Life of Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) is the world's most famous German musician since the late eighteenth century. Beethoven was born in Bonn on the Rhine River in Germany on December 26, 1770. His grandfather was originally from the Netherlands. After immigrating to Germany, he served as the local court music director. His father was a tenor singer, and his mother was the daughter of a palace cook. Beethoven grew up during the period when Joseph II implemented "enlightened autocracy", and the rulers of Bonn also implemented some reform measures. Bonn became one of the centers of the German Enlightenment at that time. Beethoven grew up in such an environment during his childhood. However, Beethoven had a very unhappy childhood. His father, who was addicted to alcohol, ruined the family business. He tried to turn the four-year-old Beethoven into a cash cow. He wanted his son to become a Mozart-style child prodigy, so he not only forced his child to He practiced piano, and often came home drunk in the middle of the night, dragging his children out of their sleep to play the piano. Beethoven, who was under eight years old, was forced to perform and perform in front of Cohen's audience. Beethoven, who was eleven years old, began to perform in the theater working in a band. This harsh childhood life enabled Beethoven to embark on the independent path of making a living through music very early, and at the same time developed his perseverance and stubborn character.

From 1781, while working in the theater, Beethoven studied Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" and composition method with band conductor Neve. Neve was a very cultivated composer who was inclined to the Enlightenment. Conductor, he has contributed to the development of German national opera and oratorio. By learning from this teacher, Beethoven realized the importance of learning the German national music tradition. Under Neve's guidance, he also accepted the influence of the Enlightenment and developed a strong interest in the progressive literature of Germany at that time.

After 1787, Beethoven took on the financial burden of his family's life. But Beethoven did not succumb to the hardships and hardships. He managed to attend philosophy classes at the University of Bonn. He was obsessed with reciting and studying ancient mythology, Greek and Latin classical literature. He was fascinated by Shakespeare, Schiller, Goethe, etc. People's works are very popular. Although he did not have Mozart's precocious talent, nor did he have Mozart's superior learning conditions, his tireless self-study achievements were beyond the reach of all his predecessors.

The French bourgeois revolution of 1789 and the progressive anti-feudal movement in the Rhine Valley played a huge role in Beethoven's ideological growth. He gradually regarded the pursuit of "liberty, equality and fraternity" as his own political ideals. The cantata "The Death of Joseph II" he composed in 1790 praised Joseph II as the savior of the people. This not only showed his pursuit of democracy and ideals, but also reflected Beethoven's early support for reformism. unrealistic fantasies. This work is also Beethoven's earliest attempt to integrate vocal music and symphony.

In 1792, with the encouragement and support of Haydn, Beethoven came to settle in Vienna. He first entered the aristocratic courts of Vienna as a talented young pianist, and was warmly received and protected by the aristocrats. He also once had illusions about the upper class society. However, Beethoven's era was different from that of Haydn and Mozart. The era gave Beethoven more mature bourgeois consciousness and personal self-confidence and self-esteem. Therefore, he was not willing to be a slave of the noble family from the beginning, but wanted to have an equal status with the nobles. Later, Beethoven gradually discovered that there was a great contradiction between his bourgeois ideals and the feudal society at that time. In addition, he began to face the threat of deafness in 1796, which caused Beethoven to quickly develop a dissatisfaction with reality and a rebellion against his personal destiny. thoughts and feelings.

After 1797, Beethoven suffered from deafness, and his condition worsened year by year. For a musician, there is no heavier blow than this! The devil restricted the composer's contacts with the outside world and hindered his piano performance. He had to give up performing and lived in seclusion in the countryside of Vienna for a long time.

Since 1800, Beethoven naturally gradually broke away from the influence of Haydn and Mozart in his creation, striving to create his own artistic style and pursue new ideals. The "Third Symphony" ("Eroica Symphony") he completed in 1803 marked a new stage of development in his creation - a period of maturity. His creative power during this period was extremely strong, showing giant-like working ability and producing many outstanding works. The basic ideological logic of Beethoven's mature works - "Victory through struggle" - was gradually established during this period. A new style of heroic and mass symphony was formed, with revolutionary content, dramatic symphony development techniques, Various major innovations in form, etc., have achieved further development during this period. Beethoven's most outstanding works were almost all created while he was deaf for the next thirty years of his life.

