1. Beethoven’s Middle Period:
Chapter 50
Beethoven’s Middle Period:
1802–1814

2. Lecture Overview
Beethoven’s life and times during the middle period (c1802-c1814)
The “new way”: Beethoven’s innovations
Symphonies of the middle period
Napoleon Bonaparte
Symphony No. 3 in Eb (Eroica),
Time permitting: Fidelio, Leonore’s aria “Abscheulicher!” (1814)
Review

3. Events in Beethoven’s Life During the Middle Period
1802 suicidal despair over deafness; writes the Heiligenstadt Testament
1804 disillusionment as Napoleon crowns himself Emperor
1805 opera Fidelio completed and premiered
1809 receives annuity from three Viennese nobility; Haydn dies
1812 love affair with Antonie Brentano reaches crisis point; letter addresses her as the “Immortal Beloved”
1813 plan for Beethoven to become guardian of nephew, Karl, upon the death of Beethoven’s brother
1814 fall of Napoleon; Congress of Vienna is convened

4. Portrait of Beethoven c1806
Beethoven’s aristocratic and wealthy patrons often commissioned the painting of his portrait during the composer’s middle period. In 1806, two portraits of him were made by the Viennese painter Isidor Neugass, one for Prince Karl Lichnowsky (Beethoven’s most important early patron in Vienna), the other (shown here) for the Brunsvik family. Two of the Brunsvik daughters—Josephine and Therese—were Beethoven’s piano students, and Josephine was one of his many love interests.

5. Beethoven’s Principal Music of his Middle Period (1802–1814)
Piano Sonatas: Nos. 21–27 (including the Waldstein, Appassionata, and Farewell Sonatas)
Symphonies: Nos. 3–8
Concertos: Nos. 3–5 for piano; Violin Concerto
String Quartets: Nos. 7–11 (including the three Razumovsky Quartets, Op. 59)
Violin Sonatas: Nos. 6–10 (including the Kreutzer Sonata)
Trios (violin-cello-piano): Nos. 5–7 (including the Archduke Trio)
Opera: Fidelio

6. Beethoven Symphony No. 3 in Eb Major (Eroica), 1802-1805, movement 2 (“Funeral March”)
Ternary form

7. Review Key Terms Heiligenstadt Testament symphonie concertante academy
program music
melodrama
cabaletta
“Immortal Beloved”