Ludwig Van Beethoven

1770-1827

Was born in Bonn, Germany on December 16th 1770.

Out of 7 children, only he and his 2 younger brothers survived infancy.

Sometime between his brothers being born, Beethoven’s father began teaching him music.

At age 10, Beethoven met Christian Gottlob Neefe • At the age of 12 he published his first

compositions known as the “Dressler Variations.”

Mozart passed away on December 5, 1791.

• Beethoven’s mother died soon after in 1787, causing him to fall into a deep depression.

In 1787, Beethoven traveled to Vienna to study with Mozart.

In 1792, Beethoven left for Vienna once again to study.• He studied piano with Haydn, vocal

composition with Antonio Salieri and counterpoint with Johann Albrechtsberger.On March 29, 1795

Beethoven made his public debut in Vienna.• On April 2, 1800, he

performed in a public concert at the Royal Imperial Theater.

In 1801, Beethoven began to realize the symptoms of deafness.October 6th, 1802, Beethoven describes his despair in “The Heiligenstadt Testament.”From 1803-1812, known as the “middle” or “heroic” period, he began to compose at a blistering speed.

In 1819, Beethoven completely lost his hearing and became a recluse.

• Between 1815 and 1827 his rate of composition drastically decreased because of his deafness.

In 1824, Beethoven completed his 9th Symphony which remains his most towering achievement.• On March 26th, 1827, Beethoven passed

away from cirrhosis of the liver.

A funeral was held at the parish church in Alsergrund on March 29th 1827.

• He was buried in the Währing cemetery, northwest of Vienna.

Approximately 10-30,000 people attended his funeral.• Several notable artists

participated in the funeral procession as pallbearers or torch bearers.

F ür EliseWritten around 1810 but wasn’t published until 1865.

Ludwig Nohl discovered the manuscript written by Beethoven.

Ludwig Nohl wrote the version of Für Elise that most of us hear today

The true identity of “Elise” is unknown.

Researchers believe Therese Malfatti and Elisabeth Röckel are one of the two women Beethoven wrote and composed the piece for.

0:00-0:22- The song begins with the left hand playing in A minor. A somber mood is felt.

0:22-0:58- The music moves between the melody and the first transition several times during this section.

F ür Elise0:58-1:15- The music moves to a 2nd transition which increases in speed and offers a spinning, spiraling quality.

1:15-1:47-The music moves between the melody and the first transition again several times during this section.

1:47-2:14 The 3rd and final transition is played, beginning with the left hand playing a low bass. This section is the most unusual of the sections and brings an immense contrast compared to the others. It appears twice but is slightly different when it is played the second time.

2:14-2:53- The music moves between the melody and the first transition again several times during this section and ends with the melody being played much slower than the other times throughout the piece.

Written between 1804 and 1808.

Beethoven was struggling with becoming deaf around this time.

Depicts,“Fate knocking at the door.”

The 5th Symphony premiered on December 22nd, 1808.

Symphony #5 in C minor, 1st movement

The premier took place in bad weather conditions.

The performance lasted a little more than four hours.

Audiences were not in love with the piece at first

The 5th symphony is still rising in popularity and is used in countless orchestras every year.

0:00-0:04 The piece is introduced with the strings playing the famous first four notes motif (da, da, da, DUM).

0:04-0:24 We are introduced to the other instruments in the orchestra. The 1st violins hold their note.

0:24-0:51-The motif is played again by the orchestra and gradually increases the volume as tension builds.

Symphony #5 in C minor, 1st movement

0:51-1:35 The French Horns play an optimistic fanfare in major mode, giving the piece a feeling of hope.

1:35-2:21-The motif is played again several times by the orchestra which continues to build tension to the music.

2:21-3:04 The French Horns again play an optimistic fanfare, bringing back a feeling of hope to the piece.

3:04-3:55 The French Horns come in with the four note motif in a slightly different key, bringing a feeling of uncertainty to the piece.

3:55-4:29 The music slows down at this point and the woodwinds and strings take turns playing two notes of the motif. A feeling of doubt has entered the music.

4:29-4:46 The first four notes of the motif are played emphatically and confidently, removing most of the feeling of doubt from the music.

4:46-5:03 A single oboe plays curiously during this section giving a feeling of sorrow and still a sliver of doubt.

5:03-5:24 The orchestra continues enthusiastically with the motif, overlooking the oboe’s feeling of doubt.

5:24-7:20 The Bassoon begins this section by giving a discreet version of the four note motif, representing a feeling of insecurity.

The piece continues rapidly with slight differences in the motif, moving through each section of the orchestra multiple times.

7:20-7:24 The first four note motif is played insistently with short pauses between the notes, revealing an image of a victorious battle and a feeling of liberation.

7:24-End The orchestra plays the ending motif confidently, leaving with a feeling of exhaustion and thankfulness that the piece is complete.

Bibliography1. http://www.biography.com/people/ludwig-van-beethoven-9204862

2. http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyLudwig.html

3. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Ludwig_van_Beethoven.aspx

4. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/58473/Ludwig-van-Beethoven

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven

6. http://www.forelise.com/about

7. http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/onestopbeethoven/qt/beethove-fur-elise.htm

8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%BCr_Elise

9. http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/fifth.html

10. http://www.bhso.org.uk/repert-175-Beethoven-Symphony-no-5-in-C-minor-Op-67.htm

11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._5_(Beethoven)

12. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/beethoven39s-fifth-symphony-given-world-premiere-in-vienna