1815-1819 was a four-year period of crisis that Beethoven experienced. At that time, Europe fell into a period of reactionary feudal restoration, the revolutionary power of the bourgeoisie was strangled, and darkness enveloped the European continent. Beethoven's thoughts during this period were relatively complex, and his confidence and determination were disturbed by disappointment and wavering; his creative heroic style changed to a lyrical style; he wrote very few works, and spent most of his time collecting, exploring and adapting folk songs from various European countries. superior. This fully shows that the pacifists in the period of rising bourgeoisie have their historical limitations. However, Beethoven finally struggled out of silence and passed his crisis period. From 1819 onwards, Beethoven once again focused his attention on the anti-feudal struggle. The five piano sonatas, five string quartets, and even the greatest of his creations, the Ninth Symphony (Choral Symphony), all have profound significance. But Beethoven's final years were the most tragic and painful years of his life. The threat of loneliness and poverty made him depressed and lonely. He died of illness in Vienna on March 26, 1827. It is said that at his last moment, amid heavy rain and lightning, Beethoven raised his withered arms to the sky in a final struggle. This spirit of endless fighting in life is all concentrated in his immortal masterpieces.

Beethoven is one of the greatest creators of human art. On the one hand, he has excellent musical talent, a fiery rebellious temperament and a strong character like a giant; on the other hand, his indomitable will and lofty thoughts arising from his sense of social responsibility form his special qualities as a musician. Through his own creation, especially in his nine symphonies, he reflected the great people's movement and the most progressive ideas of that era. Taking the fate of the times and individuals as themes, he wrote a series of symphonic works through a combination of profound philosophy and touching artistic images, which showed the rise of the bourgeoisie from struggle to victory, from darkness to light, and from suffering to happiness. The spiritual journey of the period, his nine symphonies will always shine like pearls.

Through the study and analysis of Beethoven's nine symphonies, especially the analysis of four of them (i.e. the third, fifth, sixth and ninth) title symphonies, we can not only understand Beethoven's The basic appearance of all creations and his great and innocent thoughts, and you can also understand the major innovations in symphony creation, and see how symphony transitioned from the era of Haydn and Mozart to the new era represented by Schubert and Mendelssohn. development period. As early as Beethoven's lifetime, he was recognized as a musician of world significance. He was not only a great classical composer, but also went down in history as a pioneer of the Romantics.

Life Works

Symphony No. 1 in C major Symphony No. 2 in D major Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major (Eroica) B-flat major Symphony No. 4 in C minor Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Fate) Symphony No. 6 in F major (Pastoral) Symphony No. 7 in A major Symphony No. 8 in F major War Symphony (Wellington's Victory) Symphony No. 9 in D minor (Chorus)

Orchestral Violin Romance in G minor Violin Romance in F major

String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat A minor No. 15 in B flat (Grand Fugue) No. 13 in B flat, C sharp minor No. 14 in F major No. 16 The Great Escape

Sacred music in D major (Missa Solemnis)

Piano Works for Elise

Opera Fidelio

Choral Chorus Fantasia

Violin and Piano Sonata in F major (Spring) Sonata in C minor Sonata in G major (Krotzer)

Concerto Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Sextet Concerto in C major Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (Emperor)

Overture Leonora Overture Corio Orchid Overture Egmont Overture Overture to the Ruins of Athens Overture Stephenson Overture Name Day Celebration Overture

Sonata Variations Piano Sonata in C minor (Pathetique) Piano Sonata in C sharp minor (Moonlight) Piano Sonata in D major (Pastoral) E flat major Variations in Eroica Piano Sonata in D minor Piano Sonata in C major (Waldstein) Piano Sonata in E flat major (Farewell) Piano Sonata in E minor Piano Sonata in B flat major (Hammarclavia) Diabelli Variations

"Moonlight"

Created in 1801. Although there have been many examples in the past when a piece of music became very popular due to its common name, never before has it become a famous piece of music that has become famous all over the world due to the common name of "Moonlight" like this sonata. The name "Moonlight" is said to come from the poet Reelstab (1799-1860) who commented that the first movement reminds people of "like a canoe rocking on the moonlit surface of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland". Judging from the birth year of Reilstab, it is speculated that the common name of "moonlight" became generalized after a considerable period of time after its publication. However, this piece of music seems to have gained quite a reputation from the beginning, which made Beethoven a little upset. The reason cannot be denied, not only because this piece of music contains very strong elements that can easily attract literary reverie, Therefore, it has become the reason for its fame, and besides "moonlight", there are also various original explanations and far-fetched legends. In fact, Beethoven's own name for this sonata is the same as Opus 27 No. 1: "Fantasia style sonata". In the first movement, it is also a fantasy and improvisational soft ballad that abandons the sonata form. In the second movement, the atmosphere changes, and then it reaches the third movement, which is the focus of this sonata. The third movement is a torrent of passion. Not only is its intensity extremely rare among all sonatas of this period, but it is also a sonata form with a very remarkable structure. If we look at the contemplative nature of the first movement and the passionate nature of the third movement, they are inextricably linked to a series of tragedies such as Beethoven's love affair, ear disease, and the Heiligan City suicide note in 1802. , seems to make sense, but unfortunately there is no specific data to confirm these connections. Playing time: approximately fifteen minutes.

