Understanding Beethoven And His Music: Nine Works That Redefined Classical Music
Take a musical tour through the life of one of history’s musical giants: Ludwig van Beethoven.
Even if you’re not all that familiar with classical music, or have only been exposed to it in small doses, you undoubtedly recognize his name.
With compositions such as the “Ode to Joy” from his Ninth Symphony, Beethoven has become an iconic figure in music.
But what many don’t realize is that not all was appreciated during his time back then!
In this book, you can learn about nine key works that shed light on his day-to-day worries and reveal him to be an artist much different than the insular genius remembered today.
Discover the differences between ‘von’ and ‘van’ Beethoven and why audiences weren’t always won over by symphonies.
Furthermore, you’ll look at how the evolution of the piano influenced and further developed his compositions – creating a truly unique sound we know today as ‘Beethoven’.
The Role Of War And Patrons In The Life Of Ludwig Van Beethoven
Beethoven’s early recognition as a prodigal musical talent began at the age of thirteen when he was made a substitute organist at court.
It was here that he was first exposed to his first benefactor, Archduke Maximilian Franz.
Word spread quickly of Beethoven’s extraordinary skill and it wasn’t long before Maximilian sponsored Beethoven’s first trip to Vienna where he wowed Mozart with some of his improvisational playing.
It is during this time, in 1792, while under the tutelage of composer Joseph Haydn that Haydn wrote a letter to Maximilian saying Beethoven would soon join the ranks of Europe’s greatest musical talents.
This proved to be true; Within years, Beethoven established himself as one of the music world’s most influential and renowned composers.
Beethoven’S First Success: How The Septet, Op. 20, Captured The Imagination Of Audiences And Revolutionized Music
When Ludwig van Beethoven set out to put on his own Akademie concert at the Imperial and Royal Court Theater in Vienna in April of 1800, very few people had even heard of him.
To make a name for himself, Beethoven had to go through many different hoops including gaining approval from the police and theater director.
His hard work paid off when the night of the concert was filled with applause and ovations.
This was due not only to his First Symphony and Piano Concerto, Op.
15, but also to his Septet, Op.
20 which captured the hearts of audiences with its gentle dissonances that resonated with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s romantic writings.
Beethoven’s septet was so popular that it quickly appeared in chamber music concerts hosted by Austrian violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh and was even praised by musical critics who called it “the most interesting academy in a long time”.
Beethoven’s first success established him as an up-and-coming talent in Vienna’s music scene and he soon earned a reputation as one of the best composers of his day.
From here, Beethoven went on to compose some of the world’s most iconic pieces making him one of history’s most beloved composers.
Beethoven: Masterful Collaborator And Prickly Friend
Beethoven is often remembered as a brooding, isolated genius, but in truth he was a social man and an integral part of the bustling Viennese coffee house scene.
His connections with other musicians and prominent figures, such as Prince Lichnowsky, Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, Baron van Swieten and more helped pave his career path as one of history’s most celebrated composers.
It was these relationships that enabled Beethoven to take risks with his creative works, culminating in the development of Violin Sonata no.
9, op.
47.
Not only did he write music for particular performers in mind- like Ignaz Schuppanzigh whose portliness earned him the nickame “Falstaff”- but he also took inspiration from musician George Polgreen Bridgewater after meeting him- whom likely would have never played it had they not met one another.
This collaboration offers insight into how collaborative Beethoven was despite having a bit of a prickly reputation; not all friends could handle it but those who did stood by him until the end and helped shape some of his greatest works.
Beethoven’S Revolutionary Composition: How His Third Symphony Revealed A Betrayal By Napoleon Bonaparte
Beethoven was renowned for his ambitious and unconventional music, whose daring complexity often went beyond what listeners were used to.
He made use of rule-breaking techniques in composing and incorporated aspects of the revolutionary times into his works.
His Third Symphony, commonly known as the “Eroica,” is a testament to Beethoven’s willingness to defy conventions.
It starts with two attention-grabbing bursts of the same chord, then shifts into cellos quietly sketching out the chord of E flat major.
The violins enter off-beat, and the first movement is in triple time instead of duple time; this challenged audiences at its public debut on April 7, 1805.
