Transcript Ludwig Van Beethoven

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Ludwig van Beethoven played an
important role in the transition of eras.
(jpg. 1)
His music was inspiring, essentially tragic,
compelling, and often times breathtaking; giving it a
feeling of romance and power.
The music he composed was different from that of other
famous composers in the way it was composed, played,
and the way that it sounded.
He composed music that had emphasis and power despite
the great odds that he faced in his life.
Beethoven also had many instructors throughout his life
that formed him into the great musician and composer we
know today.
Ludwig van Beethoven changed the course of musical
history.
Early Childhood
Born
• Bonn, Germany
• December 16, 1770
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• Father: Johann van Beethoven
Parents • Mother: Maria Magadelena Keverich
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Children •
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Ludwig Maria, lived only 6 days
Ludwig van Beethoven
Kaspar Anton Karl
Nicolas Johann
Anna Maria, lived only 4 days
Franz Georg, lived for only 2 ½ years
Margareth, died before she was 1 ½ years old
Musical Beginnings
Beethoven’s father wanted his son to be as successful and
famous as Mozart.
(Wolfgang Amadė Mozart, jpg. 3)
Beethoven’s father forced his son to practice for hours at a
time on a daily basis.
(Organ Beethoven used to play on in Bonn as a boy, jpg. 4)
Beethoven’s father came home drunk often and forced his
son out of bed to play for guests he had brought home.
(Beethoven’s father, Johann van Beethoven, jpg. 5)
Ludwig van Beethoven’s first public performance was in
March of 1778 at the age of 7 years old.
(Young Ludwig van Beethoven, jpg. 6)
Beethoven became skilled on instruments such as the piano,
organ , and violin.
(Violin from the 1780’s, jpg. 7)
Influential Teachers:
 Johann van Beethoven
 Gilles van den Eeden
 Tobias Feriedrich Pfeiffer
 Franz Rovantini
Beethoven as a young man, jpg. 8
Christian Gottlob Neffe
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One of Beethoven’s most influential teachers.
Court Organist
Became director of the National Theatre
Neffe’s training for Ludwig included composition
Appointed Beethoven at the age of 11 years to be the assistant
Court Organist
Beethoven created his first compositions
under through the influence of Neefe.
(jpg. 9)
Traveled
to Vienna in the early 1790’s
Studied with Joseph Hayden
Beethoven advanced his instrumental skills, writing
and composition skills
Established himself with the public, especially the
nobles
Published various arrangements,
earned money through his
music and increased his social status
Eventually became very popular
with the upper class
Vienna in Beethoven’s time, jpg. 10
French Revolution
 Beethoven’s music was influenced by
the French Revolution of 1789 and
General Napoleon Bonaparte.
 Beethoven was inspired by the
idealism of freedom and equality.
 Beethoven composed the Eroica
Symphony, eroica means heroic
 This was also known as Symphony
No. 3
General Napoleon Bonaparte, jpg. 11
Symphony No. 5
 The most famous of Beethoven’s symphonies
 Like Symphony No. 3, also inspired by the period of
time and by a heroic vision
 Symphony No. 5 begins with four famous notes
Sheet music from Symphony No. 5, jpg. 12
Symphony No. 5
Fist Movement
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0:00
Exposition:
The famous four-note Motive in C Minor, short,
short, short, long notes (long note is at the discretion
of the conductor) with two statements followed by
pauses. Opening is played very loudly (ff), included
were the strings and clarinets, then repeated lower.
0:07
Strings play the opening motive, soft (p),
Motive is played by each instrument sequentially.
0:15
There are louder chords that crescendo and
violins have a high sustaining note, while the pitch
changes the rhythm continues. There is a
continuation of the repeating of the opening fournote motive
0:43
French horns play the opening motive in ff,
key changes from C minor to E flat major, very
soothing before it builds and increases with speed,
still keeping with the 3 short, 1 long
1:13
Woodwinds and French horns together
descend quickly using the four-note motive rhythm
played at the beginning.
1:25
The entire first exposition is repeated, key
changes back from E flat to the opening of C minor,
pause as the exposition ends before the next piece
begins.
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2:50
Opening motive with horns ff followed by
strings descends to p using the basic motive. There
is a sway between woodwinds and strings leading to
powerful repeating chords.
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3:22
Development:
Horn call with four-note motive of violins in forte,
almost like a swaying motion with motive extended.
3:50
Cascades into motive loudly (ff), followed
by an oboe playing a short solo.
4:22
The motive uses the whole orchestra,
violins playing softly (pp) and flute play as the
clarinet joins. Then the whole orchestra joins again.
4:35
Recapitulation:
The main theme returns in minor.
4:40
Transition where strings develop the
opening motive, gradually crescendo using the whole
orchestra ff, followed by a sudden stop. Then the
horns play the opening motive ff.
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Continued…
5.02 Melody is soft alternating of the violins and flutes. Clarinets, bassoons, and
French horns, bassoon brings a darkness to the piece, but is followed by a lighter mood. It
then halts the motive followed with timpani.
