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Ludwig Van Beethoven
16 December 1770- 26 March 1827
Early Years
He was born in Bonn, Germany
, Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age and
was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and
Christian Gottlob Neefe.
During his first 22 years in Bonn, Beethoven intended to
study with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and befriended
Joseph Haydn.
Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 and began studying
with Haydn, quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso
pianist.
Beethoven
About 1800 his hearing began to deteriorate, and by the last
decade of his life he was almost totally deaf (and is still
generally thought to be one of if not the greatest musician who
ever lived).
He gave up conducting and performing in public but
continued to compose; many of his most admired works come
from this period.
His late music is considered the beginning of the romantic era
or the end of the classic era.
Beethoven never married and was often unhappy in his
personal life, which suffered because of his health problems
and his constant worrying about his nephew Karl, over whom
he had guardianship. But in 1812 Beethoven wrote, but did
not mail, a love letter to an unidentified woman whom he
referred to as 'Immortal Beloved.' This is one of the most
famous love letters written today.
About his music
He studied very closely with Joseph Hayden. His early
works shadowed the style of Mozart but drastically
changed when he lost his hearing.
He wrote 9 great symphonies, 32 superb piano sonatas,
and 16 masterful string quartets.
He dedicated his 3rd Symphony (The Heroic") to
Napoleon.
He was the first composer to use a chorus in a
symphony (i.e., his 9th Symphony aka "The Choral
Symphony")
Beethoven's Works
1798 Completed the Sonata in C minor op. 13 (Pathétique)
1801 Composed the Sonata in C-sharp minor op. 27/2 (Moonlight)
1804 Completed the Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major op. 55 (Eroica)
1805 Completed the Sonata in F minor op. 57 (Appassionata)
1808 Completed the Symphony No. 5 in C minor op. 67
1809? Was granted an annual salary by Archduke Rudolph and other
members of the nobility, which allowed him to live as an independent
musician
1818 Completed the Sonata in B-flat major op. 106 (Hammerklavier)
1823 Completed the Mass in D major op. 123 (Missa Solemnis)
1824 Completed the Symphony No. 9 in D minor op. 125 (Choral)
How did he compose music
when he was deaf?
For a composer as brilliant as Beethoven, with
symphonies as complex as those he composed, hearing
the music in his head would have been no difficulty
whatsoever.
He used a special rod attached to the soundboard on a
piano that he could bite—the vibrations would then
transfer from the piano to his jaw to increase his
perception of the sound. A large collection of his
hearing aids such as special ear horns can be viewed at
the Beethoven House Museum in Bonn, Germany.
Tool used
Another story is…
Another story is told that Beethoven cut off the legs of the
piano so he could hear the vibrations of the piano. (This is
perhaps not necessarily true, as many pianos of the time
were made with removable legs so they could be carried into
the various courts of the kings and emperors for
performances), by laying the piano flat on the ground,
Beethoven could distinguish the vibrations and harmonies.
Bear in mind that most of us can hear music in our heads
but sometimes it can be a problem! An experienced
musician does it all the time and it's not difficult for a
professional composer to imagine the music and write it
down. It isn't strictly necessary for a composer to use an
instrument while composing, even though many like to do
so.
Let’s listen…
Turkish March:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYbxNk8o8dI
Symphony no. 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM3y09RjKLs&list=PL
41CC64E1F449F44A
Symphony no. 9:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDViACDYxnQ
Moonlight Sonata:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHd8jwXBzXE
Für Elise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAsDLGjMhFI
Pathetique:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79gzdskOGu4