Ludwig van Beethoven - a short biography of the composer. Great Musical Works of Ludwig van Beethoven Write a message about Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven remains a phenomenon in the world of music today. This man created his first works as a young man. Beethoven, interesting facts from whose life to this day make one admire his personality, believed all his life that his destiny was to be a musician, which he, in fact, was.

Ludwig van Beethoven family

Ludwig's grandfather and father had a unique musical talent in the family. Despite the rootless origin, the first managed to become a bandmaster at the court in Bonn. Ludwig van Beethoven Sr. had a unique voice and ear. After the birth of his son Johann, his wife Maria Theresa, who was addicted to alcohol, was sent to a monastery. The boy, upon reaching the age of six, began to learn to sing. The child had a great voice. Later, men from the Beethoven family even performed together on the same stage. Unfortunately, Ludwig's father was not distinguished by his grandfather's great talent and diligence, which is why he did not reach such heights. What could not be taken away from Johann was the love of alcohol.

Beethoven's mother was the daughter of the Elector's cook. The famous grandfather was against this marriage, but, nevertheless, did not interfere. Maria Magdalena Keverich was already a widow at the age of 18. Of the seven children in the new family, only three survived. Maria loved her son Ludwig very much, and he, in turn, was very attached to his mother.

Childhood and youth

The date of birth of Ludwig van Beethoven is not listed in any documents. Historians suggest that Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770, since he was baptized on December 17, and according to Catholic custom, children were baptized the day after birth.

When the boy was three years old, his grandfather, the elder Ludwig Beethoven, died, and his mother was expecting a child. After the birth of another offspring, she could not pay attention to her eldest son. The child grew up as a bully, for which he was often locked in a room with a harpsichord. But, surprisingly, he did not break the strings: little Ludwig van Beethoven (later composer) sat down and improvised, playing with both hands at the same time, which is unusual for small children. One day, the father caught the child doing this. He had ambition. What if his little Ludwig is the same genius as Mozart? It was from this time that Johann began to study with his son, but often hired teachers more qualified than himself.

While the grandfather was alive, who was actually the head of the family, little Ludwig Beethoven lived comfortably. The years after the death of Beethoven Sr. became an ordeal for the child. The family was constantly in need because of his father's drunkenness, and thirteen-year-old Ludwig became the main earner of livelihood.

Attitude towards learning

As contemporaries and friends of the musical genius noted, it was rare in those days to meet such an inquisitive mind that Beethoven possessed. Interesting facts from the life of the composer are also connected with his arithmetic illiteracy. Perhaps the talented pianist did not manage to master mathematics due to the fact that, without finishing school, he was forced to work, or perhaps the whole thing is in a purely humanitarian mindset. Ludwig van Beethoven cannot be called ignorant. He read literature in volumes, adored Shakespeare, Homer, Plutarch, was fond of the works of Goethe and Schiller, knew French and Italian, mastered Latin. And it was the inquisitiveness of the mind that he owed his knowledge, and not the education received at school.

Beethoven's teachers

From early childhood, Beethoven's music, unlike the works of his contemporaries, was born in his head. He played variations on all kinds of compositions known to him, but because of his father's conviction that it was too early for him to compose melodies, the boy did not write down his compositions for a long time.

The teachers that his father brought him were sometimes just his drinking companions, and sometimes became mentors to the virtuoso.

The first person, whom Beethoven himself recalls with warmth, was his grandfather's friend, the court organist Eden. Actor Pfeifer taught the boy to play the flute and harpsichord. For some time, the monk Koch taught to play the organ, and then Hantsman. Then came the violinist Romantini.

When the boy was 7 years old, his father decided that the work of Beethoven Jr. should become public, and organized his concert in Cologne. According to experts, Johann realized that an outstanding pianist from Ludwig did not work out, and, nevertheless, the father continued to bring teachers to his son.

Mentors

Soon Christian Gottlob Nefe arrived in the city of Bonn. Whether he himself came to Beethoven's house and expressed a desire to become a teacher of young talent, or Father Johann had a hand in this, is unknown. Nefe became the mentor that Beethoven the composer remembered all his life. Ludwig, after his confession, even sent Nefe and Pfeiffer some money as a token of gratitude for the years of study and the help given to him in his youth. It was Nefe who helped promote the thirteen-year-old musician at court. It was he who introduced Beethoven to other luminaries of the musical world.

