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Welcome to the LUDWIG Von BEETHOVEN
COMPOSITION NOTES Page of
aMUSIClassical Directory
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Brief synopsis' of the most popular
classical music
compositions by
Ludwig van Beethoven...
Beethoven believed his birthdate was 15 NOV 1772
He often stated
his older brother, who died as a child was born on 16 DEC 1770. He was born in
Bonn, Germany and 16 DEC 1770 is traditionally accepted as his birthdate. He died in
Vienna, 26 MAR 1827. He wrote
9 Symphonies, Chamber Music, Concertos,
Piano Sonatas
Beethoven 'Appassionata' Sonata No 23 inf, Op 57
1804-6. It was dedicated to Count Franz of Brunswick and was inspired by
both of his sisters. Published February 18th, 1807.
Beethoven 'Archduke
Trio'
Beethoven 'Bagatelle' in a
see Fur Elise.
Beethoven 'Consecration of
the House' Overture, Op 124
Composed in 1822 and written for the opening of the (YOH sef
stadt) Theater in Vienna.
Beethoven 'Coriolan'
Overture'
Beethoven 'Creatures of
Promethius' Overture, Op 43
Beethoven 'Egmont' Overture, op
84...and Incidental music with soloist and narrator
Between 1809 and 1810, Beethoven wrote incidental music for "Egmont"...a
historical play by Goethe. Only the overture is performed today although
there a some fine recordings of the incidental music and the entire work.
The overture opens with a stirring theme from the violins, suggesting
the strength and nobility of Egmont, who fought so heroically to liberate
the Netherlands from Spanish domination.
Beethoven 'Fidelio' Overture
Beethoven Beethoven 'Fur Elise'
He wrote many short piano pieces known as trifles or bagatelles. 'Fur Elise'
was written for one of his many female admirers. This
work was belived to have been composed for Therese Malfatti.
Beethoven Leonora
Overture No 3
op 72b. Beethoven's only opera 'Leonora' was written in 1803 and retitled
'Fidelio' before
it was finished in 1814. Four different overtures were composed during
that period. The 3rd prefaced an unsuccesful production in 1806, but it
now stands alone as a popular concert work.
Beethoven Missa Solemnis
Started in 1819 for a grand ceremony in Cologne Germany Cathedral where
his friend, patron and pupil Archduke Rudolf of Austria was installed as
cardinal and archbishop.
Beethoven "Moonlight Sonata" see Sonata No 14
Beethoven Piano Concerto
No 1
Actually this is the second of the five concertos for piano, composed in
1797. The B-flat concerto dates from 1795 but was later revised, hense
the
later opus number.
Beethoven Piano Concerto No 2
1794 is the approximate date of composition of this work. There is
speculation that it may have been written before the C major concerto
known as the first.
Op 19. FP in its original form with Beethoven as soloist at a charity concert on
March 29, 1795 in Vienna. After more revisions it was finally published in 1798.
Beethoven Piano Concerto No
3
The finest of the early Beethoven piano concertos came in 1800 with
the score for the third concerto in c minor. A broader base for the
orchestra, some solo instruments, an increase in the dramatic power of
some themes. Most noticablly is the beginning of the Beethoven sound.
Started in 1796 but dated 1803 and FP in April 1803 at the teatre an der
Wien with Beethoven at the keyboard.
Beethoven Piano Concerto No 4
Beethoven wrote his piano concertos for himself as a youthful
virtuoso. The fourth concerto was finished in 1806 and FP in March of 1808
with
Beethoven the soloist...he was 35 years old. It was introduced at the
palace of Prince Lubkowitz and is dedicated to Beethoven's friend and
pupil the Archduke Rudolph. It was not published until late in 1808.
Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5
Dedicated to Archduke Rudolph of Austria it was composed in 1809 and FP in
Leipzig in November of 1811. The composers deafness made it impossible for
Beethoven to perform the piece. It was premiered by pianist Friedric
Schnider. It was not dedicated to Napoleon as Beethoven was an ardent
democrate who had become bitterly disenchanted with the French General.
Beethoven Quartets
Read: Kerman, Joseph "The Beethoven Quartets"
Beethoven Sonatas
Critics have noted the Beethoven Piano Sonatas are to music, what the
Shakespeare tragedies are to Literature. These sonatas brought a new
concept of writing for the piano. A concept almost orchestral in approach.
Beethoven also extended the structure of the sonata form to much larger
demensions...providing a new freedom to musical thinking. But most
importantly he brought to piano music a new emotional feeling.
Beethoven Sonata No 8in c, Op
13
The 'Pathetique' Sonata, composed around 1798.
Beethoven "Moonlight" Sonata, No 14 in c-sharp, Op 27 No 2
Named by Ludwig Rellstab. Beethoven was bemused by its popularity saying he
had written much better scores. From around 1801 and dedicated to one of his
students which he cared for a great deal.
Beethoven Sonata No 15
in D, Op.
28 'Pastorale' (1801).
Named by Krantz, the publisher, to give it some
distinction from some other more dramatic sonatas by Beethoven.
Beethoven Sonata No 17 in d,
'The
Tempest'
(The calm before the storm) was the critics reaction to the 17th
piano sonata referring to the strange tension created by the
contrasting emotions of the work. Written
in 1803, but it does not refer to the Shakespeare drama. The title
'Tempest' has been attributed to this sonata because of the way it builds
from nothing to something... similar to a storm.
