Chapter 18/19: The End of the 18th Century and the Rise of the Romantic Movement Flashcards
Ludwig van Beethoven
-1770-1827
-Symphonic output not comparable to other composers
-Greatest works are instrumental rather than vocal
-Began going deaf at age 26
-Works divided into 3 periods: early, middle, and late
What were Beethoven’s contributions to the symphony?
-Symphonic output not comparable to other composers (wrote only 9)
-His symphonies are longer and grander
-composition difficult for him by his own admission
Describe Beethoven’s early period.
-Bonn
-Vienna
>Studied w/Haydn (instead of Mozart because he died)
>Count Ferdinand von Waldtein
>3 objectives
» (1) to polish his musical skills (composition)
» (2) to cultivate patronage that would support his career
» (3) to present himself to the public
Describe how Beethoven achieved his 3 goals during his time in Vienna.
(1) to polish his musical skills (composition)
(2) to cultivate patronage that would support his career
(3) to present himself to the public
(1) Lessons w/Haydn (didn’t get much from it); lessons w/Aldrechsburger and Salieri for theory and counterpoint
(2) Count Waldtein became his patron and introduced him to other patrons which (3) presented him to the public
Describe the music of Beethoven’s early Vienna period.
-15 piano sonatas (op. 2-28)
>classical shape
>rearranges movements
-6 String Quartets
>Develops motives
>Contrapuntal animation
-2 Symphonies
>Symphony 1 (assignment; “textbook” classical)
»Prominent woodwinds
»Scherzo is named Minuet
»Crescendo to piano
Describe the musical characteristics of Beethoven’s early period.
-More dynamic contrast than predecessors
-Symphonic sonatas
>Minuet movements
>Mannheim rocket
>Empfindsamer Stil
-Minor keys
Describe Beethoven’s middle period.
-Foremost pianist and composer, symphonist
-Inspiration
>French Revolution
>Napoleon
Describe the musical characteristics of Beethoven’s middle period.
-Struggle w/victory
-More contrast
-Rhythmic drive
-Fragmentation of melody⭐️
-Harmonic dissonance
-Delayed climax
-More development⭐️
-Sense of drama
Discuss Beethoven’s middle symphonies.
-Technically demanding
-Symphony no.3 in Eb Major
>Napoleon; “to celebrate the memory of a great man”
>Long and complex
>2nd mvt. - Marcia fuebre (funeral march)
>Last mvt. - Variations
-Symphony 4 - jovial/humorous
-Symphony 5 - struggle for victory (w/ fate/deafness)
-Symphony 6 - Pastoral
>5mvts. - each w/ descriptive title that describes life in the country
>”Expressions of feelings rather than depiction”
>Inspiration for programatic music in Romantic Era (though this work itself is NOT programatic)
>Symphonies 7 and 8
Discuss Beethoven’s middle sonatas.
-Opus 31-90
>Op. 53 Waldstein
>Op. 57 Appassionata
-Fidelio
>Rescue Opera
>Tyranny, freedom, strength, heroism
>Singspiel/melodrama
What is melodrama?
Dramatic speaking over orchestral accompaniment.
Discuss the musical characteristics of Beethoven’s late period.
-Technical problems of composition
-Working out of themes
-Formal experimentation
-Continuity
>within a musical sentence
>concealed cadences
>recalled themes
-Distant key relationships
-Extreme challenge
Discuss the music of Beethoven’s late period.
-Sonatas op. 101-111
-Diabelli Variations
-String Quartets
-Missa Solemnis
>Greatest work (according to himself)
>Vocal/instrumental symphony
>5mvts - alternating solo voices and chorus
-Symphony no. 9 in D minor
>Worldly struggle leading to peace and harmony
>4mvts.
>Last mvmnt for voice and orchestra
What can we look at to see the transformation of Beethoven’s style?
His sonatas
Who opened the door for “the Romantics.”
Beethoven
