Life Of Ludwig Van Beethoven

1283 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Life and work of Beethoven

Jacqueline Choy Professor Collette Hausey Music 101 April 20th, 2014 Life of Beethoven Ludwig Van Beethoven was one of the greatest classical music composers of all time. He was born around December 16, 1770 to a middle class family in the city of Bonn in the Electorate of cologne. His exact date of birth is unknown but he was baptized on December 17, 1770 and during this time it was law and custom for babies to be baptized within 24 hours of birth. His father Johann Van Beethoven was a court singer and his mother was Maria Magdalena Van Beethoven. Ludwig had four other siblings. The first Ludwig had passed away 6 days after he was born. Anton Karl was born on April 1774, Nikkolaus Johann October 1776 and Maria Margareta Josepha in 1786. Ludwig was already linked to music by previous generations; his father Johann was the son to Louis Van Beethoven. Louis was a Dutch musician who was appointed Kapelmeister at the court of Elector of cologne. When Johann was 16 he was appointed Hofmusikant thanks to the help of his father. Johann fell in love with Maria; Louis at first did not approve of the marriage because of the class difference but eventually gave consent. Louis passed away on December 24, 1773 when Ludwig was only 3 years old. After his passing Johann tried to take over his father’s position at the court but the Electors would not allow it. His rejection slowly led him to alcoholism. Johann was talented enough to be able to teach piano, violin and voice to make a living out of it and somewhat support his family. His alcoholism however showed when he was teaching Ludwig music. Some of the neighbors believe that they heard a little boy cry while he was playing the clavier and getting beating for every mistake. There were times h... ... middle of paper ... ...actually composed his best works during this time. In 1824, he debuted a mass “Missa Solemnis” which is now considered one of his great achievements and also a strong quartet number 14 which was composed of seven linked moments played without a break. His 9th and last symphony was competed later that year becoming one of the most famous pieces written in the history of music. On March 26, 1827, Beethoven passed away. His autopsy revealed that his cause of death was due to post-hepatitic cirrhosis of the liver. His deafness was believed to be caused by contracting typhus in the summer of 1796. In his will that he had wrote a couple days before he passed, he left his estate to his nephew Karl. Ludwig Van Beethoven is considered to be one of the greatest composers of all time. The fact that he was composing such beautiful music pieces while was deaf made him a genius.

Show More
Related

  • Beethoven's Life and Music After Napoleon

    585 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beethoven was a political composer. He stubbornly dedicated his art to the problems of human freedom, justice, progress, and community. The Third Symphony, probably Beethoven's most influential work, centers around a funeral march provoking patriotic ceremonies from the French Revolution. Beethoven was a long time admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte. So he dedicated the symphony to Napoleon, but when Napoleon was proclaimed the Emperor of France, he scratched the dedication to Napoleon. This Symphony is cited as the marking end of Beethoven's classical era and the beginning of musical Romanticism. But what of Beethoven after Napoleon? Beethoven's life and music became worse after the Third Symphony was composed because of his reaction to Napoleon becoming Emperor, his deafness, and through his personal and family difficulties.

    Read More

  • How Did Beethoven Influence The French Revolution

    1682 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the highly considered greatest composers of all time was Ludwig Van Beethoven. Mr. Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, on December 17,1770. Johann Beethoven’s father had high expectations that he would become a child sensation just like Mozart had. Johann was unable to live in his father’s musician’s shoes. In spite he wanted the talent that he lacked to be present in Ludwig his son. Ludwig Van Beethoven did not appear to be as talented as the child sensation Mozart. Beethoven’s father was persistent and strict when Ludwig would try to improvise the original compositions on the piano. Insisting that Beethoven just learn the notes as they where written. It was reported by neighbors that as a child Beethoven would cry in front

    Read More

  • Johannes Brahms

    1737 Words  | 4 Pages

    As a boy Johannes worked and studied with his father and learnt lessons from books with his mother, with whom he would play ?four-hands? at the piano, ?just for fun.? There were never any doubts as to his becoming a musician. From early childhood he learn everything his father could teach him, read everything he could lay hands on, practiced with undeviating enthusiasm, and filled reams of paper with exercises and variations. The soul of the child went out in music. He played scales long before he knew the notes, and great was his joy when at the age of six he discovered the possibility of making a melody visible by placing black dots on lines at different intervals, inventing a system of notation of his own before he had been made acquainted with the method which the musical world had been using for some centuries.

