The Early Music of Beethoven Chapter 49 The Early Music of Beethoven
Lecture Overview Europe from 1770 to 1800 Beethoven’s life (1770-1827) Beethoven’s works of the first period (1792-1802) Representative works: Piano Sonata in C Minor (Pathétique), Op. 13, movement 1 Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, movement 3 Review
Beethoven’s World Beethoven was born in 1770 the city of Bonn, on the Rhine River, in the northwest corner of what is now Germany. From the age of 21, he lived in Vienna, the capital of Austria and seat of government of the far-flung lands ruled by the Hapsburg kings. At this time, the German-speaking states of Europe were members of a loose alliance called the Holy Roman Empire, whose emperor was the Hapsburg king. The most powerful German state was Prussia, in the northeast part of Europe.
Beethoven’s Life 1770 born in Bonn 1792 moves to Vienna and studies with Haydn 1792–1802 first compositional period 1802 despair over deafness, Heiligenstadt Testament 1802-c1814 second compositional period 1814–1815 Congress of Vienna c1814–1827 third compositional period 1827 death in Vienna
Beethoven’s Principal Compositions Orchestra: 9 symphonies, overtures, concertos (including 5 for piano and 1 for violin) Chamber music: 16 string quartets, 7 trios, sonatas for instruments and piano Piano: 32 sonatas, variations Opera and ballet: Fidelio (opera), Creatures of Prometheus (ballet) Chorus: 2 masses, oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives, finale of Symphony No. 9
The Youthful Beethoven Beethoven’s appearance made an impression on virtually all who met him. He was very short, and an acquaintance from his youth remembered his “broad shoulders, short neck, large head, round nose, and dark brown complexion.” The French composer Luigi Cherubini compared him to an “unlicked bear cub.”
Beethoven’s Principal Music of his First Period of Composition (1792–1802) Piano Sonatas: Nos. 1–20 Symphonies: Nos. 1–2 Piano Concertos: Nos. 1–2 String Quartets: Nos. 1–6 (Op. 18) Violin Sonatas: Nos. 1–5 Trios (violin-cello-piano): Nos. 1–4
Beethoven, Piano Sonata in C Minor (Pathétique), 1798, movement 1 Sonata form
Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, 1795, movement 3 Sonata-rondo form
Review Key Terms Christian Neefe Ferdinand Waldstein WoO numbers French Revolution improvisation Carl Czerny fantasia sonata-rondo form episode (in a rondo form)