Details of Beethoven

Personal information

Name: Ludwig van Beethoven

Birthday: December 16, 1770

Horoscope : Sagittarius

Birthplace: Bonn, a city not far from France on the Rhine River

Status: German composer, pianist

[Edit this paragraph ] Introduction to Beethoven's life

"Strive to do good, love and freedom above all else, even if you forget the throne, don't forget the truth." - Beethoven (notes in 1792)

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a great German composer and one of the representatives of the Vienna Classical School. He played a decisive role in the development of world music (from the classicism period to the romanticism period). He is respected as the "Sage of Music" by the world.

Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770 in Bonn, a small town on the Rhine River not far from France. He was born into the Flemish family, a musical family. His grandfather, Luttwik, was the conductor of the Bonn Court Orchestra, and his father was an alcoholic tenor singer. His mother was a maid, the daughter of a cook. Beethoven's musical talent has been revealed since he was a child. His father was eager to train him to become a prodigy like Mozart. He was kept at home with the violin since he was a child, or was forced to practice next to the harpsichord all day long. At the age of eight, he began to perform in concerts and try to compose music. However, the music education he received during this period has been very fragmented and unsystematic. The most recognized portrait of Beethoven

At the age of twelve, he was already able to play freely and served as the assistant of the organist Christian Gottlob Neefe (1748-1798). It was at this time that he began to formally study music with Nie Fei. Nie Fei was a musician with many talents. He expanded Beethoven's artistic vision, made Beethoven familiar with some excellent examples of German classical art, and consolidated Beethoven's understanding of lofty purposes. Beethoven's formal learning and systematic upbringing actually began with Nie Fei's careful teaching and training: Nie Fei also guided him to Vienna to teach Mozart in 1787. After hearing his performance, Mozart predicted that one day Beethoven would shock the world. Beethoven received news of his mother's death soon after arriving in Vienna, and he had to rush back to Bonn immediately. Due to family burdens, he did not come to Vienna for the second time until his father's death in the autumn of 1792, but by this time Mozart was no longer alive. After Beethoven came to Vienna for the second time, he quickly won the title of Vienna's most outstanding performer (especially improvisation). Later, he studied first with Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), and later with Schenck, Johann Albrechtsberger (1736-1809) and Antonio Salieri. , 1750-1825) and others studied. Through his contacts with the intellectual Breining in Bonn, he came into contact with many famous professors, writers and musicians at that time, and from them he was influenced by the ideological trend of the "Turbulence Movement". His democratic ideas had reached maturity in the years before the French Revolution, but they grew particularly rapidly during the revolutionary years. Beethoven's plaster cast of Ludwig van Beethoven

The progressive ideology of the French bourgeois revolution in 1789 inspired him a lot, thus laying the foundation for his humanistic world. He believed deeply in human equality and pursued justice and individuality. Freedom, hating the oppression of feudal autocracy. Although the three famous composers of the Vienna Classical School lived in a very close era, Beethoven's thoughts obviously did not belong to the same "era" as Haydn and Mozart. Haydn was humiliated throughout his life. Although he was occasionally provoked, he always accepted it. The progressive literary trends and revolutionary sentiments at that time rarely excited him, and his music was always insulated from struggle.

Mozart suffered no less spiritually than Haydn. He was brave enough to resist and would rather be poor than endure the insult of the archbishop. However, in his music, behind the joy full of sunshine and youthful vitality, you can often still feel a trace of it. Emotions of pain, melancholy and sadness. Only Beethoven not only angrily opposed the tyranny of the feudal system, but also used his music to call on people to fight for freedom and happiness. Most of Beethoven's creations during his Bonn period (1782-1792) were small piano pieces, ensembles and songs. During this period, it can be said that he was only in the preparatory stage of creation. Among his creations in the first ten years (1792-1802) in Vienna, the only famous works are "Pathétique", "Moonlight" Piano Sonata, "Kreutzer" Violin Sonata and Third Piano Concerto. But during this period, he gained a better understanding of social and political issues, and was able to realize the goals he wanted to pursue. From 1802 to 1812, his creation entered a mature period, which later became his "heroic age".

Ludwig van Beethoven's Pianoforte The maturation process of Beethoven's creative activities appears to be quite slow on the surface, but in fact it is very stable. He only began to write his first symphony when he was thirty years old. At this age, Mozart had already written about forty symphonies.

