Essay On Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven The Classical era was a time for order, objectivity, harmonious proportion, and noble simplicity. The switch between the ways of the old world and the beginning of the new world was what constituted the characteristics that shaped this era. Major changes were brought into the world; advances in science and ideas, the changing of aristocratic sovereigns in Europe, style of art and ways of thinking. However, a major part of the Classical era that changed was music. This new era brought with it a handful of new musicians and composers, such as Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. These musicians practiced music in an era of experimentation and change, and paved the way for future musicians and composers. One of these musicians,

He endured a very unhappy childhood, due to his father’s alcoholism and harsh, abusive treatment. Despite of this, Beethoven became very talented at a young age, learning how to play both the violin and clavier. In addition to lessons from his father, he took lessons from various organists in Bonn. In 1781, Beethoven withdrew from his normal schooling in order to study music full time. Christian Gottlob Neefe, a newly appointed Court Organist, became Beethoven’s new teacher. By June 1782, Beethoven became assistant Court Organist next to Neefe, and by 1783 his first composition was published, titled “Nine Variations on a March by Dressler”. In the same year, he was also appointed to the Bonn opera. (3) In 1787, it was becoming quite clear that Beethoven had extraordinary talent, and in order to make progress, arch-bishop elector Maximillian Francis sent Beethoven to Vienna to study with Mozart. During this trip, it is said that Mozart was highly impressed with the young Beethoven, reportedly saying to colleagues that “this young man will make a great name for himself in the world” (3). After five weeks the trip to Vienna was cut short for Beethoven; his mother had fallen ill, and died shortly

The major characteristics of this period were “transcendental, extra-musical associations, free treatment of forms, blurring of dividing lines and interpenetration of movements, many tempo changes, loose sense of stinct movements” (4), in addition to the use of counterpoint and fugue, tracing back to influences of Handel and Bach. Beethoven also went to extreme use of tempo. At this point in his life, Beethoven had come to terms with his deafness, and most of the music written in the Late Period was written for an intimate group of people who close to him, rather than an audience or the public. These works were not as popular as the Middle Period works, due to the intimate forms they were written in. The major works of this period included the Missa solemnis, the Ninth symphony, and the late string quartets.