When anyone talks about classical music, one of the first names that pop in most people’s minds is Ludwig Van Beethoven. Beethoven took classical music to another level and showed the world that nothing is impossible in life if you have got the dedication, determination, and passion.
So, we will look at life, music, and some amazing things related to the one and only Beethoven.
Biography
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer who was one of the leading musical figures during the transitional period between classical and romantic eras. He is still considered one of the greatest music composers to have ever lived on the planet; he dominated musical history in a way that no one ever did.
You should know that Beethoven’s grandfather first became a singer in a choir of the archbishop-elector of Cologne, and slowly he became Kapellmeister because of his out of the world talent and skills in music. But due to the sudden demise of his grandfather, Beethoven’s family had to degrade their lifestyle. Then because of his father succumbing to alcoholism, Beethoven was forced to leave school. At the age of 18, Beethoven was the only breadwinner in the family.
Johann also tried to make his son Ludwig a child prodigy by getting him involved in piano and making him something like Mozart, but he failed. It took some years for Beethoven to gain his interest in music and especially piano.
With the help of Neefe (Beethoven’s teacher), Beethoven was able to come up with his composition in the year 1783, and this song was named Nine Variations on a March by Dresler. But long before that, in the year 1782, Beethoven went to become Neefe’s assistant as court organist.
You will be surprised to know that even music idols like Mozart were highly impressed by seeing how capable and full of talent Beethoven was. After seeing Beethoven, Mozart even said that ‘this young man will make a great name for himself in the world.’
Music
Beethoven was rooted in the classical traditions of Mozart and Joseph Haydn. Through this music, he was able to encompass the brand new spirit of humanism and incipient nationalism through the work of both Friedrich von Schiller and Goethe. Both of them were older contemporaries in the fantastic world of literature.
Beethoven was highly influenced by both famous and folk music. If you listen to Beethoven carefully, you will find some influence of Heavy Rhineland’s dance rhythm. In addition to this, Beethoven could assimilate many other local idioms like French, Italian, Slavic, and even Celtic.
Like all other pianists of the 18th century, even Beethoven was raised on Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s teachings and sonatas, who was the exponent of expressive music when music was considered an art of pleasing sounds.
Although the list of music masterpieces produced by Beethoven is gigantic, we have tried our best to give you a list of some of his best works.
Septet
Moonlight Sonata
Fifth Symphony
Pathetique Sonata
Emperor piano concerto
Facts about Beethoven
- He was the third Ludwig van Beethoven in his family.
- Beethoven started taking lessons from Haydn, who was considered the father of the symphony, and the best part here is Haydn even taught Mozart.
- Beethoven started losing his hearing abilities at the age of 26, but he went on to composing and playing songs even after that.
