Composer - Beethoven - p. 70-72 Flashcards
Beethoven was born in ______ (year) and died in ____ (year). He was ___ years old when he died.
1770-1827. He was 57 when he died.
Where was he born?
Bonn, Germany
Provide 3 facts about his family.
Beethoven’s family had jobs in music. Grandfather, Ludwig, worked as a music master for Electoral court. Father, Johann, was a singer and instrumentalist at the Electoral court.
Beethoven’s father was very harsh and became an alcoholic.
Beethoven’s early music training was from his father. Beethoven later studied composition and counterpoint with Christian Neefe
Did Beethoven study with Mozart?
No. Beethoven went to Vienna to study with Mozart but Beethoven’s mother was sick so Beethoven went home.
Did Beethoven study with Haydn?
Yes. Beethoven studied with Haydn briefly.
Describe the relationship between his early career in Bonn and his career in Vienna.
Beethoven was an organist and violist in Bonn’s court orchestra. The courts talk to each other so Beethoven was well-known in the Vienna courts as well. This helped him to get established when Beethoven moved to Vienna.
Name two of Beethoven’s well-known patrons.
Prince Lobkowitz, Prince Lichnowsky, and Count Rasumovsky.
Was Beethoven married?
No. He was attracted to many women but he was single throughout his life.
When did he start lose his hearing and what is the name of the letter he wrote to his brothers about the loss of hearing?
Beethoven started to lose hearing in his mid-20’s. Heiligenstadt Testament is the letter that Beethoven to his brother. In the letter, he talked about struggle but at the end, rose above the deafness.
Whom did Beethoven admire and then later became disillusioned?
Napoleon.
Give one fact about Beethoven’s relationship with his nephew - Karl.
Beethoven fought a long legal battle to have Karl’s custody when Beethoven was 50 years old. A few years later, Karl tried to kill himself and Beethoven was devastated.
How did Beethoven die?
He died apparently from pneumonia when he was 57 years old.
Give two of Beethoven innovations.
- Replaced menuet and trio with scherzo and trio. (no. 5)
- use of cyclical structure (no. 5)
- add programmatic elements (No. 6)
- inclusion of chorus and soloists in the symphony (No. 9)
- incorporated piccolo, trombone, and contrabassoon.
Other than innovative, give one of Beethoven’s musical style and contributions?
- short, incisive theme (for example, the 3 short, 1 long theme.
- explosive accents, extreme dynamic contracts
Identify and describe the periods Beethoven’s music falls into.
Early - Classical traits
Middle - incorporated more Romantic elements
Late - music became more abstract and meditative; experimented with form and content.
