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The Life, Music, and Influences of Ludwig Van Beethoven

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Published: Jan 30, 2024

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Table of contents

Introduction, early life and background, music career and achievements, personal life and struggles, influence on classical music.

• Budden, J. (2018). Beethoven: The Man Revealed . Yale University Press.
• Cooper, B. (2020). Beethoven . Oxford University Press.
• Lockwood, L. (2003). Beethoven: The Music and the Life . W. W. Norton & Company.

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Ludwig Van Beethoven, Essay Example

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By many people and for centuries Ludwig Van Beethoven is recognized to be the greatest composer who has ever lived. With every new generation the fame and prodigy of the musician is rising higher and higher. His music like the universe is grand and everlasting. He was and forever will be the crucial figure in classical music whose masterpieces inspire and enlighten people all over the world. “The image of Beethoven that survives in the mind of posterity is a diffuse compilation of impressions emanating from the music and biographical fragments that consist to a great extent of legends.”[1]

Prodigy child was born in 1770 in Bonn to a family of musicians at the Cologne Royal Court. His name, Ludwig Van Beethoven acquired from his grandfather who was a bass player at court and earned his name to become a maestro of the chapel. Composer is said to have been born in a family where his father Johann was unable to bring about positive influences on his son’s musical education. Whereas, his mother Maria-Magdalena, being a kind-hearted and gentle person, was the most radiant figure in young Beethoven’s childhood. “Beethoven was recognized in his teens as a genius of the first order.”[2] Having understood the extraordinary talent of his son, Johann rushed to provide Ludwig with best in his thought musical education in order to ensure son’s remarkable abilities. The childhood of the brilliant composer is marked with cruel attempts of his father to convert Ludwig into a music genius. The studies provided to Beethoven strongly lacked systematic organization. In 1778 an eight year old boy was forced by his parent to hold a concert in Koeln.

In 1782 young composer found his first true teacher Christian-Gottlob Neefe who became his mentor and showed Beethoven the sophisticated ideas of the century. The two people hold devoted friendship for many years. Neefe highly spoke of young Ludwig being amazed by his skills and talent and calling him “a second Mozart”. Neefe was a good mentor who not only highlighted the genius of young boy but was able to understand that Beethoven at his young age was still lacking some discipline, culture and self-restraint. He introduced Ludwig to the great composers who were sensational before him such as Bach, Mozart and Haydn. The first work of Beethoven that has significance today was made up of three sonatas and was devoted to the old prince of Cologne in hope to gain some financial benefits.

At the age of fourteen the works of Ludwig Van Beethoven have improved and were strongly influenced by Mozart. In two years composer already gained reputation in Bonn by teaching music classes and holding concerts for aristocracy. Beethoven’s musical improvisations always hold audience in delight and amazement. His first sonatas and compositions were compared to the great people of that time.

Becoming unsatisfied with artistic life of Bonn, Beethoven makes a decision to go to Vienna and study with great Mozart. When maestro found time to listen to young boy he was amazed about how brilliantly Ludwig improvised on the theme offered by Mozart. It was back then when maestro said his famous words that world should hold on because one day Ludwig Van Beethoven will give it something to talk about. Family problems that happened at this period of time left deep marks on the existence of composer. His mother passed away leaving Ludwig and his two other children with a wretched father. Putting his new life on hold, Beethoven returns to Bonn and takes the custody over his two siblings.

Time period between 1788 and 1792 Ludwig Van Beethoven spent playing in the orchestra of his mentor Neefe. It was a great chance to get acquainted with popular operas and to practice a lot. Time spent in Bonn gave composer a strong spiritual completion to acquire progressive thinking of the century in opera, drama and poetry. Another important influence of this period is that being admitted to the Bonn University Ludwig Van Beethoven was delighted to have met Joseph Haydn. Haydn highly commented on composer’s compositions from 1790. Ludwig Van Beethoven spent a year studying with Joseph Haydn. However, due to the temper of Beethoven as well as Haydn’s lack of time, the classes did not bring as much quality as composer aimed for.

During his first years in Vienna, Ludwig Van Beethoven quickly became famous in the musical circles. He plays for nobility, starts studying with his good friends such as Forster, Schenk, Salieri and others. Composer indeed got the best musical knowledge from the best teachers of his time. His mentors Haydn and Mozart served as the archetype of Beethoven’s creative works in the direction of Classicism. Forster provided composer with the art of quarter composition. Salieri introduced Ludwig Van Beethoven to the artistic matters of musical tragedy. Thanks to these brilliant composers, Beethoven had a chance to enrich his creative work experience.

Being a promising musician, his first years in Vienna Beethoven spent having financial problems and living in the basement. It was with the help of his genius that with time composer was able to gain resources that would allow him to maintain a decent living. He made money by giving concerns, by selling author’s rights to his works as well as getting gifts from the aristocrats. Beethoven even gave classes which he was not a big fan of. Among his students were such prominent ladies as Dorothea Ertmann or Tereza Brunswik.

