4.15 Beethoven

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) is one of the most well known composers

• He has a “powerful, positive image”

Between Classicism and Romanticism

Beethoven is right in between 18th-century Viennese Classical style and 19th-century Romanticism chronologically, but he was committed to the principles of the Classical style

The French Revolution

• Romanticism started in literature, but lit. wasn’t big in Vienna or with Beethoven

• The French Revolution was highly influential on Beethoven’s music

• Beethoven admired Napoleon Bonaparte, so much so that he wrote a symphony called Bonaparte, but then he went in a completely different direction

Beethoven and the Symphony

• Unique mood of excitement and urgency

• Maximizes all musical elements

• Beethoven’s symphonic ideals were rhythmic drive, motivic consistency/unity, and psychological progression

The Scherzo

A scherzo is a movement which Beethoven used to replace the minuet. It’s fast, rushing, and in triple meter. ABA form. Means “joke” in Italian, but is broad and violent.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Biography

• Regarded as a genius even when alive

• 1st musician to make a career from composing only

• Mother died, father was an alcoholic (employed) musician

• Slow developer, but soon was a powerful virtuoso pianist in Vienna

• After 30, Beethoven became progressively deaf, which was very depressing for him

• Got great support from Viennese nobility

• Leftist, but more conservative in later years

• Many love affairs, never married, had an “immortal beloved” pen-pal

• Ill health, died at 57, funeral attended by 20K

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 (1808)

• 5th was composed w/ 6th

• Rare but vastly successful concert in 1808

• Development of movement 1 has fragmentation

Beethoven’s “Third Period”

• Beethoven has 3 style periods

  • First (until 1800, roughly) is music building on the style of Haydn and Mozart

  • Middle is “characteristically ‘heroic’ works”

  • Third (around 1818 to 1827) is more introspective, and has less symphonies

• Later music was more abstract

Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 109 (1820), First Movement

• Gentleness and spirituality

• Wide range of dynamics (p to ff)

• Has a benign coda