Inside the world of composer Ludwig van Beethoven

1. Music 111: Appreciation
10: The World of Beethoven

2. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
One of the great
disruptive forces
in the history of
music

3. Born in Bonn,
Germany

4. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Father was a tenor
at the court of the
Electorate of
Cologne in Bonn

5. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Later, father
succumbed to
alcoholism

6. 1792
George Washington
re-elected president

7. 1792
Beethoven studies with Haydn

8. Motive—a short succession of notes that
creates a single and distinct impression
A
B

9. Beethoven made a living as a free agent

10. Some of Beethoven’s compositions
Piano sonatas (32)
Symphonies (9)
Fidelio—Opera
Violin Concerto
Piano concertos (5)
Triple Concerto (for violin, cello, piano)
Missa solemnis—Large mass for choir, orchestra, soloists
Late string quartets—very dissonant!

11. Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas
Wrote 32 total sonatas throughout his life

12. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor "Quasi una
fantasia,” op. 27, No. 2 (“Moonlight”)—1801
Three movements

13. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor "Quasi una
fantasia,” op. 27, No. 2 (“Moonlight”)
Required: First movement
Uncharacteristic of typical sonatas
Truncated sonata-allegro form, no repeat of
exposition, limited development

14. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor "Quasi una
fantasia,” op. 27, No. 2 (“Moonlight”)
Second movement: joyful and content

15. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor "Quasi una
fantasia,” op. 27, No. 2 (“Moonlight”)
Required: Third movement
Turbulent character; weightiest of the three
Fast arpeggios (fast chord figurations) and
strongly accented notes

16. Beethoven’s Symphonies (9)
Third Symphony (1805): Eroica
Dedicated to a hero
Fifth Symphony (1808)
Sixth Symphony (1808): Pastoral
Scenes from the countryside
Ninth Symphony (1824): Choral
features well-known melody and chorus in final
movement

17. Beethoven Symphony No. 5
Composed 1804-1808

18. Beethoven Symphony No. 5
1805 Napoleon’s Troops
Occupy Vienna

19. Beethoven Symphony No. 5
Beethoven’s personal life
Troubled by his increasing deafness

20. First movement: Allegro con brio
Sonata-Allegro form
Based on recurring rhythmic motive
Required

21. Second movement: Andante con moto
Slow movement
Double Theme and Variations

22. Third movement: Scherzo allegro
Scherzo—faster than a minuet
Italian for “joke”

23. Fourth movement: Allegro
Sonata-allegro form
Triumphant!

24. Symphony No. 6: “Pastoral”
Scenes from the countryside
Movement 4: Allegro—depiction of a violent
thunderstorm
Movement 5: Allegretto—Rondo form

25. Beethoven’s influence
Beethoven’s symphonies are popular for all
time; everybody wants to hear them

26. Beethoven’s influence
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 on first program
for New York Philharmonic in 1842

27. Beethoven’s influence
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 on first program
for National Symphony Orchestra in 1931

28. Beethoven’s influence
Symphony becomes an epic work

29. F.J. Haydn (1732-1809)
Composed 104 Symphonies

30. W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Composes roughly 40 symphonies
in his short 35-year life

31. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Composed 9 symphonies

32. Music after Beethoven
How do new composers get their
compositions heard?