Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized December 16 (17), 1770 – March 26, 1827), was a German composer and pianist. He is regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of music, a predominant figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music.
Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, to Johann van Beethoven and Magdalena Keverich van Beethoven. He was baptized on December 17, but his family and later teacher Johann Albrechtsberger celebrated his birthday on December 16. Beethoven's first music teacher was his father, a musician in the Electoral court at Bonn who was apparently a harsh and unpredictable instructor. Johann would often come home from a bar in the middle of the night and pull young Ludwig out of bed to play for him and his friend.
Beethoven's talent was recognised at a very early age. His first notable teacher was Christian Gottlob Neefe. In 1787 young Beethoven traveled to Vienna for the first time.
Mozart had a powerful influence on the early works of Beethoven. They are said to have met in Vienna this year, however, there is no evidence of this. Planned to study under Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this did not materialise when he was summoned to his mother's deathbed who was dying of tubercolosis. She died when he was 16, shortly followed by his sister, and for several years he was responsible for raising his two younger brothers because of his father's worsening alcoholism.
Later, when he moved to Vienna in 1792, Mozart had died the previous year. He studied for a time with Joseph Haydn and quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. From the beginning to the end of his creative life, Beethoven constantly expanded his style and ideals, and his work forms a bridge between the Classical and Romantic periods.
In his late twenties he began to lose his hearing and this came as a terrible blow, and yet he continued to produce notable masterpieces throughout his life in the face of this personal disaster. His reputation and genius have inspired generations of composers, musicians, and audiences after him.
Mozart's Influence on Beethoven
From Beethoven's childhood, it appeared that everybody wanted him to be a Mozart! How did this expectation influence his life? Here's an interesting article from 'Popular Beethoven'. Read on, here.
Key works
Beethoven's key works include piano concertos, Piano Sonatas, Mass in D (Missa Solemnis), the nine symphonies, and some strings, and Fidelio, his only opera. One famous piece of music is his "Fur Elise". one of his last String Quartets, Op. 131 in C sharp minor has the largest number of movements, which is 7.
Below video: Featuring Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" live at the Sydney Opera House. Performed by our Sydney Philharmonia Choir's ChorusOz, hosted by the ABC Classic with presenters Vanessa Hughes and Damien Beaumont. The concert is part of ChorusOz, run annually by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Performed by Sharon Zhai (soprano), Bronwyn Douglass (mezzo-soprano), Brad Cooper (tenor), Simon Meadows (bass-baritone), ChorusOz 2019, Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra, Brett Weymark (conductor). ChorusOz 2019. (The performance was a part of ChorusOz, run annually by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs to let people who can't commit to a regular choir have the opportunity to sing at the Sydney Opera House. Other singers across Australia and visiting singers are also invited to join.)
Most famous work: Symphony 9 "Choral"
The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, "Choral" is considered Beethoven's most famous work, composed between 1822 and 1824. It was first performed in Vienna in 1824. This is the crowning glory of his "Immortal Nine" symphonies. The fourth movement (Finale), its concluding magnificent chorus, Ode an die Freude (Ode to Joy), is the official anthem of the European Union. about
peace and triumph of universal brotherhood against war and desperation,
and the prelude to the fourth – and final – movement of Ludwig van
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
Written by Friedrich Schiller in the summer of 1785, the following year,Friedrich Schiller published the poem 'An die Freude' (Ode to Joy). Its tune is about peace: an all-embracing symbol of humankind's triumph over war and hopelessness. It represents fraternity and equality among the peoples of the world and, due to its deep meaning, it became well-known in literary and artistic circles.
In its original form, it was not a church hymn. Schiller's poem references Greek ideas of death and joy. In 1907, Henry van Dyke, an American author, wrote the lyrics "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" to the melody of "Ode to Joy", and Henry van Dyke's lyrics became a
church hymn often sung as part of Protestant services.
Fidelio: The only opera of Beethoven
Fidelio, Op. 72, is Ludwig van Beethoven's one-and-only opera. It was first performed on 23rd of May, at the Kärntnertor Theater in Vienna.
