The German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, born in 1770, transformed music and revolutionized the history of music as a whole during his lifetime. As William Kinderman writes in his book, Beethoven, “His restless, open vision of the work of art reflects a modern and essentially cosmopolitan aesthetic attitude” (Kinderman). Born in Bonn, Germany, Beethoven was a visionary. He further expanded what his early contemporaries, Mozart and Haydn, had produced by escalating the scope of sonata, concerto, quartet, and the symphony. Beethoven was a radical composer who did not like to do what everyone else was doing; he pushed his limits to create the extraordinary. People argue that Beethoven was the composer that transitioned music from the Classical …show more content…
His father was a tenor court singer, while his grandfather was a prosperous musician in his community. Beethoven’s father was an alcoholic, and there are accounts of people saying that his father taught Beethoven music with extreme brutality. His father would beat him for every mistake he would make. This trauma affected his life in many ways. In Maynard Solomon’s book, Beethoven, he claims that Beethoven, gave up on establishing loving relationship with anyone; he withdrew himself from his society of friends and parents, as well. His happiest moments were those when he was free and away from the company of his friends and parents (Solomon). Beethoven’s father put together Beethoven’s first public recital in 1778. Even though he played brilliantly, Beethoven received no press or praises for his first recital. Additionally, Beethoven struggled with math and spelling for his entire life and said that music comes easier of him than words. Near the age of ten, he discontinued his secular education and went to study music full time. Beethoven was forced to financially support his family after his father’s alcoholism grew worse. He was sent to Vienna to study with Mozart to further his musical education. He later also trained with Haydn. This is where Beethoven’s musical journey
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.
Beethoven was a pioneer of his time. During the classical period most composers were at the hands of monarchs. Composers had to create whatever the monarchs wanted, they really did it have a choice in what they wrote. Beethoven on the other hand was not reliant on patrons of the arts. Beethoven created and sold what he made, not what some aristocrat told him to make. These traits of Beethoven make it possible for him to be classified in both the classical and romantic music periods.
Beethoven, I believe, was ahead of his time. To me, he is the greatest composer of all time. His music is not just sounds of music played together in harmony, but a way of life. The music he created for the world is not just to listen to it, but grabs onto the emotion he was setting up. Beethoven's unordinary style cannot ever be copied by any composer or music artist.
Elmer Bernstein was a composer best known for his many soundtracks displayed in movies. Bernstein began his career at a young age and continued composing for five decades. He is praised for his many contributions to the film industry with his “golden touch”. His impact on music is still felt today, and he will always be mourned by friends, family, and especially moviemakers. It is common for artists to be pigeonholed as a composer for just one category, but Elmer refused to accept just one label and decided to wear them all. Bernstein composed for westerns, epics, comedies, and intimate dramas. Every moment in Elmer’s life molded him into a remembered well rounded composer and aspects such as his family, education, and work sent Elmer to
Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven both flourished in their compositions of classical music; however, their genre of music differed considerably. Bach was a German composer during the Baroque time era of western music which is estimated to have taken place during 1600 to 1750. It was during this time that he composed prolific church organ music which included such works as the Mass in B Minor, much scared choral music, and the St. Matthew Passion, as well as composing over a thousand works in nearly every musical genre except opera. On the other hand, Beethoven was a German composer whom began to emerge during the classical era of western music twenty years after Bach. This era took place throughout the years1750 and 1830. The large quantity of arrangements, over two hundred works in numerous musical genres composed by Beethoven was significantly influenced by his predecessors, onset of deafness, and his highly personal expression of intellectual depth. Such works include the first an...
v Christian Neefe was Beethoven’s first legitimate tutor and quickly recognized his talents. Neefe took Beethoven to Vienna when he was just 16 years old. Vienna was the music capital of Europe at the time. In 1787, Beethoven played for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart recognized Beethoven’s talents and knew he would be a great musician, and many in Vienna considered Beethoven to be the next “Mozart”. Beethoven and Mozart met only one time. Beethoven had to return to Bonn just a few weeks later after his mother, Maria, died.
