Beethoven & Symphony No. 5

Question 1

What year was Beethoven born? Which year did he pass away?

Answer 1

1770 - 1827

Question 2

Family Background & Education

Answer 2

• born in Bonn, Germany, to a musical family
• grandfather Ludwig was Kapellmeister at Electoral court; source of inspiration for Beethoven even though his grandfather died when the latter was three
• Father, Johann, was a singer and instrumentalist at the Electoral court; he was a harsh, severe parent who became an alcoholic
• Received early training from Johann; later studied composition and counterpoint with Christian Neefe, court organist in Bonn

Question 3

Life and Musical Career (part one)

Answer 3

• early career in Bonn as organist and violist in court orchestras
• traveled to Vienna intending to study with Mozart; mother’s illness compelled him to Bonn after a short time
• became head of household after mother’s death; financially responsible for brothers Kaspar and Nikolaus
• moved to Vienna; close relations between the courts in Bonn and Vienna helped him get established
• Studied briefly with Haydn; dedicated his first three piano sonatas to him.
• became known for his ability to improvise
• attracted the patronage of Viennese nobility; gained financial support and commissions
• influential patrons included Prince Lobkowitz, Prince Lichnowsky, and Count Rasumovsky

Question 4

Life Musical Career (part two)

Answer 4

• first solo concert appearance in Vienna, followed by concerts in Prague, Dresden, Leipzig, and Berlin
• had many romantic infatuations but remained single
• began to lose hearing in his mid-twenties; attempts at treatment failed
• wrote a letter to his brothers (known today as the “Heiligenstadt Testament” in which his inner turmoil is revealed: contemplated suicide but rose above the crisis.
• Believed in the motto of the French Revolution “Liberté, égalité, fraternité”
• admired Napoleon but grew disillusioned with him, therefore removing the latter’s name from the dedication of Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) after Napoleon declared himself emperor
• made his last concert appearence as a pianist, performing the Archduke Piano Trio, op 97
• gained custody of nephew Karl after a lengthy battle with his sister-in-law (Beethoven’s brother Kaspar died in 1815)
• totally deaf in later years; visitors wrote in conversation books
• spent final years in isolation; became increasingly antisocial and withdrawn
• devasted by Karl’s suicide attempt in 1826; fell gravely ill
• died March 26th, 1827, apparently from pneumonia
• highly respected in Vienna; funeral attracted thousands of admirers

Question 5

Musical Style and Contributions

Answer 5

• bold innovator: highly original and influential figure