1. Ludwig van Beethoven
December 16, 1770 – March 26, 1827

2. Life Born in Bonn, Germany Pianist, from a very musical family
Traveled to Vienna in hopes of studying with Mozart
Age 16, Mother died, took care of brothers
Age 22, moved to Vienna to study with Haydn
Established as piano virtuoso
- Income from performing, gifts, teaching and compositions (not court)
- Made developments in music publishing
No marriage, or children
Belief in the Enlightenment, the first Romantic composer
Difficult, aggressive, possibly bipolar.

3. Compositional Style Classical forms with new emotions
- often broke formal rules
More musical contrasts
Tension and excitement
Extensive developments
3 Compositional Periods
- Early
- Heroic
- Romantic
Moonlight:

4. Early Period Composed 2 Symphonies Studied with Haydn
Excelled at composing for the piano
- Pathetique Sonata first sign of greatness to come
Began to lose his hearing…
Pathetique:

5. Loss of Hearing 1796- Hearing loss begins
1802- Heiligenstadt Testament
Could understand completely until 1812
1814- Completely deaf

6. Heiligenstadt Testament
“…for six years I have been a hopeless case, aggravated by senseless physicians, cheated year after year in the hope of improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a lasting malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be impossible)…”
“…but what a humiliation when one stood beside me and heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone heard the shepherd singing and again I heard nothing, such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life - only art it was that withheld me, ah it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence - truly wretched…”

7. Heroic Period Greatest works from this period were his symphonies:
No. 3 – “Eroica” (Heroic)
- Longest symphony at that point
- Quick harmonic changes, epic developments
No. 5 – Fate (not an official nickname)
- Fast, brimming with excitement
- Development of very simple theme (a Beethoven trait)
No. 6 – “Pastorale”
- A unique look at Beethoven’s softer side
- Program music!

8. Romantic Period Took a great amount of time off to care for his nephew
A period of looking forward, and looking backwards
Works from this period had a strong influence on the entire Romantic Era

9. Romantic Period Symphony No. 7 Symphony No. 8 Missa Solemnis
- Signaled beginning of the period
- First time writing beautiful melodies for each movement
Symphony No. 8
- homage to Haydn
Missa Solemnis
- Meant for the stage, not church
- presented the first of two views on religion, followed by Symphony No. 9…

10. Symphony No. 9 “Choral Movement 1 is dark, angry, and not a sonata
An opinion on religion, faith, society, love
Movement 1 is dark, angry, and not a sonata
- includes foreshadowing melodies
Movement 2 is a spirited scherzo
Movement 3 is a serene, calming & slow
Movement 4: Ode to Joy
- Begins frighteningly
- moves to the Ode to Joy melody
- Voices enter (first time voice used in a symphony)
- employs 4 vocal soloists and full choir
- roughly 30 minutes long

11. Ode to Joy “….Oh friends, no more of these tones!
Let us sing more cheerful songs,
More joyful. Joy! Joy! ….”
“…Whoever has created,
An abiding friendship,
Whoever has won a loving wife,
Yes, whoever calls even one soul theirs,
Join in our song of praise…”
“…Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Do you bow down, you millions?
Do you sense the Creator, world?
Seek Him beyond the star-canopy!
Beyond the stars must He dwell…” 11