His unique compositions paved the way for a new era in music, and set the bar for future composers who aspired to reach levels of mastery that were achieved by Beethoven. Through Beethoven, we can see that talent and passion can persevere despite of the difficulties and faults handed to one throughout life. A difficult upbringing, chronic illnesses and the deafness Beethoven faced did not stop him from becoming a master of his art, and certainly did not slow down the production of music. Beethoven is, and always shall be, a composer that will never be
Ludwig Van Beethoven lived from 1770 to 1827 he was born in Bonn, Germany. Ludwig Van Beethoven would be defined as a deaf German composer who composed a multitude of musical pieces that are still around today. If he were to have a definition that is. He was the “predominant musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and the Romantic eras.” Ludwig Van Beethoven was also an innovator with things such as the sonata, symphony, concerto and the quartet, Beethoven even combined instruments in a new way. (Ludwig Van Beethoven, 2014). He was vary influential to the time period and is still widely talked about now in days.
He played a significant role in the Romantic era characterized by emotion and impact. Beethoven constantly pushed music into new areas. Beethoven did this better than any other composer before him. Beethoven had the ability to take a simple idea and work it into a large-scale piece. The first movement of his famous Symphony No. 5, clearly originates from the opening, yet it never sounds repetitive. His pieces were louder, longer and more exciting than anything written hitherto, and the same feeling of exploration and life on the edge shows through his other works as well. Beethoven was one of the most influential composers of the western art music tradition. Beethoven definitely was classified as a ground breaker in all senses. He was able to earn money for his talents and performances. He wrote for wealthy patrons and also earned money from public concerts. He was described as an unsocial and difficult man after he felt isolated by the deafness he had which developed in his 20s. He began realizing that his hearing was becoming impaired. Beethoven was able to compose and he could hear every note and chord he wrote in his mind’s ear. As his deafness continued, socializing and performing was very onerous (New Catholic Encyclopedia,
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770. His works are traditionally divided into three periods. In his early period, he focused on imitating classical style, although his personal characteristics of darker pieces, motivic development, and larger forms are already evident or foreshadowed. In his middle period, he is beginning to go deaf, and has realized that he cannot reverse the trend. His works express struggle and triumph. He stretches forms, with development sections becoming the bulk of his works. He is breaking from tradition and laying the groundwork for the romantic style period. In his late period, he breaks almost completely with classical forms, but ironically starts to study and use baroque forms and counterpoint. He is almost completely deaf, and his works become much more introspective with massive amounts of contrast between sections, ideas, and movements. He dies in Vienna in 1827.
After Beethoven moved back to Bonn (his home town), the leaders of the city had him compose a song about Joseph II after his death in 1790. The piece he wrote, Cantata On The Death Of Joseph II, was never played until after Beethoven's death. In 1792, Beethoven went back to Vienna to study music. In Vienna, Beethoven studied piano with Joseph Haydn, the most influential composer at the time. After studying in Vienna for three years, Beethoven made his public debut; he released a series of three pieces that were an enormous success. Beethoven debut Symphony I on April 2, 1800, at the Royal Imperial Theater in Vienna. He later detested this piece saying, “In that day I did not know how to compose.” This piece still captivated people despite his remarks. Only a week after Napoleon Bonaparte took control of France, Beethoven wrote a piece in his honor. The work was called Symphony No. 3. This piece was later renamed Eroica Symphony because it was one of his most original works. His most popular symphony, Symphony No. 9, was composed from 1822 to 1824. The famous song Ode to Joy was in this symphony. These were very successful years of Beethoven’s life, but he soon faced an intense
Truly a revolutionary musician and composer, Ludwig van Beethoven and his music remain an inspiration to many. Beethoven was born in the town of Bonn, Germany in 1770. Son of Johann van Beethoven and grandson of Ludwig van Beethoven, it was no surprise that he assumed a career of music. Ludwig’s father taught him how to play the piano at a very young age and was said to be extremely critical of his mistakes. Young Johann was an aspiring musician, but his efforts were never enough to make it a reality. Because of his history of failure, Johann forcefully projected his goals and dreams of being the next Mozart to his son. Beethoven quickly mastered his technique to avoid the subsequent punishment that would occur otherwise. After a poor performance
Ludwig van Beethoven was an extraordinary music composer, especially considering he was deaf most of his life and career. He was born in Germany on December 16, 1770. Many obstacles were hurled at him, but he triumphed over them, and even deafness didn’t stop him from composing some of the worlds greatest, and most recognized music compositions (Rosenwald 167). His life, music, and his musical styles and techniques all contribute to his life story.