Beethoven's work was influenced not only by Bach - the young genius idolized Mozart. Once, upon arrival in Vienna, he was even lucky enough to play for the great Amadeus. At first, the great Austrian composer took Ludwig's game coldly, mistaking it for a piece he had previously learned. Then the stubborn pianist invited Mozart to set the theme for the variations himself. From that moment on, Wolfgang Amadeus listened to the young man's game without interruption, and later exclaimed that the whole world would soon talk about the young talent. The words of the classic became prophetic.

Beethoven managed to take several playing lessons from Mozart. Soon the news came of the imminent death of his mother, and the young man left Vienna.

After his teacher was such as Joseph Haydn, but they did not find And one of the mentors - Johann Georg Albrechtsberger - considered Beethoven to be a complete mediocrity and a person unable to learn anything.

Musician character

The story of Beethoven and the ups and downs of his life left a noticeable imprint on his work, made his face gloomy, but did not break the stubborn and strong-willed young man. In July 1787, the closest person to Ludwig, his mother, dies. The young man took the loss hard. After the death of Mary Magdalene, he himself fell ill - he was struck down by typhus, and then by smallpox. Ulcers remained on the face of the young man, and myopia struck his eyes. The still immature young man takes care of the two younger brothers. His father by that time finally drank himself and died 5 years later.

All these troubles in life were reflected in the character of the young man. He became withdrawn and unsociable. He was often sullen and harsh. But his friends and contemporaries argue that, despite such an unbridled disposition, Beethoven remained a true friend. He helped with money all his acquaintances who were in need, provided for the brothers and their children. It is not surprising that Beethoven's music seemed gloomy and gloomy to his contemporaries, because it was a complete reflection of the inner world of the maestro himself.

Personal life

Very little is known about the emotional experiences of the great musician. Beethoven was attached to children, loved beautiful women, but he never created a family. It is known that his first bliss was the daughter of Helena von Breining - Lorchen. Beethoven's music of the late 80s was dedicated to her.

It became the first serious love of the great genius. This is not surprising, because the fragile Italian was beautiful, complaisant and had a penchant for music, and the already mature thirty-year-old teacher Beethoven focused his eyes on her. Interesting facts from the life of a genius are associated with this particular person. Sonata No. 14, later called "Lunar", was dedicated to this particular angel in the flesh. Beethoven wrote letters to his friend Franz Wegeler, in which he confessed his passionate feelings for Juliet. But after a year of study and tender friendship, Juliet married Count Gallenberg, whom she considered more talented. There is evidence that after a few years their marriage was unsuccessful, and Juliet turned to Beethoven for help. The former lover gave money, but asked not to come again.

Teresa Brunswick - another student of the great composer - became his new hobby. She devoted herself to raising children and philanthropy. Until the end of his life, Beethoven had a correspondence friendship with her.

Bettina Brentano - writer and friend of Goethe - became the composer's last passion. But in 1811 she connected her life with another writer.

Beethoven's longest attachment was the love of music.

Music of the great composer

Beethoven's work immortalized his name in history. All his works are masterpieces of world classical music. During the years of the composer's life, his style of performance and musical compositions were innovative. In the lower and upper register at the same time before him, no one played and did not compose melodies.

In the composer's work, art historians distinguish several periods:

• Early, when variations and plays were written. Then Beethoven composed several songs for children.
• The first - the Vienna period - dates from 1792-1802. The already well-known pianist and composer completely abandons the manner of performance characteristic of him in Bonn. Beethoven's music becomes absolutely innovative, lively, sensual. The manner of performance makes the audience listen in one breath, absorb the sounds of beautiful melodies. The author numbers his new masterpieces. During this time he wrote chamber ensembles and piano pieces.

• 1803 - 1809 were characterized by dark works reflecting the raging passions of Ludwig van Beethoven. During this period, he writes his only opera, Fidelio. All compositions of this period are filled with drama and anguish.
• The music of the last period is more measured and difficult to perceive, and the audience did not perceive some concerts at all. Ludwig van Beethoven did not accept such a reaction. The sonata dedicated to the ex-duke Rudolph was written at this time.

Until the end of his days, the great, but already very sick composer continued to compose music, which would later become a masterpiece of the world musical heritage of the 18th century.