Beethoven's life was very bumpy and he became deaf in his later years. He had felt his hearing gradually weakening since 1796 when he was 26 years old. However, it was not until 1801, when he was convinced that his ear disease was incurable, that he Tell his friends about this. However, his love for art and life overcame his personal pain and despair - suffering became the source of his creative power. When such a spiritual crisis reached its peak, Beethoven overcame many difficulties with a strong will and began to compose his optimistic third "Eroic" Symphony. The "Eroica" Symphony marked a spiritual turning point for Beethoven and also marked the beginning of his "Heroic Age" of creation.

During Beethoven’s later period in Vienna, because Europe was experiencing a period of serious political reaction, that is, a period when Metternich’s reactionary rule was particularly rampant, his creations also temporarily declined (1813- 1817). Starting from 1818, during the last ten years of Beethoven's life (1818-1827), despite being completely deaf, suffering from deteriorating health, living in poverty, and suffering mental torture, he still created "" The Ninth "Chorus" Symphony" summarizes his glorious and epic life and shows the best wishes of mankind.

Beethoven died in Vienna on March 26, 1827; no relatives were by his side when he died, but when he was buried on the 29th of the same month, a mass wave was formed, and all schools Classes were suspended to express condolences, and 20,000 people escorted his coffin. His tombstone was engraved with the inscription by the Austrian poet Greer Bacze (1791-1872): "When you stand in front of his coffin, the shadow of Yours is not dejection, but a noble feeling; only for a person like him can we say: He has accomplished a great cause... Ludwig van Beethoven's Desk

Beethoven is one of the great composers in the history of world art. His creations embody his giant-like character and reflect the progressive thoughts of that era. Its image of revolutionary heroism can be expressed as "through suffering - to joy; It can be summarized through "struggle - victory". His works are both magnificent and simple, and their music is rich in content and easy to be understood and accepted by the audience. Beethoven's music embodies the sentiments of the people of his time. Pain and joy, struggle and victory, so it always inspired people and inspired people's fighting spirit in the past, and even now makes people feel kind and inspiring.

Beethoven's works "Ninth Choral Symphony", "Fifth Symphony of Destiny", "Sixth Pastoral Symphony", "Third, Fourth and Fifth Emperor Piano Concertos", " "Moonlight", "Pathetique Piano Sonata", "Missa Solemnis", "Destiny", etc. These are all beautiful movements that break away from classicism and show freedom and enthusiasm.

[Edit this paragraph] Beethoven's creative career

Beethoven grew up during the period when Joseph II implemented "enlightened autocracy", and the rulers of Bonn also implemented Some improvement measures. Bonn became one of the centers of the German Enlightenment at that time.

A portrait of the 13-year-old Beethoven Beethoven began his struggle with fate as soon as he was born. His father wanted to develop his musical talent and always showed him off as a child prodigy. When he was four years old, his father let him sit in front of the dulcimer all day long (the dulcimer is an instrument similar in form and organization to the piano, a keyboard instrument before the piano), or put him with a violin Locked in a room together. His father always used violence to force him to study. At the age of eleven, Beethoven joined the theater orchestra. At the age of thirteen, he became an organist. He is very lucky that he doesn't hate music after all.

From 1781, while working in the theater, Beethoven studied Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" and composition method with band conductor Neve. Neve was a very cultivated composer who was inclined to the Enlightenment. Conductor, he has contributed to the development of German national opera and oratorio. By learning from this teacher, Beethoven realized the importance of learning the German national music tradition. Under Neve's guidance, he also accepted the influence of the Enlightenment and developed a strong interest in the progressive literature of Germany at that time.

Beethoven's skill as a pianist impressed everyone. Not only was he an accomplished performer, he was also an excellent teacher. He soon became a prolific composer. His works were so popular that he could easily sell them to publishers by the time he was in his mid-twenties. Beethoven_house_of_birthBirthplace

Beethoven had a sign of deafness when he was nearly 30 years old. It is understandable that the young composer felt uneasy about this ominous sign. For a moment he actually thought of committing suicide. Beethoven continued to compose a large number of musical works. But as time went by, he paid less and less attention to the music that the music audience of the time was enjoying. But he continued to succeed. Beethoven was completely deaf when he was approaching 50 years old. As a result, he stopped performing on stage and became even more lonely and eccentric. He is not as prolific as before, and his works also give people the impression of being crippled. At that time he was composing mainly for himself and an ideal future audience. It is said that he once told a critic that his works were "not created for you but for the future generation."