Beethoven originally planned to dedicate this work to Napoleon Bonaparte but claimed he felt betrayed when Napoleon crowned himself emperor late in 1804.
Ries recounting Beethoven’s thoughts on how Napoleon would trample on rights finally caused him to erase “intitolata Bonaparte” from the title page of his copy so aggressively that it left a hole in the paper itself.
The reception for this symphony was ultimately mixed—some deemed it a masterpiece while others thought it too long or complicated for their tastes perhaps due to its complex nature not fitting with traditional taste and expectations.
Yet regardless of mixed opinion, Beethoven proved willing and able to challenge audiences with his innovative musical vision and forward-thinking compositional approach that wrecked convention and heralded an age of musical advancement through defiance against established orders
Beethoven’S Experimental Choral Fantasy Laid The Groundwork For His Musical Masterpiece, The Ninth Symphony
Beethoven was a man ahead of his time.
His remarkably ambitious music pushed the limits of what could be done with an orchestra and its players, often with limited resources and rehearsal time.
While Vienna wasn’t known for its orchestral players at the time, Beethoven demanded—and often got—the best out of them.
This relentless ambition was perhaps most apparent in his work on Choral Fantasy, which he debuted during his third academy showcase.
Choral Fantasy was a unique blend of orchestral elements combined with solo vocal parts, something that hadn’t been heard before in Vienna—or anywhere else.
It was daring and full of risks as it melded together concerto and oratorio into a symphonic piece far ahead of its time.
The performance wasn’t flawless due to limited rehearsal time and poor conditions that day in December but nevertheless, many appreciated it for what it pointed to: Beethoven’s immense talent and pioneering compositional style.
This experiment led directly to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony which featured the iconic “Ode to Joy” declared by some as one of the greatest musical themes ever composed.
With this monumental work Beethoven established himself not only as one of history’s great figures in music but also illustrated just how ahead of his time he actually was throughout his entire career.
Beethoven’S Poignant Music Showed He Was A Romantic At Heart
Beethoven was known not only for his world-famous pieces of classical music, but also for his works that expressed unrequited love.
One such example is “An die Geliebte,” a song he composed and arranged in 1812 which reflects the emotions of his heart.
This composition has much in common with the writings of Goethe, who himself described Beethoven as having an “intractable” personality.
Many attribute Beethoven’s attitude to his gradual hearing loss which started in around 1814, thereby taking away the composer’s ability to play the piano.
However, it appears that even those close to him had sense of this inner passion even before he stopped playing the piano entirely and began retiring into introspection.
For instance, one of Beethoven’s most famous letters – titled “Immortal Beloved” – was written during this period and expressed a deep yearning towards an unknown person who remains a mystery today.
It seems clear that Beethoven was often drawn towards poems that expressed feelings of unrequited love- perhaps an intentional metaphor for his own personal situation.
Additionally, this may hint at a reality where even though there were periods when the composer had difficulty expressing himself verbally due to his hearing condition, he still found ways to voice intimate sentiments through these writings and compositions.
All together, it paints a fuller picture of someone whose troubled life didn’t cause him fully envelop himself in isolation; rather he simply chose to express his emotions otherwise through music and poetry about unrequited love.
Beethoven Enjoys A Moment Of Success And Creative Liberty, But Soon Enters A Period Of Difficult Life And Artistic Struggles
In 1814, the music of Ludwig van Beethoven was celebrated more than ever before.
With Napoleon’s exile and Europe’s promise of peace spreading, festivities and events were held in Vienna that included many dignitaries from all around the continent.
Beethoven himself was lauded as the city’s most esteemed composer, and it was around this time that he debuted a patriotic work titled “Wellingtons Sieg, oder Die Schlacht bei Vittoria”, which went on to become a big hit and gave Beethoven some much-needed freedom to release more works like his opera Fidelio.
Clearly, 1814 was a banner year for Beethoven and music in general.
His works earned much recognition during that time, including various formats such as solo piano pieces, string quartets and orchestral parts.
The success also enabled him to complete Fidelio which tells the tale of a woman disguised as a guard to rescue her husband imprisoned by unjustly tyrants.