Disease

Beethoven was an extraordinary and very quick-tempered person. Interesting facts from life relate to the period of his illness. In 1800, the musician began to feel. After a while, the doctors recognized that the disease was incurable. The composer was on the verge of suicide. He left society and high society and lived in seclusion for some time. After a while, Ludwig continued to write from memory, reproducing the sounds in his head. This period in the composer's work is called "heroic". By the end of his life, Beethoven became completely deaf.

The last path of the great composer

The death of Beethoven was a great grief for all admirers of the composer. He died on March 26, 1827. The reason has not been clarified. For a long time, Beethoven suffered from liver disease, he was tormented by abdominal pain. According to another version, the genius was sent to the other world by mental anguish associated with the sloppiness of his nephew.

The latest data obtained by British scientists suggests that the composer could have inadvertently poisoned himself with lead. The content of this metal in the body of a musical genius was 100 times higher than the norm.

Beethoven: interesting facts from life

Let's summarize a little what was said in the article. Beethoven's life, like his death, was overgrown with many rumors and inaccuracies.

The date of birth of a healthy boy in the Beethoven family is still in doubt and controversy. Some historians argue that the parents of the future musical genius were sick, and therefore a priori could not have healthy children.

The talent of the composer woke up in the child from the first lessons of playing the harpsichord: he played the melodies that were in his head. The father, under pain of punishment, forbade the baby to reproduce unrealistic melodies, it was only allowed to read from a sheet.

Beethoven's music had an imprint of sadness, gloom and some despondency. One of his teachers - the great Joseph Haydn - wrote to Ludwig about this. And he, in turn, retorted that Haydn had taught him nothing.

Before composing musical works, Beethoven dipped his head in a basin of ice water. Some experts claim that this kind of procedure could have caused his deafness.

The musician loved coffee and always brewed it from 64 grains.

Like any great genius, Beethoven was indifferent to his appearance. He often walked disheveled and untidy.

On the day of the musician's death, nature was rampant: bad weather broke out with a blizzard, hail and thunder. At the last moment of his life, Beethoven raised his fist and threatened the sky or higher powers.

One of the great sayings of a genius: "Music should strike fire from the human soul."

“Music is higher than all revelations of wisdom and philosophy,” said Ludwig van Beethoven. This conviction helped the composer get through all the misfortunes that befell him, and at the same time make a grandiose contribution to the history of music.

Beethoven was born in Bonn in the family of a court musician. The future composer grew up in poverty. My father drank away his meager salary; he taught his son to play the violin and piano in the hope that he would become the new Mozart and provide for his family. Over time, the father's salary was increased based on the future of his gifted and hardworking son. The father was very strict with little Ludwig, who "often was in tears behind the instrument."

The court organist Christian-Gotlob Nefe played a much greater role in the development of the future great composer. He became a second father to Ludwig and not only instructed him in music, but was also his friend.

It was Nefe who saw the potential of the young musician. It was he who helped Beethoven in 1787 (at the age of 17) to go to Vienna, to Mozart.

It is not known whether they actually met, but legend ascribes to Mozart the words spoken to the young Beethoven: "Pay attention to him, he will make everyone talk about himself." This was probably the first rise in Ludwig's biography. The praise of the maestro opened up serious prospects, but Beethoven was never destined to become a student of Mozart. Soon he was forced to return back to Bonn due to his mother's illness. Soon she died, and Beethoven was forced to take care of the family.

In 1792, after the death of his father, Beethoven again went to “storm” Vienna, the capital of classical music. He studied here with Haydn, Albrechtsberger and Salieri - Beethoven's last and most valued Viennese teacher.

Beethoven's first performance in Vienna took place on March 30, 1795. It was a charity event in favor of the widows and orphans of musicians. Beethoven's recognition as a composer soon came. His work develops rapidly and rapidly. In seven years he created 15 piano sonatas, 10 cycles of variations, 2 piano concertos. In Vienna, he gained fame and popularity as a brilliant performer and improviser. He became a music teacher in some of the houses of the Viennese nobles, and this gave him the means to live.

However, the rapid rise ended in a sad fall. At the age of 26, Ludwig van Beethoven began to lose his hearing, which meant the end of his career for the musician. The treatment did not provide relief, and Beethoven began to think about suicide. But with the help of will and love for music, he nevertheless overcame despair.

In the so-called "Heiligenstadt testament", written at that time to his brothers, he says: "... a little more - and I would have committed suicide, only one thing kept me - art. Ah, it seemed impossible for me to leave the world before I had accomplished all that I felt called to.” In another letter to his friend, he wrote: "... I want to grab fate by the throat."

