Beethoven09

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Research = = =**__Ludwig Van Beethoven __**= I. Early Life · Born on December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. Baptized as a Roman Catholic the next day. · Son and grandson of Musicians Johann and Ludwig Beethoven. Had seven siblings, but only Ludwig and his two younger brothers survived infancy. · As a boy was taught music by the church organist C. G. Neefe. Became Neefe’s assistant at eleven and by twelve had his first music published. · In 1787, Ludwig went to Vienna but quickly returned to Bonn when he heard his mother was dying. He later lived in Vienna for the rest of his life. //Beethoven at age 13// II. Beginning of Musical Career · In 1792, Ludwig studied under Joseph Haydn and soon became known as a piano ace and slowly gained a reputation as a composer. · Beethoven would financially support himself by performing in public, selling his works, and payments from noblemen who enjoyed his work.

III. Composer: Early Period · Beethoven was said to emulate Haydn and Mozart, while at the same time expanding and reforming his works. · In the Early Period, Beethoven wrote his first and second symphonies, the first six string quartets, and the first two piano concertos.

IV. Composer: Middle Period · This period began slightly after Ludwig began going deaf. · Beethoven composed many of classical music’s most famous works, including his next 6 symphonies (3-8), six more string quartets, and his only violin concerto. He also created his only opera, Fidelio. · Ludwig’s Middle Period works were known for their subjects of heroism and struggle. · Beethoven ceased his masterful piano playing in 1808 V. Composer: Late Period · Began about 1816 and lasted until the end of his composing career in 1826. · Beethoven was completely deaf by this period. He never got to hear his final works. · Music in this period was known for intellectual depth and personal expression. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">One of Beethoven’s most popular compositions, “Beethoven’s 9th Symphony”, was written during this period. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Deafness lead to Beethoven’s final period of work to be focused more on business matters than happy endings and results.

VI. Beethoven’s Deafness · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Ludwig Van Beethoven’s hearing loss became greatly apparent about 1802, and he became completely deaf just a few years later. Beethoven would use notebooks for people to write down their conversations until he became very skilled at lip-reading. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Deafness caused periods of great depression in Beethoven, especially from 1812-1816, when he was very unproductive in his music. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">He was said to often go off in episodes of anger and insecurity, which led him to isolation up to his death, never marrying as he previously wished. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">After this stage of depression, Beethoven picked up the pen and paper again and resumed composing. To many people’s surprise, some of his best works were created after his deafness, including his classical masterpiece, Beethoven’s 9th symphony. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Beethoven’s fame rose after his loss of hearing, and his music was well regarded for it’s originality, because Beethoven now had to write all of his compositions from within him, rather that listening to the works of other musicians. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">He continued to write, deaf, famous, but never happy, until 1826, one year before his death . VII. Beethoven’s Last Years · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">After finishing his last compositions, Beethoven spent the summer in the home of his last surviving brother, Nikolaus Johann. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Ludwig became ill with pneumonia upon returning to Vienna. He never recovered from properly. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Beethoven died of cirrhosis of the liver in Vienna on March 26, 1827. Three days later, some ten to twenty thousand people attended his funeral.

VIII. Beethoven vs. Mozart · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Although Ludwig van Beethoven learned from Mozart, many consider Beethoven to be the better composer. Mozart’s works were more lightweight and calming and more for entertainment purposes, as opposed to Beethoven’s dramatic, intellectual compositions. Beethoven’s music touches people’s mind in a way that Mozart’s and other composers could not. His works put him out there as a humanist that chose to explore beyond the normal spectrum of the common composer.

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Bibliography __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> . (1997). Ludwig Van Beethoven: Biography. //Ludwig Van Beethoven//. Retrieved from [] . (2000). Ludwig Van Beethoven. //8 Notes//. Retrieved from [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> (n.d.). Ludwig Van Beethoven. //Reference Answers//. Retrieved from [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> . (n.d.). How did Beethoven's deafness affect his music?. Retrieved from [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> **Ludwig van Beethoven**. (2009). In //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Encyclopædia //

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Britannica Online: [] . (2006). Comparatice Composers: Mozart vs. Beethoven Article Summary. Retrieved from [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">