 5:23 The melody is passed back and forth several times between strings and
woodwinds, crescendo as it makes its way to the Coda, there is a definite feeling of
change, almost as if the first movement would end here. The scale is raised to give a more
major tone.
5:58 Coda:
The timpani maintains the intensity in the rhythm with repeating chords from lower
strings plays against the violins. Notes from the bridge motif are played by lower strings
and woodwinds while violins are complimenting with rhythm twice as fast. A horn call,
using lower strings and bassoons with a violin melody playing p.
 6:29 Almost sounds like the piece will begin as the start of the first movement. Notes
are sequenced downward with strings and woodwinds while the violins hold the rhythm.
 6: 41 Ending, a new theme in music with strings, a short repeating of the 3 short note
sequence that returns back to the four-note motive loudly using the entire orchestra.
Suddenly is played pp with strings and woodwinds. Moves back to the entire orchestra
ending ff with notes played at staccato.
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Second Movement
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0:00
First Theme: The movement starts off with
Theme A, A-flat major with a triple meter with violas
and cellos, accompanied by bass in pizzicato.
Woodwinds bring a rich feeling
0:26
Melody continues with woodwind and
alternates woodwinds and strings. The short, short,
short, long notes are continued in this movement.
1:00
Second Theme: is also stated in A-flat
major with violas. With a four-note motive that is the
same as the first. pp the clarinets come in with a
rising theme. The brasses hold out the note longer.
1:15
Clarinet theme is taken over by the violins
with a crescendo to brass ff; violins come in with the
same theme softly with slow chords.
1:42
Violas and cellos play briefly in triple
meter, variation is played smoothly.
2:00
The first theme is played with violas and
cellos playing a triple meter played smoothly.
2:14
The melody goes back to the first theme of
the second movement with a smooth rhythm with
long notes from the clarinet.
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2:47
Theme B presents, the brass play the theme
with excitement. Soft strings and bassoons play, the
cello adds a different accompaniment similar to the
first movement. There is a change from triplet to
quadruplet arpeggios. Clarinets play again with a
slight change in notes from the violas.
3:05
The clarinet is more pronounced, but ends
with the chords playing pp and quickly repeats notes
by the cellos.
3:39
Violins play with clarinets and bassoons in
the background helping the violins, but violins carry
this section. Fermata ending with strings and
woodwinds, seems to act as a bridge to bring the
section back together later.
4:15
The theme goes back to the first theme of
the second movement still smooth notes that pass
from the clarinet to the bassoon and to the flute.
Violins repeat the melody softly and take over.
4:34
Flute and oboe play in harmonic thirds,
clarinets play. Flute and oboe ascend while clarinets
descend, clarinets then ascend while flute and oboe
descend. Instruments play a chord progression.
4:47
Melody is played by cellos and basses,
pronounced, with powerful repeating chords. Two
rising scales that lead to a note an octave higher is
held. Changes from legato to staccato as horns play
big fanfare.
Continued…
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5:12
It suddenly becomes pp repeating the
string chords and the beginning theme is played by
the clarinet then bassoon then flute, followed by a
woodwind. The triplet and quadruplet notes
compliment this segment and allows for flow to the
next section.
5:22
The oboe and flute play together while
clarinets play. The clarinet ascends while the oboe
and flute descend counteracting each other. The
horns speed up and play staccato.
5:41
Flute and oboe play before strings take over
and go into a crescendo, skipping rhythm which is
done in staccato, violins are still in the background
playing melody. The melody become homophonic.
6:12
The basses in the second theme of the
movement loudly with timpani. After the strings
play softly the woodwinds play staccato. A change
from A-flat minor to A-flat major in preparation for
the Coda.
7:00
Coda:
The tempo increases with a bassoon playing quietly
accompanied by strings. The violins and cellos play
upward then return to a slow tempo to end the
theme. A scale plays moving from each instrument.
7:34
There is a soft overture from the orchestra
changing the piece from A-flat major from a-flat
minor.
7:51
Playing in a flat major, violas, cellos, and
basses rise quickly ff. Soft chords bring the entire
orchestra together to end the movement.
History of Symphony No. 5
Originally to be sold to Count
Franz von Oppersdorff, Beethoven
collected half of the money due.
Beethoven changed his mind and
dedicated Symphony No. 5 to Prince
Lobkowitz and Count Razumowsky,
aristocratic supporters.
Count Franz von Oppersdorff was
presented with Symphonly No. 4
instead of Symphony No. 5.
Symphony No. 5 (cont.)
 The first performance of Symphony No. 5 was in Vienna’s Theater an
der Wien in 1808.
 It’s popularity was hindered because of this performance
Performed in the cold month of December
Theater was cold due to budget cuts
Not enough rehearsal time due to the cold
The audience was freezing during the performance
 Symphony No. 5 was performed again a year and a half later and was
well received at that time.
YouTube - Beethoven's 5th Symphony
Nature as an Influence
Beethoven was inspired by the beauty of nature
and its influence on his world and emotions.
Symphony No. 6 was inspired by nature.
