-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven, composer and an organist, well known as "Beethoven," born in December 17th 1770 in Bonn, Germany. His father and mother :Johann van Beethoven and Magdalena Keverich. He had 2 brothers: Kaspar Karl and Nikolaus Johann He was the oldest brother. His family was traced in a village near Louvain, in Belgium. in the 17th century. -
Period: to
Beethoven's life
-
His childhood
His father believed in his talent and because of that, the 4 year-old Beethoven took musical training. An old friend of his grandfather, who was well know as a musician, taught him how to play the violin, the organ and the pianoforte. He caught up so fast by the time he was 13 years old, he made his own composition. His father believed that he would make profits by his talent. -
Later in a year
Beethoven became so important that In the same year, 1783, Beethoven was given the post of cembalist in the Bonn theater, and in 1784 his position of assistant to Neefe became official. In a catalogue raisonné of the new archbishop Max Franz's court musicians we find "No. 14, Ludwig Beethoven" described "as of good capacity, still young, of good, quiet behavior and poor" -
His work for the first time
Beethoven wrote for his first time a Quintet for two violins, two violas and cello, leaving it unfinished. A Concerto in D, for piano, of which only the first movement ends, and a Concerto in C for violin and orchestra, whose score reaches halfway the first time. -
Beethoven in Vienna
Maximilian Franz was sure of Beethoven's talent and because of that he send him to Vienna to study and learn from Mozart. So he could continue with his career. Mozart was astonished by his talent and gave him the chance to choose his own topic. By that time, his mother died in July 17th 1787. And in the same year on December 8th, his father died in Bonn. -
His appearance in public
By this time he was appearing in Vienna to show his work in public. Also he proposed to a woman named Magdalena Willman, which she refused. -
His first concert
In 1800, Beethoven organized a new concert in Vienna, which this time included the presentation of his First Symphony. At that time, the audience found this strange work, too extravagant and even daring. Beethoven though still a young composer, was already pushing the limits of the possibilities of music. His whole work seems a struggle. -
His later work and deafness
In 1801, Beethoven Wegeler confesses, his friend, his deafness concern for writing the famous letter, even contemplated suicide, but as he wrote in his will "still had to discover a lot of music," and so was he composed piano sonatas, (as Opus 31, "The Tempest", the Second and Third Symphonies, and of course much more. -
"Eroica"
On April 7, 1805, release the "Eroica." Which originally was called "memory of a great man" dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, it was seen at the time as a liberator of his people, and that since the Revolution French. When the First Consul, he declared himself Emperor, Beethoven was furious and called the "Eroica."
On November 20, 1805 was presented the opera "Leonore" against Napoleon and his army in Vienna. -
His successful work
-
th 9th Symphony
In 1817 the London Philharmonic Society commissioned the composition of the symphony. He began composing in 1818 and ended in 1824. The premiere was on May 7, 1824 in Vienna of Kärntnertortheater, nobody wanted to miss what was presumed the last occurrence of the German genius.
Soprano and alto were played by girls: Henriette Sontag and Caroline Unger. Although the performance was officially directed by Michael Umlauf, choirmaster, he and Beethoven shared the stage. -
His death
Finally Beethoven seriously ill in 1826 and after suffering much about his illness and while a storm was raging in Vienna, Beethoven died in March 26, 1827, along with all his friends.
