Ludwig von Beethoven 17701827

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Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827)

• For this groundbreaking composer, music was the
  ultimate form of self-expression
• Initiated the development of Romanticism
• Child of the Classical and man of the Romantic era

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Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827)

• I will struggle with fate it shall never drag
  me down

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• born in Bonn, Germany

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• drunken, abusive father tried to promote
  Beethoven as a prodigy

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• His mother died when Ludwig was 17
• Beethoven had to then assume the task of managing
  the family.

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• Arrived in Vienna 1792--acclaimed as a piano
  virtuoso
• First musician to make a living from composing
• Was regarded as a genius in his lifetime

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Pasqualati Haus interior
Exterior
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Vienna in Beethovens time
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Another view of the city
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Major Works

• 9 Symphonies--the core of the modern symphonic
  repertoire
• 32 piano sonatas--including the Moonlight and
  the Pathetique
• 1 opera Fidelio
• Much chamber music--string quartets especially

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Theatre-an-der-Wein
Hoffburg Palace
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• 1800--Beethoven began to go deaf at about age 30

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Heiligenstadt Testament

• Part suicide note part testament of artistic
  ideals
• Was sent to his two brothers

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Heiligenstadt Testament

• I would have ended my life--it was only my art
  that held me backit seemed to me impossible to
  leave the world until I had brought forth all
  that I felt was within me.

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• The Theater am Kärntnerthor, where the Ninth
  Symphony premiered in 1824.

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Karl Beethoven

• In his later years, he adopted his orphan nephew
  but was so overprotective the boy tried to commit
  suicide

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Beethovens funeral procession

• ill health and shock from the crisis with his
  nephew hastened his quick death . 20,000
  attended his funeral.
• His eulogy was delivered by Goethe, Europes
  leading poet

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Death Mask
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Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827)

• I will struggle with fate it shall never drag
  me down

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Key building blocks in Beethovens music

• rhythmic drive
• motivic consistency
• psychological progression from movement to
  movement

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Symphony 5 in C Minor

• rhythmic drive
• is fairly obvious
• motivic consistency
• the opening four-note motive

is heard throughout all four movements
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Symphony 5 in C Minor

• Psychological progression from movement to
  movement
• The four-note opening fate knocking at the
  door
• To many analysts, the path through this musical
  work represents a struggle with and triumph over
  adversity
• influenced writers, painters, as well as
  musicians and composers who followed Beethoven