Essay/Term paper: Ludwig van beethoven

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Culture

Ludwig van Beethoven


Beethoven's importance lies not only in his work, but also in his life
(Tames, 4). Included in my report is proof that Beethoven was one of the
greatest composers of the Romantic era. In this proof is a brief description of
his life. This will help you understand how he felt when he wrote his music.
Also, there will be a description of all his symphonies.
On December 16 or 17, 1770, (date uncertain) at 515 (now 20) Bonngasse Bonn,
Germany Beethoven, like Mozart, was born into a small family (Comptons, 1). He
took his first lessons on March 26, 1778, (Schmit, 10). In 1787, he went to
Vienna to study with Mozart, but he went back to Bonn due to the nature of his
mother's sickness (Schmit, 15). This would be the composers last visit to Bonn.

After his mother's death on July 17, 1787, Beethoven went back to Vienna
to study with Hayden in November of 1792, where he lived for 35 years (Tames,
14). He was unsatisfied with Hayden because he was preoccupied and commonly
missed many mistakes made by Beethoven (Schmit, 17). Beethoven, then, went to
Neffe who himself started composing at the age of 12.
In the late 1700's, Beethoven began to suffer from early symptoms of
deafness, and by 1802, Beethoven was convinced that the condition was not only
permanent but was getting much worse. The cause of his deafness is still
uncertain (Comptons, 1). He was determined to prove that deafness was not a
handicap to him (Thompson, 25). Beethoven's deafness started to be noticeable,
and by 1818 Beethoven was completely deaf (Schmit, 28).
In the year of 1812, Beethoven fell in love with the "Eternally
Beloved." Nobody knew her name except Beethoven, who did not mention it in any
letter or to friends.
Under his first patron, Prince Karl Lichnowsky, Beethoven wrote his
first symphony. The first symphony was wrote in 1795, and was a set of three
Trios. Beethoven believed that his income came from the successful sale of
these works, but it actually came from Lichnowsky (Tames, 12). This symphony
was reflective of the classical era. He did not publish this symphony until he
was 31.
In 1802, Beethoven wrote a second symphony. Beethoven named this
symphony "Grande Sinfonie" while in Hiligenstadt where he wrote the symphony
(Schmit, 35). The second symphony is a work noted for sunny and optimistic tone
(Tames, 15).
Beethoven's third symphony, made in 1803, is the one where he started
writing his style which was quite recognizably his own, rather than based on a
previous composer (Tames, 16). The third symphony, originally called Bonaparte,
was named after Napoleon Bonaparte. Later, Beethoven changed the name to
"Sinfonia Eroica" (Schmit, 36). Two times as long as any one of Mozart's or
Hayden's symphonies, the third symphony challenged the idea of what a symphony
is.
The fourth Symphony was written in 1807. This symphony shows Beethoven
as a good humored person (Schmit, 39). This symphony was smaller and more
appealing than the third symphony, and had a more lively style (Thompson, 25).
In the year of 1808, he wrote the fifth symphony. He went with Hayden
to Esterházy Palace at Eisenstadt. His fifth is one of his most famous
symphonies. Work on the fifth was started before the fourth and was published
after the fourth. This is one of the most popular symphonies of all time, and
was performed on the 22 of December 1808. (Schmit, 41) This symphony was made
popular because he used many instruments that were not normally use in
orchestral works at that time (Thompson, 26).

The sixth symphony, is in a class of its own. Named "Sinfonia
Pastrella," this symphony is based on scenes from the country, and expressed
Beethoven's love for the nature that surrounded him (Schmit, 41). This piece
started the bridge between the Classical era and the Romantic era (Thompson, 28).

The seventh symphony was written in the summer of 1811, and the start of
1812, and was performed on December 8, 1813, at the University of Vienna (Schmit,
42). This is a smaller piece, and presented a very happy mood reflecting dance
like rhythms (Thompson, 33-35).
The eighth symphony, named "Sinfonia-Linz," was composed during 1812,
while at the spas in Bohemia. This was performed on the 27 of February 1814.
At first, the eighth received little notice, but then it gradually began to get
the fame it deserved (Schmit, 42-44).
The ninth Symphony (completed in 1823) was his best and his last
symphony. By this time he finally understood his own mind speaking:
"I carry out my thoughts about with me for a long time...before I set
them down...my memory is so faithful to me that I am sure not to forget a theme
which I have passed. I make many changes, reject and re-attempt until I am
satisfied. Then the working-out begins in my head...It rises, grows upward, and
I hear and see the picture as a whole take shape and stand before me as though
cast in a single piece, so that all that is left is the work of writing it down"
(Tames, 25). He performed the ninth at the Kärntenerthor Theater. When he
directed the performance his back was to the audience (Thompson, 41). When the
audience went wild, the alto soloist had to tug at his sleeve so that he could
turn and see the ovation he had earned (Mlt. Beethoven) The famous "Ode to Joy"
(coral) is included in this symphony.
Beethoven's works include nine symphonies, one opera, two coral masses,
48 sonatas, ten overtures, and dozens of trios, quartets, and songs. Many of
these works were sketched out during long walks (Tames, 12). "His greatest
breakthroughs in composition came in instrumental work, including his
symphonies" (Comptons, 1).
Beethoven had a great influence on music. Not only did he create a bridge
between the 18th-century classical period and new beginnings of Romanticism, but
he started a new era of music.
Beethoven's last years were marked with illness. On March 24, 1827,
Beethoven died in Vienna. A crowd of almost 30,000 people attended his funeral
and burial at Vienna Central Cemetery (Schmit, 31). The bicentennial of his
death was celebrated with performances and recordings of all the masters' works
(Comptons, 2). At the funeral, Beethoven's friend wrote a moving address which
stated:
"We, the representatives of an entire nation, come to mourn the passing
of the gracious mouth by which music spoke, the man who inherited and enriched
the immortal fame of Handel and Bach, of Hayden and Mozart. He was an artist,
and who shall stand beside him? Because he shut himself off from the world,
they called him hostile and callous... He withdrew from his fellow-men after he
had given them everything, and received nothing in return. But until his death,
he preserved a father's heart for mankind. Thus he was, thus he died, thus he
will live to the end of time!" (Thompson, 46).