The life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven's works

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in an era of great change, chief among which was the French Revolution. That is why the theme of the heroic struggle became the main one in the composer's work. The struggle for republican ideals, the desire for change, a better future - Beethoven lived with these ideas.

Childhood and youth

Born Ludwig van Beethoven in 1770 in Bonn (Austria), where he spent his childhood. Frequently changing teachers were involved in the upbringing of the future composer, his father's friends taught him to play various musical instruments.

Having realized that his son had a musical talent, his father, wanting to see a second Mozart in Beethoven, began to force the boy to practice long and hard. However, the hopes were not justified, Ludwig did not turn out to be a child prodigy, but he received good compositional knowledge. And thanks to this, at the age of 12, his first work was published: “Piano Variations on the Dressler March.”

Beethoven at the age of 11 begins to work in a theater orchestra, without finishing school. Until the end of his days, he wrote with errors. However, the composerread and learned French, Italian and Latin unaided.

Beethoven's early life was not the most productive, for ten years (1782-1792) only about fifty works were written.

Vienna period

Realizing that he still has much to learn, Beethoven moves to Vienna. Here he attends composition lessons and performs as a pianist. He is patronized by many connoisseurs of music, but the composer keeps himself cold and proud with them, sharply responding to insults.

Beethoven's works of this period are distinguished by their scale, two symphonies appear, "Christ on the Mount of Olives" - the famous and only oratorio. But at the same time, the disease - deafness - makes itself felt. Beethoven understands that it is incurable and is rapidly progressing. From hopelessness and doom, the composer delves into creativity.

Central period

This period dates from 1802-1812 and is characterized by the flowering of Beethoven's talent. Having overcome the suffering caused by the disease, he saw the similarity of his struggle with the struggle of the revolutionaries in France. Beethoven's works embodied these ideas of perseverance and steadfastness of spirit. They manifested themselves especially clearly in the Heroic Symphony (Symphony No. 3), the opera Fidelio, and the Appassionata (Sonata No. 23).

Transition period

This period lasts from 1812 to 1815. At this time, great changes are taking place in Europe, after the end of Napoleon's reign, the Congress of Vienna gathers. Its implementation contributesstrengthening reactionary-monarchist tendencies.

Following the political changes, the cultural situation is also changing. Literature and music depart from the heroic classicism familiar to Beethoven. Romanticism begins to seize the liberated positions. The composer accepts these changes, creates a symphonic fantasy "The Battle of Vattoria", a cantata "Happy Moment". Both creations are a great success with the public.

However, not all of Beethoven's works of this period are like this. Paying tribute to the new fashion, the composer begins to experiment, look for new ways and musical techniques. Many of these finds have been hailed as ingenious.

Late creativity

The last years of Beethoven's life were marked by political decline in Austria and the composer's progressive illness - deafness became absolute. Having no family, immersed in silence, Beethoven took on the upbringing of his nephew, but he only brought grief.

Beethoven's later works are strikingly different from everything he wrote before. Romanticism takes over, and the ideas of struggle and confrontation between light and dark acquire a philosophical character.

In 1823, Beethoven's greatest creation (as he himself believed) was born - "The Solemn Mass", first performed in St. Petersburg.

Beethoven: Für Elise

This piece became Beethoven's most famous creation. However, bagatelle No. 40 (formal name) was not widely known during the composer's lifetime. The manuscript was discovered only after the death of the composer. In 1865 he found herLudwig Nohl, researcher of Beethoven's work. He received it from the hands of a certain woman who claimed that it was a gift. It was not possible to establish the time of writing the bagatelle, since it was dated April 27 without indicating the year. In 1867, the work was published, but the original, unfortunately, was lost.

Who is Eliza, to whom the piano miniature is dedicated, is not known for certain. There is even a suggestion, put forward by Max Unger (1923), that the original title of the work was "To Therese", and that Zero simply misunderstood Beethoven's handwriting. If we accept this version as true, then the play is dedicated to the composer's student, Teresa Malfatti. Beethoven was in love with a girl and even proposed to her, but was refused.

Despite the many beautiful and wonderful works written for piano, Beethoven is inextricably linked to this mysterious and enchanting piece for many.