Chapter 29 and 30 Personalizing the Conversation: Beethoven and the Classical Sonata and Disrupting...

THE ENJOYMENT OF MUSIC

ESSENTIAL LISTENING

EDITION

by

Kristine Forney

Andrew Dell’Antonio

Joseph Machlis

THIRD EDITION

Lecture Slides

Ludwig Van Beethoven

(1770-1827)

Beethoven

• Represents turning point from Classicism to Romanticism

• Burst bonds of formalism and control of Classicism

• Most controversial-Classicist or Romanticist?

• Music very emotional, very dramatic & powerful

• Bears personality of creator

• Very much a “Romantic” quality

Beethoven: A Musical Giant

• Born in Bonn, Germany.

• Lived during the social changes toward democracy in France and America.

• Studied with Haydn who encouraged him.

• Went to Vienna, which was a cultural center, to make his living as composer.

• Father-singer in Kapelle of Archbishop-Elector of Cologne; abusive alcoholic, tried to make him into Mozart

• Loner, never married, cared only for music, untidy

• One serious love affair (Distant Beloved)

• Perfectionist, very particular with music

Beethoven• Beethoven was principal breadwinner by the

time he was a teenager.

• Began to go deaf in his late 20’s, which caused him intense grief.

• Wrote Heiligenstadt Testament (basically a suicide note) to his brothers when he realized there was no cure for his deafness, but decided to live.

• Widely recognized during his lifetime as the greatest composer of instrumental music. When he died in 1827, at age 56, declared a national hero.

• Suffered chronic poor health, deafness, and a custody battle over a nephew during last 15 years of life.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)

Three compositional periods

• First: early career

• Second: middle career, more “Romantic”

• Third: late career, introspective, chromatic harmonies

Beethoven’s Music-->Romanticism

• He increased the number of instruments in the orchestra.

• He expanded the dynamic range of the orchestra to ppp and fff.

• The development sections of his compositions were long, elaborate, and complex.

• In some compositions, he left no pauses between some of the movements.

Beethoven’s Music--Romanticism

• He played larger pianos that created more sound.

• He developed the Classical Forms and expanded them.

• He added a chorus to the final movement of his 9th symphony, “Ode to Joy.”

• His works were longer; he labored over them, revising them over and over.

• The end of his life (1827) marks the beginning of the Romantic Period in Music.

The Sketchbook

• Kept chronicle for posterity of the evolution of thematic material which shows the inner struggle to realize the final form

• “…like bloody record of a tremendous inner battle.”

Ludwig van BeethovenOther Compositions

• Piano Sonatas

– C# minor-- “Moonlight”

– C minor-”Pathetique”

– D minor-- “Tempest”

– F minor-- “Appassionata”

• Piano Concerto #5

in E-flat major--“Emperor”

• Missa Solemnis-Mass in C

• Fidelio--an opera

• String quartets

• 9 symphonies

– No. 3 in E-flat major --”Eroica”

– No. 6 in F major--“Pastoral”

– No. 9 in D minor--includes chorus singing “Ode to Joy”

Chapter 29 Personalizing the Conversation:

Beethoven and the Classical Sonata

• Three or four contrastingmovements

– fast-slow-fast– fast-slow-moderate-fast

The Sonata in the Classical EraThe Movements of the Sonata

Beethoven: Sonata No. 8

Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight)

(Listening Guide)

• Title given after Beethoven's death

• Dedicated to Countess Giuletta Guicciardi– Once thought to be

Beethoven's "Immortal Beloved”

Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight)

First Movement (Listening Guide)

• Breaks with conventional formal molds

• Retains the three-movement format• I: Adagio sostenuto• II: Allegretto• III: Presto agitato • Remains one of the most beloved

works of the Classical repertory

• Elements of a development section

• Delicate singing melody

• Continuous triplet patter

• Modified song form

Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight)

First Movement (Listening Guide)

Sonata in C# Minor“Moonlight”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6txOvK-mAk&index=42&list=PLD2FA7A1A4352F58A

Chapter 30 Disrupting the Conversation:

Beethoven and the Symphony in Transition

Beethoven and the Symphony in Transition

Beethoven contributed to many genres. Here are some examples:

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor (Pathétique), I

Beethoven: Serenade in D, Op. 8, I

Beethoven: String Quartet in F, Op. 59, No. 1, I

Beethoven: King Stephan, Op. 117, final chorus, “Heil unsern Enkeln!”