Beethoven was the first composer to give a name
to each movement of this symphony, these names
were meant to help the listener imagine a scene as
the music was played.
Symphony No. 6 was also known as Pastorale
Symphony, meaning a simple country life.
By the age of 28 Beethoven began to notice a
hearing loss. The beginnings were minimal
and had little effect on his music.
For Beethoven it started with being unable
to hear the church bells in the distance.
His hearing deteriorated rapidly, by the
time he was 50 Beethoven was
completely deaf.
Beethoven’s deafness did not stop him from
composing. He continued with his work and wrote
some of the world’s greatest and moving music and
never heard a single note.
His deafness caused great sadness and
depression and influenced the pattern
of his music.
Symphony No. 9 is an example of how his
deafness influenced his music. Beethoven
used a chorus of singers in this work.
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LEARNING TO COPE WITH DEAFNESS
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Beethoven learned to adapt to his
deafness, he never learned to accept
it.
As age progressed he became more
violent, moody, and unpredictable.
Beethoven contemplated suicide.
He adapted by cutting off the legs to
his piano and placed it on the floor in
order to feel the vibrations.
The music was full of passion and
sadness.
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 Beethoven
has a domineering and cruel
father
 His family was plagued with illness and
addictions
 Beethoven and two younger siblings were
the only surviving of seven children
 His mother died when he was 7 years old
 The death of his mother caused his father to
become further involved in alcoholism
 Besides his rigorous musical training he had
to care for his younger siblings
Family Tree
Ludwig van Beethoven
Grandfather
Johann van Beethoven
Father
Maria Magdalena van Beethoven
Mother
Ludwig Maria
died
Anna Maria
died
Ludwig
Kaspar Anton Karl
Franz Georg
died
Margareth
died
Nicholas Johann
(from top, right to left on each row: jpg. 14, jpg. 5, jpg. 15, jpg. 1, jpg. 16, jpg. 17)
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One opera, Fidelio
32 piano sonatas
10 violin sonatas
5 cello sonatas
1 French horn sonata
16 string quartets
5 string quintets
7 piano trios
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More than a dozen
combinations for
wind instruments
Shorter pieces from
composites of his
other works
5 string trios
9 complete
symphonies
Many descriptive words can be used to describe
Ludwig van Beethoven:
BIBLIOGRAPY
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"Beethoven." EUSD - Home Page. 10 June 2011.
<http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/classical/beeth
oven/beethove.htm>.
"Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 - bhso.org.uk." The
Burgess Hill Symphony Orchestra - BHSO new site - Home. 10 June
2011. <http://www.bhso.org.uk/repert-175-Beethoven-Symphony-no-5in-C-minor-Op-67.htm>.
"Piano: Famous Composers." Piano Lessons : Online Piano Lessons. 8
June 2011. <http://www.bestpianolessons.com/piano-composers/pianocomposers-beethoven.html>.
"The influences in Beethoven's life (2)." Your gateway to opera and classical
music: FanFaire – the webzine that celebrates music. 14 June 2011.
<http://www.fanfaire.com/beethoven/vip2.html>.
PICTURE BIBLIOGRAPHY
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(jpg. 1) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/6/6f/20090521140251!Beethoven.jpg
(jpg. 2) http://www.empire.k12.c
a.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/classical/beethoven/house2.gif
(jpg. 3) http://www.classical.net/music/images/composer/m/mozartwa.jpg
(jpg. 4) http://3.bp.blogspot.com/U03bOWDw7hc/Ta2Ocxof3KI/AAAAAAAACCQ/2ghsTr2_BH4/s1600/DSCN6517.JPG
(jpg. 5) http://rmmadden.wikispaces.com/file/view/Beethoven-father.gif/203181736/Beethoven-father.gif
(jpg. 6) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Thirteen-year-old_Beethoven.jpg
(jpg. 7) http://p2.la-img.com/302/9434/1952908_1_l.jpg
(jpg. 8) http://www.ludwigvanbeethoven.tk/imagini/beethoven_teenage.jpg
(jpg. 9) http://portrait.kaar.at/Musikgeschichte%2018.Jhd%20Teil%203/images/christian_gottlob_neefe.jpg
(jpg. 10) http://www.russianpianoschool.com/programs/img/page16/beethoven_in_vienna.jpg
(jpg. 11) http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HhY8Fzy_4Cs/TAhRJIUc3lI/AAAAAAAAAZc/2ci35PDOLvc/s1
600/napoleon_bonaparte-11.jpg
(jpg. 12) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BeethovenSinfonia5autografo.jpg
(jpg. 13) http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Lieux/Virtuel/Piano_Graf_.jpg
(jpg. 14) http://raptusassociation.org/bg-radoux.jpg
(jpg. 15) http://www.edepot.com/graphics/beethmom.gif
(jpg. 16) http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Famille/ImagesGenealogie/Neveu_KarlVanBeethoven_Adulte.jpg
(jpg. 17) http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Famille/ImagesGenealogie/Frere_NicolasJohannVanBeethoven.jpg