Changing the Purpose of Music Ludwig van Beethoven Changing the Purpose of Music
Beethoven’s Beginnings (1770-1827) German pianist, trained by his father, who wanted him to be the “next Mozart”. His father was a brutal teacher Young Beethoven was made to practice for hours each day His father beat him when he made mistakes and sometimes locked him in a cellar as punishment Average in school as a child Not good at math or spelling May have been dyslexic "Music comes to me more readily than words."
Career as a Composer First piano composition at age 12 Was sent to Vienna at the time Mozart was there Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II - earliest masterpiece, but for unknown reasons was not played at the funeral. Studied piano with Haydn, vocal composition with Salieri, in Vienna. First became famous as a piano virtuoso giving performances and impressive improvisations. His talent and hard work studying with master composers in Vienna paid off and his composition were wildly popular.
Beethoven’s Greatest Contribution to Music Beethoven is often considered the greatest composer of all time Has been called the Shakespeare of music Beethoven composed his most beautiful and extraordinary music while deaf He believed music should create an emotional state in the listener - an idea that is still central to music today. From “Immortal Beloved”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQSEmnm9ez4
“Immortal Beloved” Beethoven never married or had children. He was, however, desperately in love with a woman - possibly a married woman named Antonie Brentano. Over the course of two days in July of 1812, Beethoven wrote an unknown woman a long and beautiful love letter that he never sent. It was addressed, “to you, my Immortal Beloved”. The 1994 movie Immortal Beloved is based on this mystery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2ql5wODeMY
Was Beethoven Metal? Listen to this “Metal Version” of the 3rd movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=MZuSaudKc68 Now, compare it to Beethoven’s original piano arrangement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKAbSu6-6Bc Do you think Beethoven was “Metal” for his time period?