Fidelio

• Fidelio-only opera• Compared its writing to the

bearing of a child• 1805-revised several times

to 1814• Difficulty setting text• “Rescue” opera based on

events of French Revolution

• Leonore-main heroine• Last act celebration of

heroism & humanitarianism

Fidelio & Vocal Music

• Fidelio-Overture went through several stages

• Three named “Leonora”

• “Fidelio” overture is fourth version; most preferred by Beethoven

• Not at ease with vocal music

– Song cycle-An die ferne Geliebte(To a Distant Beloved

– Song settings of poet Goethe

– Oratorio-Christ on the Mount of Olives

• Missa Solemnis-monumental work, includes soloists, choral group, “Ode To Joy”

• Written for enthronement of student Archduke Rudolph as Archbishop of Olmutz, finished too late for the occasion

Beethoven

• Nine symphonies

– I. C Major

– II. D Major

– III. E-Major(Eroica)

– IV. B Major

– V. C minor

– VI. F Major(Pastorale)

– VII. A Major

– VIII. F Major(Humorous)

– IX. F Minor(Choral)

Symphony No. 3- “Eroica”

• First dedicated to Napoleon, then changed after Bonaparte declared himself Emperor

• “Sinfonia Eroica…composed to celebrate the memory of a great man”

• Unprecedented length

• Called “wild fantasy” at first performance

Symphony No. 6- “Pastoral”

• Symphony #6 in F “Pastorale”

– 5 movements, each bearing descriptive title

– Program content-“an expression of feeling rather than a graphic depiction”

Symphony No. 9- “Choral”

• Movement 4-sets Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” for chorus & quartet

• Considered poem as early as 1792

• Text-ideals of brotherhood of man through love, love of God

• Does various different musical techniques with “Joy” theme

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor

• Most tightly knit motivically of all compositions

• Opening four note motive appears in every movement

• Origins-Fate knocking at door, letter V in Morse Code(not invented yet)

• Along with recurrence of a portion of “Scherzo” in Finale-makes work “cyclic”

• Not break between movements III & IV

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony no. 5 in C Minor

• A symphony in 4 movements:

– 1st--sonata form

– 2nd--variations on 2 themes (loud and soft)

– 3rd— “Rocket” theme; ternary form (ABA’); on the return, A is varied

– 4th--sonata form; material from 3rd movement comes back; extended coda

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony no. 5 in C Minor

• Simple theme (short-short-short-LONG)– Two pitches

– Monophonic texture

– Simple theme is transformed in multiple ways throughout the movement and the entire symphony.

• Dynamics: from extremely loud to extremely soft; sometimes rapid shifts between– Especially between 3rd and 4th movements

– 3rd movement very soft leads to 4th movement very loud

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony no. 5 in C Minor

• Timbre: orchestra is larger in the 4th movement, adding piccolo, contrabassoon (very high and very low instruments respectively), and the trombone.

– Oboe has an unusual solo in 1st movement.

– Double basses have a prominent, difficult passage in the 3rd movement (B section).

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony no. 5 in C Minor

• Form: cyclic--movements are linked in tangible and distinctive way.

– The theme in its various permutations is present in all 4 movements.

– An extended passage in the 3rd movement comes back in the 4th.

The Fifth Symphony

• Rhythmic idea “three shorts and a long” dominates entire work

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7pQytF2nak

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQIVWhKhwPA

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAQFJ1YpFaI

Beethoven

• Dies of jaundice & cholera during thunderstorm

• Biggest revolutionist next to Bach during lifetime

• Considered biggest music revolutionary of all-time

Appreciating Beethoven’s Music

• Contrast-filled with dynamic contrasts, rough/smooth, loud/soft, etc.; soft passage interrupted by sforzandochord; rage section ceases abruptly, gentle melody takes over

• Motive development-showcase of developing short simple musical ideas

• Sense of drive- “inevitability,” music seems to be heading toward final destination; has “this too shall pass” moments; continuation of musical journey

• Personality-sounded like no one else at the time, unique, fiery spirit, sense of musical logic

by

Kristine Forney

Andrew Dell’Antonio

Joseph Machlis

Lecture Slides

THIRD EDITION

THE ENJOYMENT OF MUSIC

ESSENTIAL LISTENING EDITION

http://wwnorton.com/web/enjoyess2