Originally titled Leonore, oder Der Triumph der ehelichen Liebe; English: Leonore, or The Triumph of Marital Love), Op. 72, The German
libretto was originally prepared by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly, with the work premiering at Vienna's Theater an der Wien on 20 November 1805. The following year, Stephen von Breuning [de] helped shorten the work from three acts to two. After further work on the libretto by Georg Friedrich Treitschke, a final version was performed at the the Kärntnertortheater on 23 May 1814. By convention, both of the first two versions are referred to as Leonore.
Although Beethoven composed just one opera Fidelio, for this he wrote at least five overtures, of which only four remain.
Opera Fidelio, briefly. Fidelio is first performed in its final version in 1814. Set in 18th-century Spain, it tells the story of Leonore's quest to free her unjustly imprisoned husband, Florestan, before he is killed by his enemy, Don Pizarro, the governor of the prison. Disguised as a man, Leonore manages to gain entry to hi prison cell in time to save Florestan's life. By the end of the opera, Florestan is free.
Here's my suggested reading information about these overtures, written by Jean-Francois Lucarelli: The Overtures for Leonore and Fidelio.
Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 1, Op. 138.
BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Arturo Toscanini.
Recorded at the Queen's Hall, London, at June 1, 1939. Uploaded by Jakob Bartholdy. Accessed March 19, 2019.
Beethoven's Overture Leonore No.2, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink. Royal Festival Hall, London, in March and April 1974. Uploaded by H.K. Kim. Accessed June 12, 2014.
Bernstein conducting Leonore Overture No. 3 in C, Op. 72b, uploaded by Farookhq17. Accessed March 19, 2013.
Bernstein conducting Fidelio Overture. Accessed March 19, 2019. Uploaded by iClassica. Accessed January 14, 2014.
Other suggested links:
Beethoven's Heiligenstadt Testament
Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
Ashkenazy plays Beethoven - Sonata 8 Opus 13 (Pathéthique). YouTube, uploaded by allegrofilms. Accessed December 17, 2019.)
Choral Fantasy - Martha Argerich (piano), with Seiji Ozawa conducting.
Murray Perahia - Beethoven - Piano Sonata No 23 in F minor, Op 57. YouTube, uploaded by Classical Vault 3. Accessed December 16, 2019.
The 1939 Beethoven Cycle: Symphony No 8 Toscanini/NBC. YouTube, uploaded by Restoration Archive. Accessed December 16, 2019.
A favourite chamber music: Beethoven's Piano Trio in D major, Op. 70 No. 1 "Ghost" - performed by Barenboim, Du Pre and Zukerman.
Suggested Readings:
Beethoven by Maynard Solomon. Published by Cassell. London.
Beethoven's Hair: An extraordinary historical odyssey and a musical mystery solved. by Russell Martin. Published by Bloomsbury.
Photo Credit:
Ludwig Van Beethoven. en.wikipedia.org Commons / Public Domain. Beethoven with the manuscript of the Missa solemnis.
Video Credit:
Beethoven - Symphony No.9 "Choral" (Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra.) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op.125, 'Choral' Anne McKnight - soprano; Jane Hobson - contralto; Erwin Dillon - tenor; Norman Scott - bass; Memebers of the Collegiate Chorale NBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arturo Toscanini
Telecast: 3 April, 1948 at NBC Studio 8-H, New York City Producer: Don Gillis. Director: Hal Keith. Audio Engineer: Charles Grey. (YouTube, uploaded by 1Furtwangler. Accessed 16 December, 2013.)
Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" performed by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' ChorusOz 2019. Sydney Opera House.
Resources:
Kennedy, Michael & Joyce, and Tim Rutherford-Johnson. Oxford: Oxford Dictionary of Music, 2007.
Ludwig van Beethoven. en.wikipedia.org. Accessed December 17, 2013.
Sadie, Stanley (Ed). The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music. Publisher: Macmillan, 1994.
(c) December 2013. Updated January 31, 2023. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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