Eroica Symphony

Beethoven yearned for the ideals of freedom, equality, and fraternity, and was an enthusiastic supporter of the French bourgeois revolution in 1789. In 1798, General Bernadotte (1763-1844) served as the French ambassador to Vienna. Beethoven often visited his home and had close contacts with the people around him. In 1902, under the instruction of Bernadotte, Beethoven began to write the "Third Symphony" dedicated to Napoleon. In his mind, Napoleon was a hero who destroyed the autocratic system and realized his ideals and revolution. In 1904, Beethoven completed the "Third Symphony" and prepared to dedicate it to Napoleon.

At this time, news of Napoleon's proclaimed emperor reached Vienna. When Beethoven learned the news from his student Liss (1784-1838), he angrily shouted: "He is just an ordinary person. Now he will also trample on human rights to fulfill his personal ambitions. He will ride on the He became a tyrant over everyone." As he spoke, he went to the table, tore the dedication to Napoleon in two, and threw it on the floor, not allowing anyone else to pick it up.

After many days, Beethoven's anger gradually calmed down and he allowed this work to be made public. In December 1804, this symphony was performed for the first time at the court of Prince Robkowitz in Vienna. The first public performance at the Vienna Theater in April 1805 was conducted by Beethoven himself. The program notes read: "A new grand symphony in D sharp major, Ludwig van Bedow Composed by Mr. Fen, dedicated to His Royal Highness Prince Lobkovitz. "Strangely, Beethoven did not say it was in E-flat major, but said it was in D-sharp major. When the score was published in October 1806, the title page printed: "Eroica Symphony" written in memory of a great man. From then on, the "Third Symphony" was called the "Eroica Symphony".

Symphony of Destiny

The opening four notes of Beethoven's "Symphony in C minor" (Op. 67) are strong and heavy, like the sound of fate knocking on the door. This work is therefore called "Symphony of Destiny".

"Symphony of Destiny" was composed from 1805 to 1808. Beethoven already said in a letter to his friend Wegler (1765-1848) in November 1808: "I want to block the throat of fate, and it will never completely overwhelm me." "Fate knocks "The sound of the door" has already appeared in the third movement of "Piano Sonata in C minor" (Op. 10-1) composed in 1798, and later appeared in the third movement of "String Quartet in D major" (Op. 18-3) movement, the first movement of the "Appassionata" (Op. 57), the third "Leonora" Overture (Op. 72), the "String Quartet in E flat major" (Op. 74) and other works, it can be seen that victory is overcome through struggle. Destiny is Beethoven's consistent creative thought.

The raging passion for struggle expressed in "Symphony of Destiny" is highly contagious. When the Spanish alto singer Maribrandt heard "Symphony of Destiny" for the first time, she was so frightened that she had to leave. An old guard of Napoleon couldn't help but jump up and shout after hearing the theme at the beginning of the fourth movement: "This is the Emperor!"

Berlioz combined the thrilling struggle image in "Symphony of Destiny" , as "Othello listened to Iago's slander and misunderstood Desdemona's terrible rage when she had an affair."

Schumann believed: "Although you often hear this story Symphony, it always has a constant power on you; just like the phenomena in nature always scare people."

In May and June of 1830, Mendelssohn. He stayed in Weimar for two weeks, met with Goethe for the last time, and played famous works of ancient and modern times for him on the piano. Goethe was greatly excited after listening to the first movement of the "Symphony of Destiny". He said: "This is magnificent and thrilling. It will almost shake the house down. If many people play it together, I don't know what will happen. ."

In March 1841, Engels listened to the performance of "Symphony of Destiny". He praised this work in a letter to his sister and said: "If you don't know this wonderful thing, then you have heard nothing in your life." In the first movement, he heard "the complete despair of sadness" , that melancholy pain"; in the second movement, "the tender melancholy of love" is heard; and in the third and fourth movements, "the powerful, young, free joy expressed in the trumpet ”, again so inspiring. Engels made a very pertinent summary of "Symphony of Destiny" in just a few sentences.