    Read More

  • Beethoven Feel The Music Essay

    600 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beethoven’s early life was one out of a sad story book. For being one of the most well-known musicians one would think that sometime during Beethovens childhood he was influenced and inspired to play music; This was not the case. His father was indeed a musician but he was more interested in drinking than he was playing music. When his father saw the smallest sliver of music interest in Beethoven he immediately put him into vigorous musical training in hopes he would be the next Mozart; his training included organ, viola, and piano. This tainted how young Beethoven saw music and the memories that music brought. Nevertheless Beethoven continued to do what he knew and by thirteen he was composing his own music and assisting his teacher, Christian Neefe. Connections began to form during this time with different aristocrats and families who stuck with him and became lifelong friends. At 17 Beethoven, with the help of his friends, traveled to Vienna, the music capitol of the world, to further his knowledge and connection...

    Read More

  • Antonin Leopold Dvorak

    856 Words  | 2 Pages

    It soon became clear that the great composer was seriously ill and by April 5th, 1904, doctors discovered that he was suffering from generalized arterial degeneration with some involvement of the kidneys (2), however this great man died suddenly on May 1st, 1904. Because of the many accomplishments of Antonin Dvorak, his works as well as few students of his, will be remembered and loved by the American public forever.

    Read More

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the town of Bonn, Germany on December 16 of 1770. Bonn is located in western Germany on the Rhine River. Beethoven showed an affinity for music at an early age. His father, Johann, taught Ludwig to play the piano as well as the violin. Johann did this in hopes that his son would become a prodigy, and then reach fame like Wolfgang A. Mozart. Unfortunately though Beethoven mother died when he was seventeen. In addition to his mother’s death Beethoven’s father developed an alcohol problem. To escape these problems Beethoven found a job tutoring the two children of the von Breuning family. This relationship proved to be beneficial to Beethoven. The matriarch of the family happened to be well liked in the town of Bonn, so she introduced Beethoven to a few important people.

    Read More

  • The Impact Of Ludwig Van Beethoven's Music?

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ludwig van Beethoven is who everyone thinks of first when someone asks if you know any composer from classical music. Beethoven changed the sound of music in the early 1800’s from bland and meaningless, to exciting and heartfelt. You felt Beethoven’s pain through his music. Was Beethoven’s deafness to blame for his spark of genius that changed the course of classicism, to romanticism? Was it not for his lonesome solitude, and lack of hearing that drove him to create the masterpieces that are still resonating through current times?

    Read More

  • Bach Essay

    517 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Bach was ten, he was moved to live with his eldest brother Johann Christoph Bach who was the organist in Ohrdruf. While Bach lived there he studied, performed and copied forbidden music. Bach’s older brother taught him his first keyboard l...

    Read More

  • Biography of Franz Schubert

    687 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many prominent musicians produced major works during the romantic period. Among these are Beethoven, Strause, and Bach. But the musician that I think had the most impact, was Franz Schubert. Franz Peter, born on 31 January 1797 was one of fourteen children born of Franz Theodore Schubert and Elisabeth Vietz, four of which survived. He grew up in an apartment that daily converted to a classroom in which his father taught several elementary school classes. He received a thorough basic education; his father being a good teacher, and son being a bright student. From his father Franz also learned to play the violin, and from his brother he learned the piano. The family, indeed, was a very musical one; family "String Quartet Parties" were well known in the part of Vienna in which they lived. But soon young Franz learned all that his family had to teach him. Later, any neighbors who could play any instruments were drawn in and the quartet became a little orchestra. At nine years old, this inquisitive little boy auditioned and was accepted for a position as a chorister in the Royal Court Chapel Choir (which would later become the 'Vienna Boys' Choir). The young chorister gained the attention of Antonio Saliere, who saw to the nurture the young boy's education. After leaving the choir, he continued as a student at the school for one unhappy year. Schubert returned to live at home where it was decided that he would help his father teach. This did not last long. A disastrous episode with an unruly pupil was the last straw and Schubert at age nineteen left teaching and his home to pursue what he loved, composing. He moved in to the...

