Download Beethoven - Classical Period

Beethoven
Discrepancy over when the Classical period
ended
• Some place the end of the Classical Period at 1827
when Beethoven died.
• I prefer 1820, because Beethoven’s later music
transitioned to the next period.
Style of music from Classical period
• Graceful, detailed elaboration
• Light, flowing melodies
• Short, simple phrases
• Homophonic – melody over accompaniment moving
together
• Use of dance rhythms
• Variety and contrast were used
• Increased use of crescendo, decrescendo & sforzando
• Frequent changes in mood
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
• 1770 - Born in Bonn, the capital of the electorate of Cologne
(now part of Germany)
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1787 – Might have briefly studied with Mozart
1787 – Mother died
1792 – Studied with Haydn
1795 – Public debut as pianist & composer in Vienna
1799 – Piano Sonata no. 8 “Pathetique” published
1814 – last public appearance as pianist
1827 – died in Vienna
Beethoven’s Music
• Could play piano, organ and violin
• His music is filled with assertiveness, aggression &
passion
• Considered a transitional composer between Classical
& Romantic Periods
• Life divided into 3 periods
• Youth/early manhood (1770-1802)
• Middle life (1803-1812), wrote all forms of music & most famous works
• Final period (1813-1827), personal stresses led to small number of works
he produced; what he wrote was serious & intimate
Beethoven’s hearing loss
• 1796 – aware that he was losing his hearing
• 1800-02 – aware that it was getting worse & he would
likely go deaf; went through depression
• Deaf before he turned 50.
• Broke strings on his piano because he was pounding
the keys trying to hear the sounds
Beethoven’s music
• Wrote 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 16 string
quartets, 30 piano sonatas, 10 sonatas for violin, 5
sonatas for cello, 1 opera, 2 masses & lots of chamber
music
• Sonata – a piece in several movements for small
ensemble, soloist with accompaniment or solo
keyboard
• Wrote – Piano Sonata No. 8 (“Pathetique” Sonata),
Piano Sonata No. 14 (“Moonlight” Sonata), Minuet in
G, Symphony No. 5 (with the famous beginning –
“Duh, duh, duh, duh”)
Links to Beethoven’s Music
• Piano Sonata No. 8, 1st movement
(“Pathetique” Sonata)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQebdkLvD00
• Piano Sonata No. 14 (“Moonlight” Sonata)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT7_IZPHHb0
• Minuet in G
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSXRJwspGU0
• Symphony No. 5, 1st movement
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T3D5Q6Eq2w&f
eature=related