The Famous Deaf Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

By: Martha Cruz

Timeline of Beethoven's Life

• December 17, 1770, he was baptized in the church of St. Remigius, Bonn.

• December 24, 1773: Beethoven’s beloved grandfather, Kapellmeister Ludwig van Beethoven, died.

• April 8, 1774, Beethoven’s brother Caspar Carl is baptized.

• October 2, 1776, his other brother Nikolaus Johann is baptized.

Father: Johann van Beethoven

Mother: Maria van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven’s life continued…• 1778: First public appearance

• March 26, 1778: Beethoven’s 1st known public performance, in Cologne. His father said he was six but in reality he was seven.

• 1780: Beethoven began lessons with Gottlob Neefe, who said he will be the next Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

• October 14, 1783: Beethoven publishes the 3 piano sonatas, dedicated to the Elector of Cologne and Minster, Maximilian Friedrich.

Gottlob Neefe

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Maximilian Friedrich

Beethoven’s life continued…

• 1784: Beethoven is appointed assistant court organist alongside Neefe. (dad unable to provide for this family)

• 1787: Travels to Vienna to meet Mozart. Mozart takes him on as a pupil but shortly after Beethoven had to return to Bonn because his mother was dying, 5 years later he travels back to Vienna to find out that Mozart has died.

• July 17, 1787, mother of Beethoven Maria Magdelana, dies.

Beethoven’s life continued…

• 1789: Beethoven’s father: Johann, a tenor singer, is forced to retire from the electoral choir, after his increased drinking ruined voice.

• 1790: Beethoven composes the Cantata on the Death of Joseph II, and the Cantata on the Elevation of Leopold II. The musicians didn’t want to play it saying it was unplayable.

Johann van Beethoven

Beethoven’s life continued…

• December 1790: Beethoven meets Haydn. Haydn so impressed with Beethoven that he tells him to go back with him to Vienna, where he will take him as a pupil.

Haydn

Beethoven’s Life continued…

• 1791: Beethoven composes the Ritterballet, allowing Count Waldsteing claim it as his own composition.

• Beethoven goes with the electoral orchestra on a trip to Mergentheim.

• December 5th: Mozart dies.

Cont’d…• 1792: a month before his 22nd

birthday, he leaves Bonn for Vienna to study with Haydn.

• He is given 6 months of leave of absence by the elector.

• Beethoven never does return to Bonn, he stays in Vienna the rest of his life.

• December 18 1792: Johann van Beethoven dies.

Cont’d…

• 1793: Beethoven begins lessons with Haydn. The city’s most influential musical patrons– including Prince Lichnowsky- take Beethoven under their wing, and put him forward to take on the city’s piano virtuosos in improvisation contests.

• One after another he defeats them and quickly establishes his reputation as the finest piano virtuoso in Vienna.

Cont’d…

• 1794: Caspar Carl moves to Vienna. Beethoven begins composing Piano Trios op.1.

• 1795: Beethoven’s first public performance in Vienna, where he premieres his First Piano Sonatas op.2.

• 1796: Beethoven travels with Prince Lichnowsky to Prague, where he gives a concert. In berlin he composes the Cello Sonatas op.5.

Prince Lichnowsky

Cont’d…

• 1797: Beethoven gives the first performance of Quintet op.16 at Jahn’s restaurant. In the summer of this year he becomes seriously ill, possible beginning the mark of his deafness.

• 1798: Beethoven completes the Piano Sonatas op.10, composes the three string Trios op.9, the Trio op. 11, and the three Violin Sonatas op.12. Later in the year he begins working on the Septet op.20 and composes the huge Pathetique Sonata op.13.

Cont’d…

• 1799: Beethoven meets the double bass virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, performing a cello sonata with him. Beethoven performs his first String Quartets op.19, and begins working on Symphony no.1

Domenico Dragonetti

• 1800: Beethoven defeats the celebrated Prussian piano virtuoso Daniel Steibelt in an improvisation contest at the palace of Prince Lobkowitz. His position as Vienna’s greatest piano virtuoso is secure and remains unchallenged for the rest of his life.