The fame of Beethoven was growing daily. In 1795 he was invited to the first “Academy” which was a charity event held for orphans and widows of musicians. Shortly an already famous composer was invited to the “Academy” of Haydn. In 1796 Beethoven, supported by his protector and a nobleman Prince Lichnowsky, goes on the tour to Berlin and Prague. The tour was a total success leaving his audience in astonishment and emotional delight. Being a true virtuoso, he becomes a favorite in the musical life of Vienna and other German countries. Beethoven took a special niche in the musical life because not only was he a brilliant pianist but also an outstanding genius creator. In Spain composer devoted a lot of time to the creation of piano sonatas as well as string quartets and his very famous Symphony #1.

On 1 June 1801 when writing a letter to his very friend Karl Amenda, Beethoven is telling him about a terrible thing that is happening to the composer. He is complaining that his sense of hearing is becoming weaker and weaker. What an incredible misfortune? First years of the sickness were the toughest on Beethoven because for the person whose life was totally devoted to music to become deaf is a tragedy of a life time. It’s a terrible injustice and despair.

At the age of 35 Ludwig Van Beethoven was an established prominent cultural personality in all the German countries. His works were brilliant and his admirers were countless. Being practically deaf, his work did not seem to have suffered from that. It was at this time that Beethoven wrote four concerts, three symphonies, several sonatas and many other masterpieces. However, despite the public success Beethoven was lovely. He had financial problem and personal discontent. He spent his days alone writing in the mornings and spending the rest of the day thinking and composing new works. As his illness progressed in summer of 1807 Beethoven started having severe health issues and exhausting headaches.

The time period between 1805 and 1815 is considered to be the full artistic maturity of a brilliant composer. During these years Beethoven created his very famous and valuable works such as Symphonies 4, 5 and 7 as well as overtures and piano concerts. With regards to his love life Ludwig Van Beethoven was not very successful. His relations with Giucciardi, Deym, Brunswich lasted for several years but all eventually ended. Along his sentimental problems, Beethoven was going through deep financial issues. Even though he had numerous protectors, they were not always prompt to rush in and make his life easier. When the composer applied for a position of a composer of the imperial theatres, he was not only not accepted by nobility but did not even get any kind of response. Beethoven started to dislike nobility. Having been rejected, composer starts thinking about moving to another city. When he was about to accept an offer from Jerome Bonaparte, noblemen of Vienna offered him annual allowance and made him stay in the city. Even though the payments were not always at the established date, composer was able to maintain a normal life for a while and pay off his debts.

In 1810 Ludwig Van Beethoven fell in love with his own student, a beautiful Therese Malfatti, whom he even thought of proposing. Her love and devotion to the composer, man interpreted as true feelings of love. When invited to an event held by Malfatti’s family, Beethoven wanted to propose to the eighteen year old lady. However, getting totally drunk, he could only write out her name on a bagatelle. The illegible writing on a manuscript later was published to become composer’s famous “Fur Elise”.

Another dear female friend of Beethoven was Bettina Brentano-Armin who organized a meeting between the composer and Goethe. The woman adored composer and their friendship lasted a very long time. Beethoven’s visit to Tepliz to meet Goethe is the same time period when a famous document was written called “Letter to the Immortal Beloved”. Having been numerously analyzed after composer’s death, the letter’s recipient stays unknown. However, many believe that it was addressed to Brunswick. Beethoven was lonely in Teplitz minding his health. His meetings with Goethe were the only bright moments. The two talented people admired each other’s work which was noted in their letters. They enjoyed each other’s company. However, yet again coming to the topic of Beethoven’s dislike of nobility, the friendship between two ended because Goethe did not share the same thinking.

Last years of Beethoven’s life were troublesome. The composer spent lots of efforts to take custody of his brother’s son Karl. Due to his inability to leave the child and his sickness, Beethoven declined an offer to perform in London. His performance at “Academy” where he played his Symphony # 9 along with other brilliant works, received a standing ovation. Beethoven was deaf and blind. Ovations lasted five times.

During his last days Beethoven received a good financial gift from the London Philharmonic Society which he left as his inheritance to his beloved nephew Karl. “He was an artist, but a man, as well… in the highest sense.” [3] His close friends stood by his side at the end of his life. The funeral of a brilliant composer took place on March 29 th .  Numerous crowds came to say good-bye to Beethoven. “The funeral march was a true march, which moved at a stately pace.” [4] He has died but his fame and history were just beginning. The truly noble prominence of a revolutionary composer is an archetype of a heroic life, sincere passion and artistic truth.