And he succeeded. During this period, he writes the most significant works, in particular, almost all symphonies, starting with the third - "Heroic", writes the overture "Egmont", "Coriolanus", the opera "Fidelio", many sonatas, including the sonata "Appassionata".

After the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the life of the whole of Europe changed. There is a period of political reaction. A severe Metternich regime is established in Austria. These events, to which heavy personal experiences were added - the death of his brother and illness - led Beethoven to a difficult state of mind. He actually stopped his creative activity.

In 1818, despite his increasing deafness, Beethoven felt a new surge of strength and enthusiastically devoted himself to creativity, writing a number of major works, among which a special place is occupied by the Ninth Symphony with Choir, the Solemn Mass and the last quartets and piano sonatas.

The Ninth Symphony was unlike any of the symphonies created up to that time. In it, he wanted to sing the wealth of millions, the brotherhood of all the people of the world, united in a single impulse of joy and freedom. The first performance of the Ninth Symphony in Vienna on May 7, 1824 turned into the composer's greatest triumph. But the composer did not hear the applause and enthusiastic cries of the public. When one of the singers turned him to face the audience, he, seeing the general admiration of the audience, fainted from excitement. By that time, Ludwig van Beethoven had completely lost his hearing.

In recent years, Beethoven struggled with a serious liver disease, effectively stopping his creative activity. On March 26, 1827, at five o'clock in the afternoon, the great composer died. The funeral took place on March 29. Huge crowds of people gathered to say goodbye to the great man, no emperor was buried with such reverence.

The message about Beethoven, summarized in this article, will tell you about the great German composer, conductor and pianist, a representative of Viennese classicism.

Report on Beethoven

Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770 (this is an estimated date, since it is only known for sure that he was baptized on December 17) in a musical family in the town of Bonn. From an early age, parents instilled in their son a love of music, giving him to learn to play the harpsichord, flute, organ, and violin.

At the age of 12, he was already working as an assistant organist at court. The young man knew several foreign languages ​​and even tried to write music. In addition to music, Beethoven was fond of reading books, he especially liked the ancient Greek authors Plutarch and Homer, as well as Friedrich Schiller, Shakespeare and Goethe.

After Beethoven's mother died in 1787, he began to provide for his family on his own. Ludwig got a job playing in the orchestra, and also went to university lectures. Acquainted with Haydn, he began to take private lessons from him. To this end, the future musician moves to Vienna. Once, the great composer Mozart heard his improvisations, and predicted a brilliant career and fame for him. Haydn, having given Ludwig several lessons, sends him to study with another mentor, Albrechtsberger. After some time, his teacher changed again: this time it was Antonio Salieri.

The beginning of a musical career

Ludwig Beethoven's first mentor noted that his music was too strange and dark. That is why he sent his student to another teacher. But this style of musical works brought Beethoven his first fame as a composer. Against the background of other performers of classical music, they favorably differed. While in Vienna, the composer wrote his famous works - "Pathétique Sonata" and "Moonlight Sonata". Then there were other brilliant works: "First Symphony", "Second Symphony", "Christ on the Mount of Olives", "Creation of Prometheus".

The further work and life of Ludwig Beethoven were overshadowed by sad events. The composer developed a disease of the auricle, as a result of which he lost his hearing. The composer decides to retire to Heiligenstadt, where he works on the Third Symphony. Absolute deafness separated him from the outside world. But he didn't stop making music. Beethoven's opera Fidelio was a success in Berlin, Vienna and Prague.

The period of 1802-1812 was especially fruitful: the composer created a series of works for cello, piano, the Ninth Symphony and the Solemn Mass. Fame, popularity and recognition came to him.

• He was the third person in the family to bear the name Ludwig van Beethoven. The first carrier was the composer's grandfather, a famous Bonn musician, and the second was his 6-year-old older brother.
• Beethoven left school at the age of 11 without learning division and multiplication.
• He was very fond of coffee, brewing 64 grains each time, no more and no less.
• His character was not simple: grumpy and friendly, gloomy and good-natured. Some remember him as a person with an excellent sense of humor, others as a person who is not pleasant in communication.
• He created the famous "Ninth Symphony" when he had already completely lost his hearing.

We hope that the report on Beethoven helped you prepare for the lesson. And you can leave your message about Beethoven through the comment form below.

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

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

Realizing 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 Theme of Dressler's 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 composer read a lot and learned French, Italian and Latin without outside help.