Beethoven Sonata No.
29
in B flat Op 106. Titled 'Hammerklavier' (HAM ER KLA feer). It is the
longest of the sonatas. This one is dedicated to Archduke Rudolph of
Austria who must have been quite an accomplished pianist. FP in 1818.
Beethoven 'String Quartet No 6 in Bb, Op 18
This quartet is the last in a set of six composed between 1798 and 1800. His
first effort in String Quartets and influenced by Haydn and Mozart. First
published in 1801 the period of the First Symphony.
Beethoven String Quartet No 9 in C, Op 59 No 3 'Rasumovsky'
Written around 1805 about the same time as the 'Waldstein' Piano sonata
as part of a set commissioned by Count Razumovsky.
Beethoven Sym No 1 in C, op 21
Beethoven
was 30 years old in 1800, when he presented his first sym at the
Hofberg Theater in Vienna. The beginnings of the first, came from sketches
he made as early as 1795.
Beethoven Sym No 2 in D Op 36
Written in the summer of 1802 when the composer first faced the
uncertain prospect of his crippling deafness.
Beethoven Sym No 3
in E-Flat Op
55 'Eroica'
Democratic mindedly he scratched out the dedication of
this
Symphony to Napoleon when he learned that Bonaparte had declared himself
'Emporer'. Beethoven later wrote out on the score "Composed to Celebrate
the memory of a great man". The 'Eroica' was written in 1803-4 and FP in
Vienna in April of 1805 at the Theater An der Wien Beethoven conducting.
Beethoven Sym No
4
The 4th is sometimes called Beethoven's 'Romantic Symphony'. Mellower and
brighter than some of the others. C 1806 FP Vienna Nov 15, 1807 PUB:
1808
Beethoven
Sym
No 5 in c, Op 67
Perhaps the most familiar single piece of music ever written.
Sketches were made as early as 1800. The work was finished in 1808 and FP
in Vienna, December 1808.
Beethoven
Sym No 6 in F Op 68
'Pastoral'
Composed in the years 1807-08. Inspired by the quiet and spritual joy he
received around the countryside outside of Vienna.
He said it was a recollection of a rural lake...a pastoral
scene depicting the happy feelings of arriving in the country, a scene by
a brook, happy meeting of the peasants, the storm and the Shepherd's song
and the thanksgiving after the storm.
Beethoven Sym
No 7 in A Op 92
He called it one of his best. It was started in 1811 and finished in
July of 1812. He conducted the FP on December 8, 1813 in the auditorium
of the University in Vienna. It was well received and heard frequently in
later years. It was dedicated to count von Fries. (freez). A
non-programmatic work, no special pictures
to conjure up while listening. Basically rhythmic in style. A cossak folk
tune is said to be the basis for the finale which 'unbuttons' the work
with it's roaring power.
Beethoven
Sym No 8 in F Op 93
Beethoven
Sym No 9 in d Op 125
'Choral'
Composed when he was 47 years old, this was the first symphony to use
a choral mmt. It opened up an era of the music drama. With text by poet
Schiller, the Ode to Joy, the first notes of the 9th sym came in 1817 and
concluded in 1823.
Beethoven 'Variations On a Diabelli Theme'
Op 120, Music publisher Anton Diabelli asked some 40 composers to work on
variations on a short theme or waltz. Beethovens variations were published
in 1823.
Beethoven
Violin Concerto
in D, Op 61
With its' great length and quiet intensity...and underrehearsed on an
already long concert, the work was not received very well by the audience
at the Teatre an der Wein in Vienna on December 23, 1806. It was played in
parts. The first MMT in the first half of the concert. The last two MMTs
after the intermission. At the time the work was dismissed as
insignificant.
It is classically romantic, perhaps more than Beethoven's other works. It
is dedicated to violinist Franz Clement. Occassionally it has been re-cast
for piano, but over the years it has become one of the most popular of all
violin concertos.
Beethoven 'Waldstein' Piano Sonata No 21 in C, Op. 53
Written in 1803.
Beethoven 'Wellington's Victory' Op 91
Scored to celebrate the triumph of The Duke of Wellington over the french
forces of Napoleon's brother Jerome Bonapart in Spain during the
peninsular wars in
1813. FP in December of 1813 along with Beethoven's 7th Sym.
BOOKS:
Beethoven -- William Kinderman; Paperback
Beethoven Lives Upstairs -
- Barbara Nichol, Scott Cameron (Illustrator); Hardcover
The Beethoven Quartet Companion -
- Robert Winter(Editor), Robert Martin (Editor); Paperback
COMPACT DISC AUDIO
Beethoven: 9 Symphonies, Overtures
Bernstein, Vienna PO -- Ludwig van
Beethoven(Composer), et al; Audio CD
Beethoven: 9 Symphonien
Karajan, Berlin Philharmoniker -- Ludwig van Beethoven(Composer),
et al; Audio CD
Beethoven: String Quartets no 15 & 16
Prazák Quartet -
- Ludwig van Beethoven(Composer),
Prazák String Quartet (Orchestra); Audio CD>BR>
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Courage to change the things I can...
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