Art Music Ludwig van Beethoven

Biography

Ludwig Van Beethoven was referred as one of the best composers of all time. Beethoven composed his music in the conventional style in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe. He composed “symphonies and concerti, piano sonatas and string quartets”. In his work he combined illumination and romanticism (Julian, 2011).

Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770, his father was Johan Van Beethoven and mother Magdalena Keverich Van Beethoven. He started taking music lessons from his father at a very young age (Brown & Scott, 2003).  This was easy for him because his father was a musician in the court of Bonn. He showed exceptionally music still even as a child. In 1787, he went to Vienna for a visit and was able to perform (Stanley, 2010). While in Vienna, he met with a number of famous artists including Mozart. He returned to Bonn after discovering that his mother was suffering from tuberculosis and could die any time. When he lost his mother and sister, Beethoven was left with a task of raising his younger siblings because his father was an alcoholic.

In 1792, he relocated to Vienna where he started taking lessons with Joseph Haydn, a close friend of Mozart (Julian, 2011). Vienna identified Beethoven as a good pianist and the city made him exceptionally popular. In 1795, he composed his first works with opus who were the three piano trios. He got his earnings by giving lessons, selling his works, and rewards from noble patrons. This was unique of him, because other musicians joined the church and they became clergy to earn income.

In 1801, Beethoven began losing his hearing. The cause of his deafness is yet to be known but speculations claim that he suffered from syphilis, lead poisoning, or typhus. The hearing problem troubled him in such a way it affected his music career. This made him so depressed and relocated again to Heiligenstadt where he went on writing songs. In 1811, he tried performing his own piano concerto number 5 “emperor” which did not come through; as a result, he stopped performing in public (Julian, 2011). In his lifetime, he never married but was involved in an affair with Josephine von Brunswick. She did not marry him because Beethoven was a commoner. Beethoven died in 1827, in Vienna (Stanley, 2010).

Discography of Beethoven representative works

Beethoven works are categorized in three sections; his early, middle and late. During his early career he made his music style after his teacher, nonetheless, he also added his own style too. His most famous works in his early time are “the first and the second symphonies, the first strings quartets, the first three piano concertos and the first twenty piano sonatas, including pathetique and moonlight” (Brown & Scott, 2003).

The middle period started when Beethoven was under pressure from his hearing problem. His struggles with deafness made him compose songs about his views on the illumination and the theme of bravery and confusion. Most of his known works were made during this time. Thy included; “pastoral symphony, symphony No. 7, symphony No. 8, piano concertos  Nos. 4 and 5, the violin concerto and the piano sonatas, Wald stein and appassionato” (Stanley, 2010).

His late period occurred during the last ten years of his life. in this period he composed songs from his soul, his works at this period showed his logical depth, personal appearance and testing with forms. In the late period, he composed “missa solemnis, the last five string quartets and the last five piano sonatas” (Pancella, 2006). Hammerklavier op.106 was the most famous work during this period because he used his feelings and emotions to compose the work. People could figure out his feelings through this song (Brown & Scott, 2003).

Through his music, one could figure out his life and beliefs because they were reflected through his music. He was in support of enlightenment and he started writing music using his life experience and beliefs. He composed symphony, Eroica with regard to napoleon. He was in support of napoleon’s idea of freedom for people and the concept of democracy. He was the man behind the opera, Fidelio that was in support of delighting concepts. The opera was about advocating for freedom and justice. In the opera, a wife is seen saving his husband from murder under cruel political enemy (Pancella, 2006). He also praised womanhood in Fidelio. Through the opera his beliefs and emotions could be seen. The story talked about a woman who sneaks in a prison cell to rescue her husband from the hands of harsh political enemy. Therefore, the opera showed resistance seeking for political freedom, which is what most people wanted at that time. The opera showed what the people were going through during the French revolution time.

Beethoven third symphony was referred to as Eroica, which was majorly about napoleon. The piece praised napoleon for being brave and a powerful hero during the French revolution. The symphony had a magnificent and epic sound and one could be inspired through the music. Apart from this piece, he was also known for his work in “fur Elise and moonlight sonata” (Pancella, 2006). By the start of 19th century, the style of music in Vienna reformed. He was loved worldwide and his music was inspiring. Everyone viewed him as a great composer. His fame defeated the people of his time and he became the most famous composer and musician in history.

References

Brown, C & Scott, D. (2003). Ludwig Van Beethoven/Ludwig van Beethoven (Music). Notes,    60, 538-541.

Julian, M. (2011). Beethoven, Ludwig Van. Britannica Biographies, 1, 2.

Pancella, P. (2006). Ludwig van Beethoven. Chicago: Heinemann Library.

Stanley, J. (2010). History of Classical Music. A world history of art. Retrieved on 22 February          2012 from http://www.all-art.org/music/beethoven.html.