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

Vienna period

Realizing that he still had a lot to learn, Beethoven moved 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.

This period is distinguished by its scale, two symphonies appear, "Christ on the Mount of Olives" - the famous and only oratorio. But at the same time, the disease makes itself felt - deafness. 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, his holding is going to strengthen the reactionary-monarchist tendencies.

Along with political changes, the cultural situation also changes. 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 from 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 recognized as brilliant.

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 up his nephew, but he only brought grief.

Beethoven's works of the late period are strikingly different from everything that he wrote earlier. 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", which was first performed in St. Petersburg.

Beethoven: "To Elise"

This work became the most famous creation of Beethoven. 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 it was found by Ludwig Nohl, a 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 the piano, Beethoven for many is inextricably linked with this mysterious and enchanting piece.

One of the most respected and performed composers in the world. He wrote in all the genres that existed in his time, including opera, ballet, music for dramatic performances, and choral compositions. Instrumental works are considered the most significant in his legacy: piano, violin and cello sonatas, concertos for piano, violin, quartets, overtures, symphonies.

Biography

The house where the composer was born

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in December 1770 in Bonn to a musician's family. The exact date of birth has not been established, only the date of baptism is known - December 17th. His father was a singer in the court chapel, and his grandfather served as bandmaster there. The grandfather of the future composer was from Holland, hence the prefix "van" in front of Beethoven's surname. The composer's father was a gifted musician, but a weak man and also a drinker. He wanted to make a second Mozart out of his son and began to teach him how to play the harpsichord and violin. However, he soon cooled off for classes and entrusted the boy to his friends. One taught Ludwig the organ, the other the violin and flute.

In 1780, the organist and composer Christian Gottlieb Nefe arrived in Bonn. He became a real teacher of Beethoven. Nefe immediately realized that the boy had talent. He introduced Ludwig to Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier and the works of Handel, as well as to the music of older contemporaries: F. E. Bach, Haydn and Mozart. Thanks to Nefe, Beethoven's first composition, Variations on a Theme of Dressler's March, was also published. Beethoven was twelve years old at the time and was already working as an assistant court organist.

After the death of his grandfather, the financial situation of the family worsened, his father drank and brought almost no money home. Ludwig had to leave school early, but he wanted to supplement his education: he learned Latin, studied Italian and French, and read a lot. Already becoming an adult, the composer admitted in one of his letters:

“There is no work that would be too learned for me; without claiming in the slightest degree to be a scholar in the true sense of the word, yet since childhood I have striven to understand the essence of the best and wisest people of every era.

Beethoven's favorite writers include the ancient Greek authors Homer and Plutarch, the English playwright Shakespeare, and the German poets Goethe and Schiller.

At this time, Beethoven began composing music, but was in no hurry to publish his works. Much of what he wrote in Bonn was later revised by him. From the youthful works of the composer, two children's sonatas and several songs are known, including "Marmot".

Already in the first years of his life in Vienna, Beethoven won fame as a virtuoso pianist. His playing amazed the audience. They compared it to a volcanic eruption, and Beethoven himself to Napoleon.

Beethoven at 30

In the early years, in the face of the composer, one could find some resemblance to a young revolutionary general, but contemporaries had something else in mind: a manner of performance that violated all previous rules. Beethoven boldly opposed the extreme registers (and at that time they played mainly in the middle), widely used the pedal (and it was also rarely used then), used massive chordal harmonies. In fact, he created piano style far from the exquisitely lace manner of the harpsichordists.

This style can be found in his piano sonatas No. 8 - Pathetique (the title given by the composer himself), No. 13 and No. 14, both of which have the author's subtitle: "Sonata quasi una Fantasia" (in the spirit of fantasy). Sonata No. 14, the poet Relshtab later called "Lunar", and although this name is suitable only for the first movement, and not for the finale, it was fixed forever for the whole work.

Beethoven also impressed with his appearance. Casually dressed, with a mane of black hair, with sharp, angular movements, he immediately stood out among graceful ladies and gentlemen.

Beethoven did not hide his feelings. On the contrary, as soon as he noticed the slightest disrespect for himself, he declared it directly, without choosing expressions. One day, when he was playing, one of the guests allowed himself to speak to a lady; Beethoven immediately interrupted the performance: “I won’t play with such pigs!”. And no amount of apology and persuasion helped.