The story originates with Bouilly’s original French libretto which is based off actual events making the opera slightly controversial with Austria censors at first, yet still proving successful when it finally premiered on May 23rd, 1814.
Several pieces from the opera notably “Mir ist so wunderbar” quartet are top hits even today – catapulting loyal realist operas focusing on more practical subject matters into the limelight.
As such 1814 marked an interesting turning point in Beethoven’s career; despite humongous success with peace settling throughout Europe, his personal life started crumbling down health wise alongside financial issues dwindling benefactors while gaining custody of his sister’s son Karl which only exacerbated matters further due Jones reporting biographer David Wyn noticed “tortured rather than liberated creativity” appearing in some cases after this particular year for Mr.Beethoven .
Beethoven’S Evolving Technology Pushed Musical Boundaries In The Hammerklavier Sonata
Beethoven was a master of using the tools at his disposal to create incredible music.
He had a remarkable ability to take advantage of technology, craftsmanship, and the instruments available to him.
For example, when contemporary pianos gained more keys than ever before, Beethoven used them as inspiration for works like Septet op.
20—something that would not have been possible in earlier years.
He also worked with the new instrument styles around him, like the violin bow.
George Polgreen Bridgewater demonstrated how this tool could enable a musician to play in a completely newly dynamic way which Beethoven found intriguing and inspiring.
With the arrival of Broadwood’s new piano, Beethoven’s new piano sonatas were able to reach even further heights of creativity due to their heavier wire and deeper keys that enabled louder projections and richer lower end notes.
The pieces he crafted demanded capabilities that average central European keyboards could not provide for some time afterwards, as ‘Beethoven used all the notes at his disposal for his new piano sonatas” and many melodies couldn’t be replicated on standard instruments from Viennese manufacturers.
This resulted in such creations as Piano Sonata no.
29 op 106 – more commonly known as “Hammerklavier”.
Although it is frequently confused with being named after its powerful style, “Hammerklavier” actually originated from German interpretations describing the kind of pianoforte keyboard Beethoven composed it on: one with even lower keys than previously available!
Beethoven Pushes The Boundaries Of Form And Faith In Missa Solemnis
When one thinks of a Mass, usually religious connotations come to mind.
But Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis went beyond the traditional structure and sound of the service, evoking the spirit of God in an unprecedented way.
The composition was originally intended to accompany a Mass in honor of Archduke Rudolph’s installation as Bishop of Olmütz.
Though three years late, this was not a sign of disrespect or laziness – on the contrary, it showed Beethoven’s ambition for creating a beautiful work.
What ended up being composed far exceeded expectations; Beethoven methodically hit all parts of Mass but also created much more with instrumental flourishes like trills from a flute that represent the wings of the Holy Spirit dove.
Beethoven may have always held some spiritual leanings and took part in church services growing up, but he wasn’t an avid churchgoer as an adult.
His faith lies somewhere between the humanism of the Enlightenment period and mysticism of the Romantics – however, it isn’t crystal clear what his exact stance is when looking at his works such as Missa Solemnis.
Beethoven: Music Visionary Ahead Of His Time Thanks To A Near-Tragic Event
In 1826, despite his declining health and attempts to cope with personal tragedy, Beethoven relentlessly continued to create music for his patrons.
One of the most powerful and experimental works he completed that year was String Quartet, op.
130.
A remarkable six-movement piece which started with the feeling of ending, this masterpiece earned its creator an ambivalent reception at its premiere performance due to its innovative structure and soundscape.
Nevertheless, Beethoven was confident that his grand finale would one day be appreciated by a wider audience and he stubbornly held onto this hope until taking his last breath in 1827.
Time vindicated him as appreciation has grown over the centuries beyond just a few connoisseurs.
His incredible quartets are today appreciated worldwide as evidence of his immense talent and musical genius.
Wrap Up
In conclusion, Ludwig van Beethoven was a groundbreaking composer and brilliant musician whose work wasn’t always appreciated in his lifetime.
Even within the musical hub of Vienna, people found his symphonies challenging and too complex.
Yet this did not discourage him as he continued to push boundaries and break conventions with the support of a few faithful friends.
Beethoven worked hard on his craft until the very end of his life in 1827, leaving behind an inspiring legacy which continues to influence modern musicians today.
