Transcript Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven
A Classical\Romantic Composer
1770-1827
Bridge Between Classic and
Romantic
 Classic Era ended
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about 1820.
Grew up during the time
of Haydn and Mozart.
Brought Classic styles
into the Romantic
period by adding more
emotion into his music
Enlarged the orchestra.
Infused all music with
passion.
Beethoven’s Early Life
 Born in Bonn, Germany on
December 16th, 1770 to a
family of musicians.
 1792 - Studied with Haydn in
Vienna.
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Poor relationship with
Haydn.
Beethoven – rebellious &
headstrong; Haydn – old
fashioned & pompous.
 Lived off his piano skills.
 Earliest compositions were
piano and Chamber works.
 1800 – Began going deaf.
 1817 – Completely deaf.
Beethoven’s Heroic Phase
 Sense of triumph over
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adversity.
“I will seize fate by the
throat.”
1802-1812 – Wrote 6
symphonies, 4 concertos, 5
string quartets, and his
opera.
Starting with Sym #3 he
began writing music that was
much larger in scope and
length.
Most popular music written
during this time.
Eroica Symphony,
Symphony #5, Fidelio.
Beethoven’s Late Years
 Completely deaf by this time.
 Wrote some of his most revolutionary music.
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(bridging the gap between Classical and
Romantic periods)
Last 3 piano sonatas.
Symphony #9 – added chorus and vocal
solos to movement 4 (based on the poem
“Ode to Joy” by Schiller).
Last series of string quartets.
Missa Solemnis
Beethoven’s “Fingerprints”
 Extremely passionate
and powerful music
(fire).
 Long, powerful
crescendos.
 Dramatic use of Classic
structures (especially
Sonata form).
 Sudden key changes
that fit into a powerful
harmonic logic.