LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

17 December 1770[1] 26 March 1827

Haotong li Music 1010 s00778259

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5

concertos for piano, 32 piano sonatas, and 16 string quartets. He also composed other
chamber music, choral works (including the celebrated Missa Solemnis), and songs.

This is the picture of Ludwig van Beethoven

BEETHOVEN'S CHILDHOOD
His family originated from Brabant, in Belgium.

His father was a musician at the court of Bonn, with a definite weakness for alcohol .
His mother was always described as a gentle, retiring woman, with a warm heart. Beethoven referred to her as his best friend.

The Beethoven family consisted of seven children, but only the three boys survived, of whom Ludwig was the eldest.

BEETHOVEN'S MOTHER

BEETHOVEN'S FATHER

BEETHOVEN'S CHILDHOOD
At an early age, van Beethoven, took an interest in music and his father taught him day and night, on returning to the house from music practice or the tavern. Without a doubt, the child was gifted and his father Johann envisioned creating a new Mozart, a child prodigy. On March 26th 1778, at the age of 7 , Ludwig Van Beethoven gave his first public performance at Cologne. His father announced that he was 6 years-old. Because of this Beethoven always thought that he was younger than he actually was. Even much later, when he received a copy of his baptism certificate, he thought it belonged to his brother Ludwig Maria, who was born two years before him and died as a child.

In 1782, before the age of 12 Beethoven published his first work

9 Variations in C Minor for piano on a march by Earnst Christoph Dressler (WoO 63).

In 1783, Neefe wrote in the Magazine of Music, about his student. If he continues like this, he will be, without a doubt, the new Mozart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KU5cldJMQM

In June 1784, Beethoven was 14 years old. on Neefes recommendations Ludwig Van Beethoven was appointed organist of the court of Maximillian Franz, the Elector of Cologne. On july 17th 1787 his mother passed away

In 1792, Ludwig Van Beethoven went back to Vienna, benefiting from another grant, for two years, by the Prince Elector, again to pursue his musical education. He never went back to the town of his birth. His friend Waldstein, wrote to him, you shall receive Mozarts spirit from Haydns hands At Vienna, the young musician took lessons with Haydyn, then with Albrechtsberger and Salieri. He captured the attention of, and astonished Vienna with his virtuosity and his improvisations on piano. In 1794, Beethoven composed Opus 1, the Trios for Piano. The following year, Ludwig Van Beethoven made his first public performance at Vienna (an Academy) where each musician played his own work. Then followed a tour: Prague, Dresden, Leipzig, and Berlin, before leaving for a concert in Budapest.

In 1800, Beethoven organized a new concert at Vienna including, notably, the presentation of his first symphony. Although today we find this work classical, and close to the works of Mozart and Haydn, at the time certain listeners found the symphony strange, overly extravagant, and even risqu. This genius, Beethoven, who was still a young, new composer, was already pushing the established boundaries of music. In 1801 Beethoven confessed to his friends at Bonn that he was afraid he was slowly going deaf. At Heiligenstadt in 1802 he wrote a famous text expressing his disgust at the unfairness of life: that he, a musician, could become deaf was something he did not want to live through. However, music made him carry on and he wrote that he knew that he still had many other musical domains to explore, discover, and to pass on. Beethoven did not commit suicide. Knowing that his handicap was getting worse and worse, he threw himself into his greatest Beethoven music; Sonatas for Piano (notably The Storm, Opus 31), the second and the third symphonies The Eroica and of course many more.

Beethoven wrote his third symphony in honor of a great man, Bonaparte. He was seen as the liberator of the people, opening a door to hope during the French Revolution. When the First Consul declared himself Emperor, Beethoven became enraged and scowled out Bonapartes name from the score . On April 7th, 1805, the Eroica symphony was played for the first time.

Meanwhile, Beethoven had finally finished his opera

in 1809, Beethoven wanted to leave Vienna, at the invitation of Jerome Bonaparte. His long-standing friend, the Countess Anna Marie Erdody, kept him at Vienna with the help of his wealthiest admirers: the Archbishop Rudolph, the Prince Lobkowitz, and the Prince Kinsky. These men gave Beethoven and annual grant of 4,000 florins, allowing him to live without financial constraint. The only condition was that Beethoven was not to leave Vienna. Beethoven accepted. This grant made him the world's first independent composer. Before this contract musicians and composers alike (even Bach, Mozart, and Haydn), became servants in the houses of wealthy aristocratic families. They were thus part of the domestic staff, with no more rights than any other, but with the added task of composition and performance. Thus, for the musician of the day, Beethoven had outstanding circumstances and he was free to write what he wanted, when he wanted, under command or not, as he pleased

At the end of July 1812, Beethoven was introduced to Goethe by Bettina Brentano. These two great men admired each other, but didnt understand each other. The composer found the poet too servile, and the poet thought that Beethoven was completely untamed. Beethoven admired Goethe; he put music to several of his poems. There will always be regret that Beethoven was not better understood by Goethe. Then one of his benefactors, the Prince Lobkowitz, fell into financial difficulty and the Prince Kinski died from falling off his horse. Kinskis descendant decided to put an end to the financial obligations towards Beethoven. This started one of the composers many attempts at saving his financial independence.

In 1813, Beethoven composed The Victory of Wellington, a work written for a mechanical instrument made by Maelzel, the pan harmonica (or pan harmonicon). But it was above all the metronome, which helped evolve music and Beethoven, who had taken interest straight away, noted scrupulously the markings on his scores, so that his music could be played how he wished. The academy of 1814 regrouped his work, as well as the seventh and eighth symphonies. This was also the time of the re-writing of Lenore as Fidelio, Beethovens only opera. This work eventually became successful with the public. Then the Congress of Vienna met, which brought together all the heads of state to decide the future of Europe after Napoleon. This was one of Beethovens moments of glory. He was invited to play many times, bringing him recognition and admiration which made him very proud.

 1800 1st Symphony 1803 2nd Symphony 1805 3rd Symphony - Eroica

4th Symphony 1808 5th Symphony | 6th Symphony - Pastoral 1813

7th Symphony
1814 8th Symphony - 3rd and final version of Fidelio

1824
9th Symphony - Choral

1824

9th Symphony - Choral

BEETHOVENS DEATH
Beethoven died in Vienna, Austria in 1827

It was storming when he died.

Beethoven raised his frist toward the stom and fell back on his bed, dying 5000 lined the streets at his funeral to pay tribute to his great man.

REFERENCE
http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyLudwig.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSNoZT-j77Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSNoZT-j77Q

Thank you