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By Christopher Thompson Ludwig van Beethoven
By Christopher Thompson
Ludwig van Beethoven
Born December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany
Born to a musical familyGrandfather and Father
Strict FatherForced him to practice relentlessly
Family and Childhood
FatherChristian Neefe
Helped him publish first piano variationsMozart
BrieflyPredicted a bright future
Joseph HaydnJohann Georg AlbrechtsbergerAntonio Salieri
Teachers and Musical Study
Early WorksPiano Sonatas, String Quartets, and
Symphonies no. 1 & 2Began to be established as a master composer
Began to go deafHeiligenstadt Testament
First Period up to 1802
“O you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly do you wrong me. You do not know the secret cause which makes me seem that way to you and I would have ended my life – it was only my art that held me back. Ah, it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had brought forth all that I felt was within me.”
His WorksSymphonies Nos. 3 to 8, piano sonatas, two
piano concertos, a violin concertoBecame more independent in composition style
Financially StableWell-knownSymphony No. 3 dedicated to Napoleon
BonaparteNever married
Second Period—1802 to 1815
His WorksMissa Solemnis, final piano sonatas and string
quartets, Diabelli Variations, and Symphony No. 9
Music is more reflectiveCompletely deafSymphony No. 9
Premiered May 7, 1824Received 5 standing ovationsCould not hear the applause
Third Period– to 1827
Liver failureFuneral attended by an estimated 20,000
people
Death—March 26, 1827
Fur EliseBagatelle No. 25 in A minor
Written in 1810Discovered by Ludwig Nohl
He claims it was dedicated to “Elise”Her identity is unknown
Therese MalfattiElisabeth Rockel
Composition History
Listening GuideFur Elise
0:00 Theme A Waltz-like rhythmConjunct melody
0:42 Theme BMoves to majorArch contourLouder Dynamics
1:05 Theme A1:46 Theme C
Tempo increasesMinor keyDissonanceArch contourCrescendos/decrescendosThick texture
2:16 Theme A to end
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125Second Movement: Scherzo: molto vivace—Presto
Commissioned in 1817Completed in 1824Premiered in Vienna
May 7, 1824Received 5 standing ovationsFirst symphony with voices
“Ode to Joy”Beethoven could not hear applauseConsidered his best work
Composition History
Listening GuideSymphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125—Second Movement
0:00—Strong rhythmic introduction in all voices0:04—Melodic line in strings, rhythmic
accompaniment in woodwinds, strong crescendo0:28—Crescendo climax, homophonic0:39—Melodic rhythm in woodwinds, dance-like
feel in strings, crescendos to new section1:15—All sections rest, return to beginning1:42—Loud dynamic, all instruments play2:28—All sections rest, transitions to duet in
strings and woodwinds
Section A
2:43—Timbres changes, strong rhythmic drive, timpani enters
3:00—Strings and woodwinds play call and answer
3:28—All sections play and crescendo3:45—Soft dynamic, woodwinds carry melody,
strings provide harmonic counterpart4:03—Strings play pulsing rhythm,
woodwinds carry theme, timpani is heard4:32—Orchestra rests, call is heard in brass
4:50—Mood softens, rhythm calms, flutes repeat melodic line, bassoon plays counterpoint
5:03—Strings and woodwinds build melodic line
5:17—French horn repeats theme at 4:50, strings play counterpoint, oboes and bassoons enhance theme
5:48—Dynamics build, all sections play6:02—Music repeats as at beginning of
Section B7:00—Variation of original melody, tempo
slows and Section B ends
Section B
7:38—Section A returns, rhythmic intensity reappears as at beginning
8:06—Orchestra plays homophonically8:17—Dynamic drops as strings and
woodwinds play8:25—Strong pulse by strings, woodwinds
play dance-like rhythm8:49—Intensity decreases, orchestra plays
short theme9:09—Woodwinds play dance-like theme,
timpani brings dissonance9:51—Orchestra crescendos into climax
Section A
10:11—Sudden drop in dynamic, rhythm calms, flowing melody
10:29—Rhythmic intensity returns. Section A themes reappear briefly
10:58—Orchestra rests, call in brass, forward motion resumes building to final climax, strong rhythmic chords end the piece
11:33—Ends
