Ludwig van Beethoven

Where was Beethoven from?

Germany

Why did Beethoven write comparably fewer works than Haydn or Mozart?

He wrote longer works with great deliberation

Beethoven's First Period

Assimilated the musical language of his time

Beethoven's Second Period

Individualistic

Beethoven's Third Period

Introspective

How are Beethoven's first three piano sonatas indebted to Haydn?

They use brief motives that are developed extensively

What items allow us to see the progress of Beethoven's ideas into their final form in the published score?

His Sketchbooks

What represents the "hero" in the first movement of Beethoven's 3rd symphony?

The First Theme

How many operas did Beethoven write?

1 (Fidelio)

How are Beethoven's 9 symphonies divided over the three periods of his life?

1st period: symphonies 1-2
2nd period: symphonies 3-8
3rd period: symphony 9

How did the approach to interpreting written music change from before Beethoven to during Beethoven's life?

Previous to Beethoven: performers could alter music in performance. During and after Beethoven: performers had to dedicate themselves to the composers' wishes instead of their own.

What is the Heiligenstadt Testament?

A letter describing Beethoven's deafness to his brothers

What techniques are most associated with Beethoven's third period?

Counterpoint and fugue

How did Beethoven's forms change in his third period?

They often expanded the number of movements

What is the most innovative aspect of Beethoven's 9th symphony?

Use of solo voices and chorus in the finale