Classical Questions

1
Classical Questions

• The opening of Beethovens 5th Symphony was
  associated with what during WW II?
  
• Morse code for V, meaning victory.
• Who wrote the Ode to Joy which was set by
  Beethoven?
  
• Schiller
• Which of Beethovens symphonies uses the Ode to
  Joy?
  
• the 9th

2
Beethoven Questions

• Beethoven substituted the________in place of the
  minuet in his symphonies.
  
• scherzo
• How many symphonies did Beethoven write?
• 9
• What makes were Beethovens last two pianos?
• Broadwood and Graf
• Which of Beethovens pianos was strung with 4
  strings per note?
  
• the Graf

3
Beethoven on Beethovens Pianos

• Fur Elise
• Beethovens most loved composition for beginners
  and amateurs
  
• composed in 1810
• Who is Elise?
• Theresa Malfatti, daughter of Beethovens doctor
• Beethoven intended to marry her
• In Beethovens hand writing, Theresa and Elsia
  look alike
  
• Played on a Broadwood piano
• 1815
• Given to the composer by the London Philharmonic
  Society
  
• Beethoven loved the instrument and used it so
  much that, at the time of his death, the piano
  was ruined

4
Beethoven on Beethovens Pianos

• Passed to various owners
• Franz Liszt
• Budapest Museum for Old Instruments
• Sent to Bonn for the bicentenary of Beethovens
  birth - December 16, 1970

5
Beethoven on Beethovens Pianos

• Bagatelle in E-flat Major, op. 126, No. 3
• From Beethovens last collection of Bagatelles,
  Op. 126
  
• Played on a Graf piano
• In the collection of the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn
• Presented to Beethoven by Conrad Graf
• Graf tried to strengthen the sound with 4 strings
  in the upper register
  
• Beethoven was very happy with this piano
• Graf also built pianos for the Schumanns, Chopin,
  Mendelssohn and Schubert
  
• Performances by Jorg Demus, December 16, 1970,
  in the Beethoven House in Bonn

6
Beethovens Place inthe classical tradition

• Called the culmination of the Classical era
• The heir to Haydn and Mozart
• Radical
• Showing new possibilities for music
• All composers must now consider Beethovens
  accomplishments

7
Beethovens Life and Career

• Born in Bonn in 1770
• Musical talent at an early age
• First public appearance in 1778
• 1787 went to Vienna to study with Mozart
• Mother ill, could not return to Vienna until 1792
  (Mozart was dead at this time)
  
• Studied with Haydn
• 1790s made reputation in Vienna as a pianist
• Gradually became known as a composer

8
Beethovens Career

• End of decade was ready for the symphony and
  string quartet
  
• Career divided into three sections
• early, middle and late
• The middle period is called the heroic decade
• began with the Eroica symphony of 1803
• most famous works have a drive previously
  unknown
  
• 1813 - 1819 change from middle period to late
  period
  
• Suffered from a total loss of hearing and
  withdrawal from social life

9
Beethovens Career

• Works of great power
• 9th symphony
• Hammerklavier sonata
• All classical elements compressed into compact
  forms
  
• The music was misunderstood in his day
• Now seen as some of the most imaginative works of
  musical art

10
Musical Vienna

• Capital of the Austrian Empire
• The crossroads of musical influence
• The modern concert series was just getting
  started
  
• Much of Beethovens music was heard in the church
  as part of the service or in the homes of wealthy
  aristocrats
  
• Early public concerts
• The middle class expressed interest in music

11
Musical Vienna

• Concerts were very different than they are today
• 3-4 hours long
• variety was the order
• a movement of a symphony, arias, solos,
  improvisations, concertos, choral work, more
  symphony
  
• Audiences consisted of aristocrats and middle
  class
  
• Pieces were not identified as they are today

12
Symphony No. 5 in C minor

• While sketches of the 5th symphony date to 1804,
  it was composed mostly in 1807.
  
• The premiered took place on December 22, 1808, in
  Vienna.
  
• The all-Beethoven concert lasted from
  630P.M.-1030P.M. and consisted of
  
• The 6th Symphony
• The 5th Symphony
• The 4th Piano Concerto
• The Choral Fantasy
• A concert aria Ah, perfido
• Two movements from the Mass in C
• E.T.A. Hoffmann reviewed the program. Hoffmann
  viewed Beethoven as a colossal new figure in
  music.
  
• Beethoven said Thus Fate knocks at the door.

13
Beethovens Orchestra

• Strings
• Violins in two sections
• Violas
• Cellos
• Double basses
• Woodwinds in pairs
• Flutes (introduced the piccolo in the 5th)
• Oboes
• Clarinets (added in the 1780s)
• Bassoons (introduced the contra bassoon in the
  5th)
  
• Brass
• Horns
• Trumpets
• Trombones (introduced the trombone in the 5th)
• Percussion
• Timpani

14
Symphony No. 5 in C minor

• 1st mvt. - Beethoven achieves unity through the
  use of a motive - the famous 4-note figure
  
• 2nd mvt. - For a change of pace and mood,
  Beethoven alternates between variations of two
  themes
  
• 3rd mvt. - A scherzo - light and rapid - in
  A-B-A form with a contrasting section called a
  trio (three instruments?) this section leads
  into the finale
• 4th mvt. - A Sonata-Allegro form, Beethoven adds
  trombones, piccolo and contrabassoon to the
  orchestra, extending the range of sound while
  also giving it weight and power

15
New Ideas

• Virtually no introduction in the first movement
• Economical thematic material (the 4-note motive)
  used for the entire work gives it remarkable
  unity
  
• Oboe cadenza in the re-capitulation of the 1st
  movement
  
• Extended coda
• Two themes with variations
• Scherzo and trio
• Transition using material from the 4-note motive
• Finale is in a major tonality rather than the key
  of the piece (c minor)
  
• Addition of piccolo, contrabassoon, trombone to
  the orchestra