If we say that this is the most talented composer beyond time and space Having experienced the bitterness of deafness, it is better to say that it is the most ruthless mockery of fate; if Beethoven ignores the pain of deafness and continues to ensure the quality of his works with superhuman perseverance, then this is an inspiring , an almost unbelievable feat. But the truth is even more surprising than imagined: Beethoven actually composed music during his years of total deafness that exceeded the level of his earlier works. The works he created in his later years are generally regarded as his greatest masterpieces. He died in Vienna in 1827 at the age of 57.

Beethoven_death_mask statue Beethoven created a large number of works, including nine symphonies, 32 piano sonatas, five piano concertos, ten piano and violin sonatas, a series of string quartets, vocal pieces, dramas music, and many others. But more important than the quantity of his numerous compositions is their quality. His works organically integrate perfect imagination and unrestrained emotions.

Beethoven touched people's heartstrings with his playing, and they no longer considered instrumental music to be a secondary art.

Beethoven was a very creative composer, and many of the changes he brought to music have had lasting effects. He enlarged the size of the orchestra, increased the length of the symphonies, and expanded their scope. He proved that the piano was extremely versatile and contributed to making it a first-rate instrument. Beethoven represented the transformation of music from classical to romantic. His works inspired many romantic pieces of music.

Beethoven had a great influence on many later composers, including people of various styles, such as Brahms, Wagner, Schubert and Tchaikovsky. He also paved the way for Berlioz, Gustave, Mahler, Strauss and many others.

Although Johann Sebastian Bach is almost as famous as him, Beethoven's music has a wider and more numerous audience than Bach's music, and Beethoven's music Many innovations had a more profound impact on subsequent musical development than Bach's works.

Beethoven’s symphony creations mostly adopt the form of expanded sonatas. His creative ideas are broad and grand, with profound thoughts, contrasting images, rich and diverse, and the treatment of musical form achieves the overall perfection of the work. With a high degree of unity, the third movement minuet in the original symphony was changed into a scherzo during the creation, and the opera's dramatic expression of the conflicts and conflicts in the world achieved through struggle was applied to the symphony. In the ninth movement The symphony even includes a chorus, which expands the expressive capabilities and atmosphere of the symphony. In addition, in the creation of the symphony, Beethoven made bold innovations in orchestration, established the clarinet's position in the orchestra, used four trombones in the Ninth Symphony, etc., forming a novel style that began Entering a new field, he used this innovative musical form to fully express his inner world, reflect the progressive social trends at that time, develop the European classical music school to its highest peak, and create a new era of European romantic music in the 19th century. First of all.

But Beethoven's final years were the most tragic and painful years of his life. The threat of loneliness and poverty made him depressed and lonely. He died of illness in Vienna on March 26, 1827. It is said that at his last moment, amid heavy rain and lightning, Beethoven raised his withered arms to the sky in a final struggle. This spirit of never ending life and fighting is all concentrated in his immortal masterpieces.

Beethoven is one of the greatest creators of human art. On the one hand, he has outstanding musical talent, fiery rebellious temperament and giant-like strong character; on the other hand, his indomitable will and lofty thoughts arising from his sense of social responsibility form his special qualities as a musician. Through his own creation, especially in his nine symphonies, he reflected the great people's movements and the most progressive ideas of that era. Taking the destiny of the times and individuals as themes, he wrote a series of symphonic works through a combination of profound philosophy and touching artistic images, which showed the rise of the bourgeoisie from struggle to victory, from darkness to light, and from suffering to happiness. The spiritual journey of the period, his nine symphonies will always shine like pearls.

Beethoven had a rebellious spirit and a character that advocated freedom. In 1807, Beethoven was living in the home of Duke Lichnovsky in Vienna. One day, a large number of guests came to the Duke's house. They were all French officers sent by Napoleon to occupy Vienna. The Duke wanted to invite the guests to listen to music, so he sent someone to invite Beethoven, but did not explain the situation to Beethoven. Beethoven didn't know what was going on and came excitedly with his newly written "Appassionata" sonata. When he entered the living room, he saw a group of occupying troops. Beethoven immediately rejected the Duke's request. The Duke became so angry that he ordered Beethoven to play with a straight face. Beethoven was Lichnovsky's shameless traitor. His behavior was so angry that he picked up the music and left angrily despite the heavy rain at night, and smashed a bust that the Duke had given him before.