    Read More

  • Beethoven

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    Believed to be born on December 16, 1770 Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. Born to Johann van Beethoven, a musician of Bonn and Maria Magdalena Keverich. At a young age, Beethoven took an interest in music, which his father would teach him every day and night. It is speculated that Beethoven’s father was a harsh instructor, forcing Beethoven to often play the piano with tears in his eyes. However, Beethoven had other teachers as well. Gilles van den Eeden, Tobias Friedrich Pfeiffer whom taught Beethoven the piano, and Franz Rovantini whom trained him on the violin. All of who saw Beethoven’s musical talent at his very young age. Beethoven’s father, aware of young Mozart’s success, attempted to exploit his son as a child prodigy as well. Having Beethoven give his first public performance at the age of seven.

    Read More

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    1458 Words  | 3 Pages

    Johann Sebastian Bach was born into a family of musicians. It was only natural for him to pick up an instrument and excel in it. His father taught him how to play the violin and harpsichord at a very young age. All of Bach’s uncles were professional musicians, one of them; Johann Christoph Bach introduced him to the organ. Bach hit a turning point in his life when both of his parents died at the age of ten years old. Bach’s older brother Johann Christoph Bach took him in and immediately expanded his knowledge in the world of music. He taught him how to play the clavichord and exposed him to great composers at the time. At the age of fourteen, Bach and his good friend George Erdmann were awarded a choral scholarship to the prestigious musical school St. Michael’s in Luneburg. From then on, Bach began to build his career in the music industry. His first two years at the school he sang in the school’s a cappella choir. Historical evidence has shown that Bach at a young age would visit Johanniskirche and would listen to the works of organ player Jasper Johannsen. This was thought to have been the inspiration to Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Studying at the prestigious musical school has help Bach network his way around and become acquaintances’ with some of the best organ players at the time such as Georg Böhm, and Johann Adam Reincken. Through his acquaintance with Böhm and Reincken Bach had access to some of the greatest and finest instruments.

    Read More

  • Johann Sebastian Bach (1685- 1750)

    2289 Words  | 5 Pages

    Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer, a musician, teacher, and organist who later became a specialist in construction of organs. Bach learnt to play the violin, the orchestra, and the organ from his father and his famous uncle and twin brother to the father, Johann Christoph at a young age. The organ was his chosen instrument. He also achieved success in the art of Fugue, choral polyphone, instrumental music and dance forms. In Eisenach he attended Old Latin Grammar School, the same school that Martin Luther had attended. He sang in the schools choir. His parents died before Bach was 10 years old. His mother died when Bach was nine years old, his father’s death followed nine months later (Sherrane, 2011). After the parents death Bach was taken in by his older brother Johann Christoph who had already established himself as an organist in Ohrdruf. Johann Christoph had a great influence in Bach’s success in music as he taught him and encouraged him to study music composition. At the same time Bach was attending the Gymnasium grammar school in Ohrdruf where he studied theology, Latin...

    Read More

  • Beethoven

    582 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1812 he had completed over twelve of his best works and he was known

    Read More

  • Beethoven Informative Speech

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    Johann was an alcoholic, and a cruel father to young Ludwig. Perhaps due to that Johann could see the potential in Beethoven; at just a young age he was showing signs of greatness. Johann could not be like his father, Kapellmeister Ludwig van Beethoven; which served on the Elector for forty-two years, a conductor of operas and masses, a shrewd businessman. (Morris 2005). Being so young Ludwig would have to stand on a footstool to reach the keys. If Beethoven would hesitate, Johann would beat him. (Morris 2005). Young Beethoven would be deprived of sleep, his father Johann would wake him for midnight lessons that would go on for hours. This was possibly due to how his father/first teacher may have made Beethoven into one of the greatest keyboard improvisers and one of the greatest talented musicians to live. Johann was persistent on young Beethoven to learn the foundation of a formidable

    Read More

  • Mozarts Life ( Brief Summary)

    440 Words  | 1 Pages

    As an adult Mozart his career was not as successful as when he was younger. But he kept on composing anyway hoping one people would appreciate his work. He lived in poverty for the great majority of his life. In 1769 he became a concertmaster to the archbishop of Salzburg, which was another one of his jobs that afforded him little financial security. In 1777, he left on another concert tour. But, the courts of Europe ignored Mozart ‘s search for a more beneficial assignment. In 1782 he earned a living by selling compositions, giving public performances, and giving music lessons, which once again was a low paying job. The composer never did find a well paying job. The bizarre thing was is that even that he had ton of trouble finding jobs, he was still considered one of the leading composers of the late 1700s.

    Read More

More about Life Of Ludwig Van Beethoven

Open Document