Transcript Chapter 49. The Early Music of Beethoven

Chapter 51
After the Congress of Vienna:
Beethoven’s Late Music
Lecture Overview
• Beethoven’s life and times during his late period
(c.1814-1827)
• His music during the late period
• New forms and means of expression
• Representative works:
– String Quartet in Bb, Op. 130, movement 4
(Cavatina), 1826
– Missa solemnis, 1823, Kyrie eleison
• Review
Events in Beethoven’s Life
During the Late Period
• 1814–15 Congress of Vienna brings international
attention to Beethoven
• 1815–20 distraction from legal proceedings over
the guardianship of nephew Karl
• 1818 deafness requires the use of conversation
books
• 1819 Archduke Rudolph appointed archbishop;
Beethoven’s begins Missa solemnis
• 1822 Prince Nicolas Galitzin commissions the first
of the late quartets
• 1824 premiere of Ninth Symphony and movements
from the Missa solemnis
• 1827 Beethoven dies on March 26
Beethoven’s Principal Music
of his Late Period (1814–1826)
• Piano Sonatas: Nos. 28–32 (also the Diabelli
Variations for piano)
• Symphony: No. 9 (with chorus and solo voices)
• String Quartets: Nos. 12–16 (also the Great Fugue
for string quartet)
• Cello Sonatas: Nos. 4–5
• Chorus: Missa solemnis
• Song cycle: An die ferne Geliebte (To the Distant
Beloved)
Portrait of Beethoven in 1823
This portrait of the aging
composer was made in 1823
by Ferdinand Georg
Waldmüller, one of Vienna’s
most famous painters at this
time. It was commissioned
and paid for by the music
publisher Breitkopf and
Härtel. With the Ninth
Symphony and Missa solemnis
in his head, Beethoven was
apparently impatient for the
painter to complete his work,
which may be the cause of the
composer’s scowl. The
painting was destroyed during
World War II, and it is known
now only by a photograph.
Beethoven, String Quartet in Bb Major, Op.
130, 1826, movement 5 (“Cavatina”)
Ternary form
Beethoven, Missa solemnis, 1823, Kyrie
Ternary form
Review Key Terms
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Congress of Vienna
bagatelle
conversation books
“Cavatina”
Grosse Fuge (Great Fugue)
Archduke Rudolph