Born in Bonn Germany in 1770, Beethoven
was the son of Maria Magdalena and Johann van Beethoven. Beethoven’s
parents had many children that died right after their birth. An older
brother that was born before Beethoven died six days after his birth.
Five younger children are born into the family, and only two of them make
it to see Beethoven perform in Austria. The other three died as infants.
As we can see Beethoven didn’t have much luck in his family. Like
Mozart Beethoven was born into a musical family. Both his father
and grandfather were employed as musicians in the court of the elector
in Bonn Germany. Beethoven did great work and was very much appreciated
for it. He wrote both in the classical and the romantic periods.
Beethoven was a great compose and had very much success with his work during
his life time. Some scholars believe that Beethoven was the composer
that bridged the gap between the classical and the romantic periods.
Throughout this essay I would like focus on this point and see how Beethoven
managed to accomplish this throughout his life.
Since we know when and where
Beethoven was born it would be interesting find out a little more about
his musical life. In 1775 at the age of four Beethoven begins musical
lessons with his father, which is said to be a cruel and severe teacher.
Beethoven plays his first recital in Cologne, but is not said to be a child
prodigy as Mozart has established himself to be. In 1787 when Beethoven
travels to Vienna he played for Mozart, Beethoven is said to have studied
piano with Mozart when he was there, but was in a hurry to return home
because his mother had a mortal illness and he wanted to see her still
alive. But unfortunately his mother dies on July 17th 1787.
In his book Beethoven letters, journals, and conversations Michael Hamburger
has a conversation that took place in Vienna with Mozart. When Beethoven
was playing “Beethoven began to perform upon the piano in such a manner
that Mozart, whose attention increased to the point of fascination, at
last went quietly to his friends sitting in the next room and said emphatically
‘Keep your eyes on that fellow; one day he’ll give the world something
to talk about.’” Of course Mozart was right, and today he is one
of the most well known composers of his day.
During the life of music there
have been four major periods in music history. The Baroque period
which lasted from 1600-1750, the Classical period 1750-1820, the Romantic
period 1820-1920, and the Contemporary period from 1900 to the present.
We can see from these time periods that Beethoven was born in the Classical
period and lived about seven years of the Romantic period. What is
interesting at this point is that Beethoven was totally deaf the last seven
years of his life. Which points out how he could compose when he
was deaf. Vincent D’Indy in his book Beethoven records a conversation
in between Franz Liszt to Councilor Wilhelm von Lenz, and he says “Three
Beethovens: The child, the man, the god” (pg. 2). Beethoven’s
career started out with a few insignificant variations, and closed with
the most powerful five quartets. To many people who are musicians
and love classical music Beethoven might be a god. I can truly say
that he had a God given gift. It is not natural for someone to compose
the most powerful creations of their life when they are deaf, and to have
the rest of the world after them hear it for centuries and admire its beauty.
Beethoven was not much of
a materialist. He didn’t want fame and glory, he loved music and
it was his passion. In 1801 Beethoven composed his Sonata quasi una
Fantasia (Moonlight Sonata) one of the best loved sonatas ever written
it was dedicated to the young Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, one of Beethoven’s
students. Beethoven is said to have proposed marriage to the countess
who had inspired this piece. But of course her father opposed because
Beethoven was a man not worthy of his daughter because through his eyes
he was a man without rank, money, or permanent employment. This is
one factor that I see as a real tragedy in Beethoven’s life. You
love someone and they love you but yet you are not allowed to be together
because of you social ranking. This form of power over, really affected
Beethoven’s life. How unfair is it for someone to judge you on the
way you are ranked by society.
When Beethoven was in Vienna
on November 2nd 1793, he wrote a letter Eleonore Von Breuning, in which
he says he is very sorry and wishes that they could sill be friends.
It is interesting to know what has happened between them but Beethoven
does not say. But he does ask her for one last favor, he says “ I
should very much like to be happy enough once again to possess an angora
wool waistcoat knit by your own hand” (pg. 4). In this letter Beethoven
on addresses this young lady and her mother. I am assuming that the
same thing has happened with this young lady as did with the countess.
Her father might had disliked Beethoven because of his social status, and
told his daughter to stay away. It seems like Beethoven has had his
share of bad luck with women. I feel strongly that this had had a
major impact on the compositions that Beethoven wrote. Because I
know what it is like to be in love, all you are able to think about is
that person, and this has a major impact on your life. Beethoven
showed interest in these women while he was still playing and composing
his work. In one letter this young lady still shows compassion for
Beethoven because she asks him for one of his works. I am sure that
all the women Beethoven fell in love with loved him back. How can
a women that is lured by sweet songs and poetry not fall in love.
It is just the problem that the parents get involved and then the daughters
choose to listen to the parents rather then to disobey their command.
In his book The Cambridge
Companion to Beethoven Glenn Stanley says “even before his hearing began
to deteriorate, many witnesses to his playing were struck by its roughness;
others emphasized its nobility of spirit” (pg. 16). When scholars
say that Beethoven bridged the gap between the classical and the romantic
period, I think that Beethoven was one of the few that were brave enough
to start adding color to his music. One of the characteristics of
the classical period is the emphasis on clarity, balance and form.
On the other hand we have the Romantic period which has very loud and contrasting
dynamics, has color, texture, and is either descriptive or expressive.
When Beethoven went deaf during the last years of his life. He couldn’t
hear what it sounded like, but he could feel the music in his body.
He had love in him and he wanted to express it, and the best way he could
do it was through his music. He was brave enough to go against the
clarity and balance of classical music, he gave it all he had. Crescendo’s
Pianissimo’s and Forte’s. He felt the vibrating of the drums in his
body, the silence of the flute’s and the uniformity of the orchestra.
Beethoven was talented, and had a God given gift. He was not afraid
of his music, he was proud of it. He wanted it to be loud and attractive.
He wanted people to get aroused at his music, this was his life and he
tried the best could to make his audience feel what he felt, and the best
way he could do this was through the type of music he composed.