The next day, the Duke received such a letter: "Duke! Your status is due to accidental birth. And the reason why I became Beethoven is all because of myself. The Duke now has , There will be others in the future, but I will always have only one Beethoven!" Perhaps the actual situation was more violent than what the data stated, but Beethoven's friends tried to cover it up. The "Weigler and Friend Beethoven of the Brühling Family" in the Weigler database contains a letter from Rees to Weigler on December 28, 1837, mentioning: "If Count Opsdorf and others were not present, , a fight was inevitable, Beethoven had already raised a chair and was about to attack Prince Lichnovsky, because Beethoven hid in the room and locked the door, but the prince knocked the door open. Fortunately, Opsdorf blocked it. Between the two of them." The quarrel began when Beethoven refused to play for some French officers who had been invited to a dinner party for him by Beethoven.

Through the research and analysis of Beethoven's nine symphonies, especially the analysis of four of them (i.e. the third, fifth, sixth and ninth) title symphonies, we can not only understand Beethoven's The basic appearance of all creations and his great and innocent thoughts, and you can also understand the major innovations in symphony creation, and see how symphony transitioned from the era of Haydn and Mozart to the new era represented by Schubert and Mendelssohn. development period.

Even before Beethoven was alive, he had been recognized as a musician of world significance. He was not only a great classical composer, but also went down in history as a pioneer of the Romantics. When Beethoven died in 1827, many friends and admirers came to pay their respects.

Beethoven is buried in Waehringer Friedhof. Literary giant Greer Patzer once said in his eulogy, "Beethoven gave his all to everyone, but got nothing from them, so he stayed away from everyone." What can make Beethoven look back in peace is that Schubert In 1828, he was also buried here with him. In order to commemorate Schubert, the young talented musician, people built a Schubert Garden (Schubertpark) next to Weilinger's cemetery. Today, the Schubert Garden on Wellinger Strasse is a popular place for tourists.

[Edit this paragraph] Beethoven’s musical style

Beethoven is the most advanced architect of music, and his genius is reflected in the ideological structure of sonata-symphony. . His shorthand notebook shows how the musical ideas he conceived were finally formed step by step, and also shows how hard he worked in pouring these materials into the necessary form.

Beethoven inherited the sonata form from the symphonies of Haydn and Mozart, and transformed it into a huge structure suitable for his own ideas. He enlarged the scale of the first movement, especially the coda. Like Haydn and Mozart, he regarded the development as the dynamic center of the sonata form. His short but profound themes offer endless opportunities for expansion and development, and they unfold with fierce force and momentum. The slow movement has the characteristics of a hymn in Beethoven's hands, embodying Beethovenian pathos. He transformed the minuet movement into a scherzo movement, a movement with rhythmic dynamics, with moods ranging from "laughing and laughing" to mysterious and surprising. He expanded the finale into a movement similar in scale and artistic conception to the first movement, making the symphony end in triumph.

In Beethoven's art, piano music occupies a central position. His 32 sonatas are indispensable for both amateur pianists and concert soloists. part. They are aptly called the pianist's "New Testament" ("Old Testament" refers to Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier). Contrast of strength. Explosive accents, opposition between high and low registers, syncopation and powerful crescendos are all basic features of Beethoven's piano style. His interest in variations on themes is also very characteristic. In this regard, he is a brilliant architect. He uses endless ideas to build the simplest materials into towering edifices.

When Beethoven wanted to express more "intense emotions" and began to use new techniques on the piano, the result of his "fiery expression" was the damage of the hammers and the breakage of the strings, one of Beethoven's scribes described it this way: "I often twist off the broken strings. I work back and forth, pulling out the broken strings, and turning over the music. My work is much harder than Beethoven's."

Beethoven believed that symphony was the music of music. An ideal means of addressing humanity, his nine symphonies are spiritual dramas with universal appeal. They affirm life with their sweeping and exciting momentum. In the Third Symphony (Eroica), Beethoven's style matured. This work was originally dedicated to Napoleon, whom he considered to be the embodiment of the revolutionary spirit and human freedom. When the news came that Napoleon had proclaimed himself emperor, Beethoven had no illusions about him. The outraged composer tore out a page with a dedication from the work he had just completed and rewritten it as "Eroica Symphony, written in memory of a great man."

It is generally believed that the Fifth Symphony is the prototype of the symphony and has everything a symphony has. The Seventh Symphony rivals it in many ways for its appeal. The Ninth Symphony played Beethoven's last profound tones. In its finale, Schiller's famous "Ode to Joy" was sung by human voices, which was a prophecy of the times that resounded through the sky.

