received teaching from other relatives and members of the musical group but it was his father that began his rigorous training. Beethoven's training was harsh and intensive and lead to several days of sitting at a keyboard and leaving only to eat and sleep. As the talent of Beethoven became more and more obvious, he began giving public shows and eventually worked his way to his establishment as a well known composer in Vienna. He largely relied on the donations of patrons with which he would give private shows to support himself. As Beethoven continued composing, he began to experience rapid and large-scale hearing loss that left him only able to hear a fraction of the amount of a normal person. This only worsened with the many illnesses he experienced that left him bedridden and unable to work. Beethoven eventually began composing again until he was hit with an illness that left him stuck in his bed for months before his eventual death on March 26, 1827.
What
With premieres of his First and Second Symphonies in 1800 and 1803, Beethoven became regarded as one of the most important of a generation of young composers following Haydn and Mozart. Whilst composing his own music, Beethoven acted as a teacher and mentor for many aspiring composers of the time. After leaving and returning to Vienna, he finished his Third Symphony in 1805 which was met with mixed reactions. It marked his change toward what he called "heroic" period. The works of this period eventually included the Third through Eighth Symphonies as well as several individual works. Overall, the middle period helped set him apart from the other composers and displayed him as one of the most talented composers. After dealing with illness and legal troubles, Beethoven published several late works including the Ninth Symphony in 1824 which was met with much applause. After this success, Beethoven went on to write his well known Quartets that were beyond what anybody of the time period had ever seen and were not truly appreciated until much later after his death.
When
Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in 1770 and worked from the age of five until his death from illness in 1827 at the age of 56. His funeral procession was attended by about 20,000 Viennese citizens and was eventually laid to rest in Wahring cemetery, north-west of Vienna.
Where
Beethoven spent his entire life in Germany after being born in the city of Bonn. As he matured and became a master of his craft, he moved to the larger city of Vienna where he was able to grow and flourish as a composer. After becoming ill, he ultimately died in the city of Vienna. Despite spending his entire life in the country of Germany, his works impacted all of Europe as his symphonies and quartets spread across the continent.
Why
Beethoven started learning music at the age of five due to the pushing of his father and when his talent was discovered, he was forcefully pushed to pursue it. His talent only became more evident to people as he became a child protege similar to Mozart before him and eventually developed incredible music that cemented him as one of the greatest composers of all time in the minds of many. The music he created can still be heard today and had an incredible impact on the music of the time.
How
Beethoven was able to become the composer we know him as today because of his dedication and incredible hard work. He spent many days sitting on his keyboard composing at a young age and literally lived for his music. Beethoven was also able to succeed by the many teachers he studied under who exposed him to all kinds of music. When Beethoven traveled to Vienna, he only expanded his research into music and ultimately found an area he was able to excel and cement himself into. With the support of the works he created, he was able to explore more ideas and create a myriad of symphonies and quartets.
Significance
Ludwig van Beethoven undoubtedly had one of the greatest effects on music of the time period. Beethoven composed in several musical genres and for a variety of instrument combinations. His work is divided into three periods; early (1802), middle (1803-1814), and late (1815-). In his early period, Beethoven's work was strongly influenced by his predecessors Haydn and Mozart. He also explored new directions and gradually expanded the scope and ambition of his work. His middle (heroic) period includes large-scale works that express heroism and struggle. Works from the late period are characterized by their intellectual depth, their formal innovations, and their intense, highly personal expression. Beethoven is credited for being a critical figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras of Western music.
Bibliography
"Ludwig Van Beethoven." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 26 Mar. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven>. Wikipedia gives a large amount of information about both the life and impact on the music world by Beethoven.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Ode an die Freude/Ode to Joy 1