• Beethoven’s first benefit concert, at the Burgtheater in Vienna. He premieres the Septet and the First Symphony, and performs one of his two completed Piano Concertos.

• Beethoven begins working on Symphony No. 2.

Cont’d…• 1801: Beethoven composes music

for The Creatures of Prometheus.

• Beethoven writes a long letter to his old friend Dr. Franz Wegeler in Bonn, where he mentions his deafness for the first time.

• Beethoven falls in love with Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, and dedicates the Sonata quasi una Fantasia to her. Many years later, after his death, it gets the nickname Moonlight Sonata.

Dr. Franz Wegeler

• April of 1802: Beethoven moves to Heiligenstadt north of Vienna for the summer to relieve his hearing. In Heiligenstadt he composes the Prometheus (Eroica) Variations op. 35 and the three Piano Sonatas op. 31. He completes Symphony no. 2.

• 6 October of 1802: Beethoven writes the Heiligenstadt Testament, his last will and testament, publicly acknowledging his deafness for the first time ... "Oh, all you people who think or say that I am hostile to you, or that I am stubborn, or that I hate mankind, you do not realize the wrong that you do me...I am deaf ...“.

• March 26, 1827: Beethoven dies at the age of 56.

He was a brilliant composer whose music has touched the world.

Beethoven’s Work

Beethoven

https://youtu.be/fOk8Tm815lE

Listening Guide: Ludwig van BeethovenSymphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

Date of Work: 1807-1808

Movements: I. Allegro con brio; sonata- allegro form C minor

II. Andante con moto: theme and variations form (2 themes), A- flat major

III. Allegro; scherzo and trio form C minor

IV. Allegro: sonata- allegro form C major

First Movement: Allegro con brio; sonata- allegro form, 2/4 meter, C minor

Exposition:

Theme 1- based on famous 4-note motive, in C minor: (allegro con brio), motive treated sequentially,

expansion from 4-note motive; horns modulate to key of second theme:

Theme 2- more lyrical, in woodwinds, in E- flat major; heard against rhythm of 4-note motive:

closing theme- descending staccato passage, then 4-note motive, Repeat of exposition.

Development

Beginning of development, announced by horns. Manipulation of 4-note motive through a descending sequence:

Melodic variation, interval filled in and inverted:

Expansion through repetition; leads into recapitulation:

RECAPITULATION

Theme 1- in C minor,

Followed by brief oboe solo in cadenze style.

Theme 2- returns in C minor.

Closing theme.

Coda- extended treatment of 4-note motive; ends in C minor.

Second Movement: Andante con moto: theme and variations form with two themes, 3/8, meter, A-flat major

Theme 1- broad, flowing melody, heard in low strings; andante con moto.

Theme 2- upward- thrusting 4-note motive: basic rhythm.

Third Movement: Allegro; scherzo and trio form, ¾ meter, C minor

Scherzo theme- a rising, rocket theme in low strings:

Recurrent rhythmic motive (from opening of first movement);

Trio theme, in C major, in double basses, set fugally, played twice: Trio theme is broken up and expanded

through sequences.

Scherzo returns, with varied orchestration, including pizzicato strings.

Transition to next movement with timpani rhythm from opening 4-note motive.

Fourth Movement: Allegro; sonata- allegro form, 4/4 meter, C major

Exposition

Theme 1- in C major, a powerful melody whose opening outlines a C major chord: Allegro

Lyrical transition theme in French horns, modulating from C to G major:

Theme 2- in G major, vigorous melody with triplets:

Closing theme- featuring clarinet and violas, decisive:

Development

Much modulation and free rhythmic treatment; bring back 4-note motive ( 3 short and a long from first movement.)

Brief recurrence of scherzo.

RECAPITULATION

Theme 1- in C major.

Theme 2- in C major. Closing Theme.

Coda- long extension.

Beethoven 1770- 1827