Beethoven's compositions began to be widely published and enjoyed success. A lot was written during the first Viennese decade: twenty sonatas for piano and three piano concertos, eight sonatas for violin, quartets and other chamber works, the oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives, the ballet The Creations of Prometheus, the First and Second Symphonies.

Teresa Brunswick, faithful friend and student of Beethoven

In 1796 Beethoven begins to lose his hearing. He develops tinitis, an inflammation of the inner ear leading to ringing in the ears. On the advice of doctors, he retires for a long time in the small town of Heiligenstadt. However, peace and quiet do not improve his well-being. Beethoven begins to realize that deafness is incurable. In these tragic days, he writes a letter that will later be called the Heiligenstadt Testament. The composer talks about his experiences, admits that he was close to suicide. “It seemed unthinkable to me to leave the world,” writes Beethoven, “before I had fulfilled everything to which I felt called.”

In Heiligenstadt, the composer begins work on a new Third Symphony, which he will call Heroic.

As a result of Beethoven's deafness, unique historical documents have been preserved: "conversational notebooks", where Beethoven's friends wrote down their lines for him, to which he answered either orally or in response.

Later years: 1802-1812

In the piano work, the composer's own style is already noticeable in the early sonatas, but in the symphony, maturity came to him later. According to Tchaikovsky, only in the third symphony "For the first time, all the immense, amazing power of Beethoven's creative genius was revealed."<

Due to deafness, Beethoven is separated from the world, deprived of sound perception. He becomes gloomy, withdrawn. It was during these years that the composer, one after another, creates his most famous works. In the same years, the composer was working on his only opera, Fidelio. This opera belongs to the horror and rescue opera genre. Success came to Fidelio only in 1814, when the opera was staged first in Vienna, then in Prague, where the famous German composer Weber conducted it, and finally in Berlin.

Giulietta Guicciardi, to whom the composer dedicated the Moonlight Sonata

Shortly before his death, the composer handed over the manuscript of "Fidelio" to his friend and secretary Schindler with the words: “This child of my spirit was brought into the world in more severe torment than others, and gave me the greatest grief. Therefore, it is dearer to me than all ... "

Last years

After 1812, the composer's creative activity fell for a while. However, after three years, he begins to work with the same energy. At this time, piano sonatas from the Twenty-eighth to the last, Thirty-second, two cello sonatas, quartets, the vocal cycle "To a Distant Beloved" were created. A lot of time is devoted to processing folk songs. Along with Scottish, Irish, Welsh, there are Russians. But the main creations of recent years have been the two most monumental works of Beethoven - the Solemn Mass and the Ninth Symphony with Choir.

The ninth symphony was performed in 1824. The audience gave the composer a standing ovation. Beethoven stood with his back to the audience and did not hear anything, then one of the singers took his hand and turned to face the audience. People waved handkerchiefs, hats, hands, welcoming the composer. The ovation lasted so long that the police officials who were present immediately demanded that it be stopped. Such greetings were allowed only in relation to the person of the emperor.

In Austria, after the defeat of Napoleon, a police regime was established. Frightened by the revolution, the government persecuted any free thought. Numerous secret agents penetrated all sectors of society. In Beethoven's conversational notebooks, there are warnings every now and then: "Quiet! Watch out, there's a spy here!" And probably, after some especially bold statement of the composer: “You will end up on the scaffold!”

Beethoven's grave at the Central Cemetery in Vienna, Austria.

However, Beethoven's fame was so great that the government did not dare to touch him. Despite the deafness, the composer continues to be aware of not only political, but also musical news. He read (that is, he listens with his inner ear) the scores of operas by Rossini, looks through the collection of songs by Schubert, gets acquainted with the operas of the German composer Weber "Free Gunner" and "Euryant". Arriving in Vienna, Weber visited Beethoven. They had lunch together, and Beethoven, usually not prone to ceremony, courted his guest. After the death of his younger brother, the composer took over the care of his son. Beethoven placed his nephew in the best boarding schools, instructs his student Czerny to study music with him. The composer wanted the boy to become a scientist or an artist, but he was attracted not by art, but by cards and billiards. Entangled in debt, he attempted suicide. This attempt did not cause much harm: the bullet only slightly scratched the skin on the head. Beethoven was very worried about this. His health deteriorated sharply. The composer develops a severe liver disease.

Beethoven's funeral.