Beethoven is one of Germany's greatest musicians.

[Edit this paragraph] Beethoven's legacy

Although Beethoven was born in Germany, he never left Vienna since he left Germany at the age of 22. He left numerous monuments in Vienna.

Pasqualatihaus

This building is named after the owner of the house and was built between 1791 and 1798. Beethoven lived here several times between 1804 and 1815. Here, Beethoven experienced the heyday of his creation. His Symphonies No. 4, 5, and 6, Piano Concerto No. 4 and the opera "Fidelio" were all created here.

Heiligenstaedter-Testament-Haus 19., Probusgasse 6

Heiligenstadt was a place far outside the city walls of Vienna, but now it is Vienna Elegant villa area in the north. Here, Beethoven left his will here in October 1802 when he was in despair of losing his hearing. This former residence is now open to the public. Beethoven grave

Eroica-Haus

Not far from the Will House, there is Beethoven’s former residence. This is the Eroica House, where Beethoven composed the Eroica Symphony. 》 place. Beethoven's other symphony "Pastoral" was also composed nearby. This former residence has now been transformed into a very famous new wine hotel. On the small roads full of suburban style, visitors can appreciate the atmosphere of Beethoven's creation. Here, people call the path where Beethoven walked "Beethoven Trail". At the end of the trail, there is a "Beethoven Resting Place".

Beethoven Monument Beethovendenkmal

Opposite the Vienna Concert Hall, there is a Beethoven monument, and the square is named after it. This monument, built in 1880, features a seated statue of Beethoven surrounded by nine cherubs, symbolizing the nine symphonies of this music master.

Beethoven's Tomb (Weilinger Cemetery) Waehringer Friedhof

When Beethoven died in 1827, he was buried in the Weilinger Cemetery in the northern suburbs of Vienna. In 1828, when Beethoven's good friend Schubert died, people buried Schubert here. In 1888, the coffins of the two music masters were moved to the Central Cemetery together. Beethoven's tomb is now in tomb No. 29 in Area 32A.

[Edit this paragraph] Beethoven’s main musical works

Symphony:

Symphony No. 1 Op.21 1794--1796 C major

Symphony No. 2 Op.36 1801-1802.10 D major

Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" Op.55 1803-1804 E flat major

Symphony No. 4 Op.60 1806.10 B flat major

Symphony No. 5 "Fate" Op.67 1804-1808 C minor

Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral" Op. 68 1807---1808 F major

Symphony No. 7 Op.92 1811-1812.6 A major

Symphony No. 8 Op.93 1811-1812.10 F major

Symphony No. 9 "Chorus" Op.125 1824.2 D minor

Symphony No. 10 (posthumous manuscript) (unfinished)

War Symphony Wellingtons Sieg Op. .91 1813 D major

Concerto:

Pinao Concertos No.1 Op.15 1796 C major

Piano Concerto No. 2 Pinao Concertos No.2 Op.19 1794-1795 B flat major

Pinao Concerto No.3 Op.37 1800 C minor

Piano Concerto No.4Pinao Concertos No. .4 Op.58 1805-1806 G major

Pinao Concertos No.5 Op.73 E flat major

Pinao Concertos in D Op .61 1807

Pinao Concertos in E flat WoO.4 1784

Rondo for Pinao and Orchestra in B flat WoO.6 1795

Fantasie fur Klavier, Chor Und Orchester Op.80 1808 C minor

Triple Concerto for vilin Cello and Piano Op.56 1803-1804 C major

Violin Concerto Op.61 1806 D major

Two Romances Op.40 amp; Op.50 1802-1803 G major and F major Key

Overture:

Leonore Overtures No.1-1805 No.2-1805 No.3-1806 No.4-1814

Egmond 1809

Coriolanus Overture Op.93 1807 C major

King Stephen Op.112 1811

Dedication to the BuildingThe Consecrat

ion of the house Op.124 1822 C major

Knight Ballet Music Musik Zu einem Ritterballett WoO.1 1790-1791

Name Day Celebration Overture Ouverture “Namensfeier” Op.115 1814 C major

The ruins of Athens Op.113

Chamber music:

Under the weak candlelight, a man is making leather shoes. There is an old piano in front of the window, and a girl of sixteen or seventeen years old is sitting in front of it.