Seventh Symphony

Wagner called Beethoven's "Seventh Symphony" (Op. 92) "the ultimate dance", "the highest form of dance", "according to ideals" The most wonderful expression of body movement in form.

"It is said that once he wanted to use dance to perform the Seventh Symphony with Liszt's piano accompaniment. Wagner's ideal was later realized by the Russian dance drama director Massin. In 1938, he arranged this symphony into It is a ballet that expresses an allegorical storyline - the creation and destruction of the world:

The first movement: Creation - under the guidance of the creative spirit, the chaotic world turns into an orderly world of plants and animals. Abode. Men and women appeared, and dangerous snakes.

The second movement: Hatred and rape appeared on the earth.

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The third movement: the sky - the gods and goddesses in the sky are indifferent to the turmoil on the earth and still enjoy themselves

The fourth movement: wine and destruction - people are addicted to wine and sex. God saw them imitating the joy of the upper world and destroying the world with fire in May 1938. This dance drama was performed for the first time in Monte Carlo, Monaco by Basil's Ballets Russes. p>

Chronology of Beethoven's Major Events

On December 17, 1770, Ludwig, the court singer Johann van Beethoven and his wife Maria Magdalena gave birth to their first child. The two children were baptized in the Church of St. Remigius in Bonn.

On March 26, 1778, the "Six-year-old Child Actor" made his first public performance.

In October 1779, Gram. Christian Gottrobeneff came to Bonn to serve as Beethoven's teacher. In 1782, he met the von Breuning family through Franz Gerhard Wegler. Nine variations based on a march by Dressler were published in Mannheim.

On February 15, 1784, the Archbishop of Cologne and Elector Maximilian Friedrich died. ; Maximilian Franz, the youngest son of Empress Maria Theresa, ascended the throne on 27th year 6 and became an official member of the Porth Court Band.

For the first time from March to April 1787. Traveled to Vienna and met Mozart. On July 17, his mother died of tuberculosis. In 1788, Beethoven's later friend and patron, Count Walstein, came to En. Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach died in Hamburg

On July 14, 1789, the French Revolution broke out.

On February 20, 1790, Emperor Joseph of Austria. II died. On December 25, Joseph Haydn passed through Bonn and performed a cavalier ballet. On the 5th, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in Vienna. On November 2, 1792, he started his second trip to Vienna. On December 18, 1793, he studied with his father. Died in Bonn.

At the end of 1793 or early 1794, three trios were performed for the first time at a family party hosted by Prince Lichnowsky.

In 1794, he lived in the home of Prince Lichnovsky.

On March 29, 1795, it was performed for the first time in Sauena.

From February to June 1796, he traveled to Prague, Dresden, Leipzig and the Prussian Palace in Berlin. Bonaparte led an army to attack Italy.

On January 31, 1797, Franz Schubert was born in Lichtenthal near Vienna. On April 6, he made his debut at a concert held by violinist and friend Schupanzech. Performance of Quintet (Opus 16). In May, he began to get acquainted with Therese and Josephine von Brunshevik.

The first symptoms of ear disease appeared in 1798.

On April 2, 1800, he held his first solo concert at the Humphrey Palace Theater and performed the "First Symphony" and "Orchestral Septet" for the first time.

1801 Love Giulietta Guichardi. On 1st of 1801 and 6th of November, he wrote letters to his friends Amanda and Wegler to disclose the fact that he was increasingly hearing-impaired.

On October 6 and 10, 1802, the will was written in Heiligenstadt.

On April 5, 1803, a concert was held at the Vienna Opera House, where the "Second Symphony" and "Third Piano Concerto" were performed for the first time. During the summer, he composed the "Eroica Symphony" in Baden and D?pping. Began teaching piano playing techniques and music theory to Archduke Rudolf of Austria.

From the autumn of 1804 to the end of 1807, he fell in love with Josephine von Deim; her maiden name was Brunshevik. On May 20, Bonaparte proclaimed himself emperor and Napoleon I. On August 11, Franz I became Emperor of Austria.

On April 7, 1805, the "Third Symphony (Eroica)" was premiered. On November 13, French troops occupied Vienna. On November 20, "Fidelio" was performed for the first time.