Beethoven at work at home (note the setting)

Czerny studied with Beethoven for five years, after which the composer gave him a document in which he noted "the exceptional success of the student and his remarkable musical memory." Czerny's memory was truly amazing: he knew by heart all the teacher's piano compositions.

Czerny began teaching early and soon became one of the best teachers in Vienna. Among his students was Teodor Leshetitsky, who can be called one of the founders of the Russian piano school. Since 1858, Leshetitsky lived in St. Petersburg, and from 1862 to 1878 he taught at the newly opened conservatory. Here he studied A. N. Esipova, later a professor at the same conservatory, V. I. Safonov, professor and director of the Moscow Conservatory, S. M. Maykapar, whose compositions are known to every student of a music school.

Czerny was an unusually prolific composer, he wrote more than a thousand works in various genres, but his etudes brought him the widest fame. It is difficult to count how many generations of musicians have been brought up in these “finger fluency schools”, which are obligatory for every pianist. The merit of Czerny is also the edition of the sonatas by Giuseppe Scarlatti and the Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach.

In 1822, a father and a boy came to Cherny, who had come from the Hungarian town of Doboryan. The boy had no idea either about the correct fit or fingering, but an experienced teacher immediately realized that in front of him was not an ordinary, but gifted, perhaps brilliant, child. The boy's name was Franz Liszt. Liszt studied with Czerny for a year and a half. His successes were so great that the teacher allowed him to speak to the public. Beethoven attended the concert. He guessed the boy's giftedness and kissed him. Liszt kept the memory of this kiss all his life. It is Liszt that can be called a true student of Beethoven.

Neither Rhys nor Czerny, but he inherited Beethoven's style of playing. Like Beethoven, Liszt treats the piano like an orchestra. While touring Europe, he promoted the work of Beethoven, performing not only his piano works, but also symphonies, which he adapted for the piano. In those days, Beethoven's music, especially symphonic music, was still unknown to a wide audience. In 1839 Liszt arrived in Bonn. Here for several years they were going to erect a monument to the composer, but things were moving slowly.

Liszt made up the missing amount with the proceeds from his concerts. Only thanks to the efforts of the composer's monument was erected.

Causes of death

Studies of hair and bone matter have allowed archaeologists to establish that Beethoven suffered from lead poisoning long before his death. Doses of lead entered his body regularly - presumably either with wine or in the baths he took. This led to an incurable liver disease, which was confirmed by autopsy.

You know a pregnant woman who already has 8 children. Two of them are blind, three are deaf, one is mentally underdeveloped, she herself is sick with syphilis. Would you advise her to have an abortion?

If you advised me to have an abortion, you just killed Ludwig van Beethoven.

Beethoven's parents married in 1767. In 1769, their first son, Ludwig Maria, was born, who died after 6 days, which was normal for that time. There is no data on whether he was blind, deaf, mentally retarded, etc. In 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven, a composer, was born. In 1774 a third son, Caspar Carl van Beethoven, was born. In 1776, the fourth son, Nikolaus Johann, was born. In 1779, a daughter, Anna Maria Franziska, was born; she died four days later. No data has been preserved on whether she was blind, deaf, mentally retarded, etc. In 1781, his brother, Franz Georg, was born (he died two years later). In 1786 his sister, Maria Margarita, was born. She died a year later, when Ludwig was 17 years old. In the same year, his mother dies of tuberculosis, which was absolutely normal at that time.

Artworks

• 9 symphonies: No. 1 (-), No. 2 (), No. 3 "Heroic" (-), No. 4 (), No. 5 (-), No. 6 "Pastoral" (), No. 7 (), No. 8 ( ), No. 9 ().
• 11 symphonic overtures, including Coriolanus, Egmont, Leonore No. 3.
• 5 concertos for piano and orchestra.
• 32 piano sonatas, many variations and small pieces for piano.
• 10 sonatas for violin and piano.
• concerto for violin and orchestra, concerto for piano, violin and cello and orchestra ("triple concerto")
• 5 sonatas for cello and piano.
• 16 quartets.
• Ballet "Creations of Prometheus".
• Opera Fidelio.
• Solemn mass.
• Vocal cycle "To the distant beloved".
• Songs on verses of different poets, arrangements of folk songs.

Music fragments

Attention! Music snippets in Ogg Vorbis format

• Ode to Joy (small fragment, light file)(info) (file information)
• Moonlight Sonata (info) (file info)
• Concerto 4-1 (info) (file info)

Monuments to Beethoven