Bibliography

Dahlhaus, Carl. “Ludwig Van Beethoven. Approaches to His Music.” Oxford University Press (1991): 54

Josephson, Judith P. “Bold Composer. A Story About Ludwig Van Beethoven.”  Millbrook Press/Minneapolis (2007): 57

Morris, Edmund. “Beethoven. The Universal Composer.” Harper-Collins Publishers (2005): 3

Tommasini, Anthony. “Beethoven, a Refined Classicist of Vienna.” The New York Post , 14 February 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/arts/music/15till.html

[1] Carl Dahlhaus, “Ludwig Van Beethoven. Approaches to His Music”, Oxford University Press (1991), 54

[2] Edmund Morris, “Beethoven. The Universal Composer”, Harper-Collins Publishers (2005), 3

[3] Judith P. Josephson, “Bold Composer. A Story About Ludwig Van Beethoven”, Millbrook Press/Minneapolis (2007): 57

[4] Anthony, Tommasini. “Beethoven, a Refined Classicist of Vienna.” The New York Post , 14 February 2010

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Beethoven Symphonies Analysis Essay

Introduction.

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer, born in 1770 and died in 1827 while completely deaf (Kinderman 22). Beethoven was a key figure in Western art music and was monumental in the musical transition between the Classical era and the Romantic era.

His hearing problem set in his early twenties but it never deterred him from composing quality music. He continued to compose and perform even after he went completely deaf. Entirely, he composed nine symphonies and his most popular symphonies are No’s 3, 5 and 9 (Grove 27).

Analysis of the symphonies

Beethoven is one of the greatest composers of music in both the classical and modern music era. This is so because of his great symphonies. He only composed only nine symphonies, each of which is unique in a distinct way and composed in a different key. His most popular symphonies are No’s 3, 5 and 9 (Simpson 19). The histories of these three symphonies are familiar to almost every classical music enthusiast, but the other six are not very well known.

Symphony No. 1, Op, C Major

Beethoven started composing this symphony in 1799 and premiered it in 1800, one year later in Vienna. Relative to the other eight symphonies, this one has the most moderate sound (Lockwood 41). When it first premiered, the audience was surprised because they were used to listening to pure classical music, unlike this one that started on a dissonant chord.

Symphony No. 2, Op. 36, D major

Before its completion in 1802, Beethoven had been working on it for three years. This was a critical time in his life because his hearing ability was slowly diminishing. Musical critics believe that the mellow and ‘sunny’ nature of this piece was a direct reflection of his will to overcome his predicament (Morris 33). He was even suicidal because of the hearing problem but others refute these claims.

Symphony No. 3, Op. 55, E-flat Major

This symphony is also called Eroica and it debuted in August 1804. From the writings of Lobkowitz, Beethoven first performed it in 1805 in Vienna. The performance was a bit off the point because the audience did not fully grasp the content of the symphony (Grove 31). This sparked debate with some claiming that it was his best work while others claimed that it expressed a longing for originality that never was.

Symphony no.4, Op. 60, B-flat Major

This symphony was composed in 1806 and is one of Beethoven’s simple symphonies (Grove 36). This is because of his interruption while he was working on it. After beginning work on it, he was commissioned to work on a symphonic request from the count of Sicilia. The reason behind suspending his symphony for the Count’s is not clear.

Symphony No. 5, Op. 67, C Major

This symphony was composed between the years 1804 and 1888 and played first in 1808 at a theatre in Vienna (Lockwood 53). Of his entire symphonies, this is the most popular. This may be due to the familiarity in its four first notes. This symphony premiered together with symphony 6 but their numbers were switched.

Symphony No.6, Op. 68, F major

This is also referred to as ‘pastoral.’ (Lockwood 56) When it premiered, it was recorded as ‘recollection of country life’ on the performance program. Even though this symphony is believed to contain some of Beethoven’s most powerful writing, it was not well received by the audience. This may have resulted from the previous symphony that is the most popular with most classical music lovers. Despite bad reception, it is played in many places throughout the world.

Symphony No. 7, Op. 92, A Major

The composition of this symphony was finalized in 1812 and it premiered at the University of Vienna, one year later in 1813. It is widely considered a symphony that evokes dance moves. Wagner gave the title “apotheosis of dance” to the symphony owing to its consideration as a dance symphony.

Symphony No.8, Op. 93, F major.

This is the shortest symphony that Beethoven composed and runs for only 26 minutes. As such, it is widely known as “the little symphony in F Major.” In addition, this symphony is often times disregarded because of its shortness that many consider as simple. Beethoven composed it at the age of 42 and premiered it together with symphony 7 two years after he composed it.

Symphony No. 9, Op. 125, D Minor.

This is also referred to as “choral” and was Beethoven’s last symphony (Grove 42). Beethoven composed it in 1842, a time when he had gone fully deaf. In this symphony, the human voice and the sound of the instruments were integrated at the same level. The premiere was so dramatic that when the performance was over, he went conducting and his soloist had to intervene. This marked a triumphant and glorious end for one of the greatest composers of all time.

Ludwig van Beethoven is on of the greatest composers of all time and composed nine symphonies, all distinct in their structure. Of the nine, three are the most popular, 3,5 and 9, 5 being the most popular of the three (Grove 24).

He marked the transition between the classical era and the Romantic era. His hearing problem set in his early twenties but it never deterred him from composing quality music. He continued to compose and perform even after he went completely deaf. He performed his last symphony while entirely deaf and it marked his glorious end.