On March 29, 1806, the second version of "Fidelio" was performed for the first time. In October, he broke off diplomatic relations with Prince Lishinovsky and met Count Rasumovsky. On December 23, "Violin Concerto" (Op. 61) was performed for the first time.

In March 1807, a special concert was held at the Prince Gerbkovits Palace, where the "Fourth Symphony", "Coriolan Overture" and "Fourth Piano Concerto" were performed for the first time.

In October 1808, the royal family of Gér?me Bonaparte invited Beethoven to Kassel. On December 22, a concert was held at the Vienna Opera House, and the "Fifth Symphony", "Sixth Symphony" and "Choral Fantasy" were performed for the first time.

On February 26, 1809, Rudolf The Grand Duke, Prince Lobkowitz and Prince Kinski promised to pay Beethoven an annuity. On April 9, Austria declared war on France. On May 10, the French army occupied Vienna again. On May 31, Joseph Haibin died. Movements against Napoleon broke out in the Austrian Tyrol and in Germany.

In the spring of 1810, he fell in love with Therese von Malfati.

On March 15, 1811, "Financial Patent Pen Drum Gao Bustard Zhanglao?" On August 1, he arrived at Teplitz and met Amaryll Siebold. November 28 , held the first performance of "Piano Concerto No. 5" in Leipzig.

On June 24, 1812, Napoleon launched his troops to attack Russia. On July 6 and 7, he wrote "Eternal Lover". From July 19th to 23rd, he met with Goethe several times. On October 19th, the French army began to retreat.

Stayed in Baden on June 21st. Wellington defeated the French army in Victoria. The national liberation war against French rule began. On December 8, a concert was held at the University Auditorium in Vienna, where the "Seventh Symphony" and "War Symphony" were performed for the first time. p>

On February 27, 1814, the Eighth Symphony was performed for the first time. On April 6, Napoleon abdicated in Fontainebleau. On April 15, he met Anton Schindler. On May 23, Prince Karl Lichnovsky died. On September 18, the Vienna Conference opened on November 29 for the participants of the Vienna Conference. Grand concert.

On January 25, 1815, he performed for the last time as a pianist. On March 1, Napoleon left the exile area and returned to the mainland for the summer. and Deppling. On November 15, his brother Karl died, and Beethoven became the guardian of his nephew Karl. On February 2, 1816, his nephew Karl began to study at Gianatasio Del Rio. The Juvenile Correctional Institution Schupanzech Quartet disbanded and stayed in Baden since October. On December 16, Prince Joseph Franz Lobkovi died due to various illnesses caused by colds.

Stayed in Heiligenstadt and Nudorf in the summer of 1817.

Stayed in M?dling in the summer of 1818.

Announced in 1819. Don Schendler became Beethoven's assistant and began to talk with people using the "Conversation Book".

On April 8, 1820, he became the sole guardian of his nephew Carl. ?Summer, stay in Modlin.

In the summer of 1821, he stayed in Deppling and Baden. Suffering from jaundice.

In the summer of 1822, he stayed in Deppling and Baden. On November 9, Prince Nikolaus Galezin of Russia invited Beethoven to write three string quartets.

On May 4, 1823, Shupanzei returned from Russia. During the summer, he stayed in Herzendorf and Baden.

In February 1824, Viennese art lovers wrote to Beethoven, requesting him to perform new works in Vienna. On April 18, "Missa Solemnis" was performed for the first time in Petersburg. On May 7, a concert was held at the Costento Theater, where the "Ninth Symphony" was performed for the first time. In the summer, he stayed in Pengqing and Guttenbrunn near Vienna.

On March 6, 1825, the Schupanzech Quartet performed Quartet No. 127 for the first time. In May, I suffered from severe enteritis. In the summer, he stayed in Gutenbrunn. In October, we moved into a Spanish-style apartment.

In 1826, he suffered severe physical and mental injuries. On March 21, Quartet No. 130 was premiered. The last movement of the piece was the "Grand Fugue". On July 30, nephew Carl attempted suicide. On September 29, he set off for Gnexendorf, where his brother John lived. On December 2, after returning to Vienna, Beethoven was in serious condition, suffering from pneumonia, cirrhosis and ascites. On December 20, the first abdominal puncture was performed.

On January 3, 1827, he wrote his will. On January 8, the second puncture was performed. On February 2, the third puncture was performed. In late February, Beethoven became critically ill. On February 27, the fourth abdominal puncture was performed. On March 24, he lost consciousness. On March 26, at 5:45 pm, Beethoven passed away. The wind roared and lightning flashed.