The life of Ludwing Van

Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven was baptised on December 17th

1770 at Bonn. His family originated from Brabant, in
Belgium. His father was musician at the Court of Bonn, with
a definite weakness for drink. His mother was always
described as a gentle, retiring woman, with a warm heart.
Beethoven referred to her as his "best friend". The
Beethoven family consisted of seven children, but only the
three boys survived, of whom Beethoven was the eldest.
find on this site:
the lives of Beethoven's ancestors
At an early age, Beethoven took an interest in music, and
his father taught him day and night, on returning to the
house from music practice or the tavern. Without doubt,
the child was gifted, and his father Johann envisaged
creating a new Mozart, a child prodigy.

On March 26th 1778, at the age of 7 1/2, Beethoven gave

his first know public performance, at Cologne. His father
announced that he was 6 years old. Because of this,
Beethoven always thought that he was younger than he
actually was. Even much later, when he received a copy of
his baptism certificate, he thought that it belonged to his
brother Ludwig Maria, who was born two years before him,
and died as a child.

But the musical and teaching talents of Johann were

limited. Soon Ludwig learned music, notably the organ and
composition by renowned musicians, such as Gottlob
Neefe. Neefe recognised the how extraordinarily talented
Beethoven was. As well as teaching him music, he made
the works of philosophers, ancient and modern, known to
Beethoven.
find on this site
Beethoven's music teachers
In 1782, before the age of 12, Beethoven published his first
work: 9 variations, in C Minor, for Piano, on a march by
Ernst Christoph Dressler (WoO 63). And the following year,
in 1783, Neefe wrote in the "Magazine of Music", about his
student: "If he continues like this he will be, without doubt,
the new Mozart".

In June 1784, on Neefe's recommendations, Ludwig was

appointed organist of the court of Maximilian Franz, Elector
of Cologne. He was 14. This post enabled him to frequent
new circles, other than those of his father and friends of his
family. Here he met people who were to remain friends for
the rest of his life: The Ries family, the von Breuning family
and the charming Eleonore, Karl Amenda, the violinist,
Franz Gerhard Wegeler, a doctor, and a dear friend who
also went to Vienna, etc.

At home, little by little, Ludwig replaced his father.

Financially first of all, because Johann, often under the
influence of drink, was less and less capable of keeping up
his role at the court. The young Beethoven felt responsible
for his two younger brothers, an idea he kept for the rest of
his life, sometimes to the extent of being excessive.

Prince Maximilian Franz was also aware of Beethoven's gift,

and so he sent Beethoven to Vienna, in 1787, to meet
Mozart and to further his musical education. Vienna was,
after all, the beacon city in terms of culture and music.
There exist only texts of disputable authenticity on the
subject of this meeting between Mozart and Beethoven.
Mozart is thought to have said "Don't forget his name - you
will hear it spoken often."!

But a letter called Beethoven back to Bonn: his mother was

dying. The only person in his family with whom he had
developed a strong and loving relationship passed away on
July 17th 1787.

Five years later, in 1792, Beethoven went back to Vienna,

benefiting from another grant, for two years, by the Prince
Elector, again to pursue his musical education. He never
went back to the town of his birth. His friend Waldstein
wrote to him: "You shall receive Mozart's spirit from
Haydn's hands"...

At Vienna, the young musician took lessons with Haydn,

then with Albrechtsberger and Salieri. He captured the
attention of, and astonished, Vienna, with his virtuosity and
his improvisations on piano. In 1794, Beethoven composed
his opus 1, three trios for piano. The following year,
Beethoven made his first public performance at Vienna (an
"Academy") whereby each musician was to play his own
work. Then followed a tour: Prague, Dresden, Leipzig and
Berlin before leaving for a concert in Budapest.

listen to on this site

Beethoven's works
Beethoven made numerous acquaintances at Vienna.
Everybody in the musical and aristocratic world admired
the young composer. These music-lovers were Beethoven's
greatest supporters. He became angry regularly with one
or another of them, often making honourable amends soon
afterwards. His talent excused his excessive, impulsive
behaviour.

In 1800, Beethoven organised a new concert at Vienna

including, notably, the presentation of his first symphony.
Although today we find this work classical, and close to the
works of Mozart and Haydn, at the time certain listeners
found the symphony strange, overly extravagant, and even
risqué. This genius, Beethoven, who was still a young, new
composer, was already pushing the established boundaries
of music.

In 1801 Beethoven confessed to his friends at Bonn his

worry of becoming deaf. At Heiligenstadt, in 1802, he wrote
a famous text which expressed his disgust at the
unfairness of life: that he, a musician, could become deaf
was something he did not want to live through. But music
made him carry on. And he wrote that he knew that he still
had many other musical domains to explore, to discover,
and to pass on. Beethoven did not commit suicide, rather,
knowing that his handicap was getting worse and worse, he
threw himself into his greatest works: exceptional sonatas
for piano (notably The Storm, opus 31), the second and the
third symphonies- The Eroica - and of course many more.
find on this site
Beethoven's deafness
Beethoven wrote this third symphony in honour of a great
man, Bonaparte. He was seen as the liberator of the
people, opening, from the French Revolution, a door to
hope. When the First Consul declared himself Emporor,
Beethoven became enraged and scowled out Bonaparte's
name from the score.

On April 7th 1805 the Eroica symphony was played for the
first time.

Meanwhile, Beethoven had finally finished his opera,

Leonore, the only opera he ever wrote. He wrote and re-
wrote four different overtures. The name of the opera
therefore changed to Fidelio, against the wishes of the
composer. November 20th 1805 was the date of the
opening performance … before a thin audience of French
officers. This was because Napolean, head of the army, had
captured Vienna for the first time. This happened again in
1809.
read and listen on this site
the 4 overtures to this opera
In the years that followed, the creative activity of the
composer became intense. He composed many
symphonies, amongst which were the Pastoral, the Coriolan
Overture, and the famous Letter for Elise. He took on many
students, those he found young and attractive, and he
therefore fell in love with several of them. The Archbishop
Rudolph, brother of the emperor, also became his student,
his friend and eventually one of his benefactors.

In 1809, Beethoven wanted to leave Vienna, at the

invitation of Jérome Bonaparte. His long-standing friend,
the Countess Anna Marie Erdödy, kept him at Vienna with
the help of his wealthiest admirers: the Archbishop
Rudolph, the Prince Lobkowitz and the Prince Kinsky. These
men gave Beethoven an annual grant of 4 000 florins,
allowing him to live without financial constraint. The only
condition was that Beethoven was not to leave Vienna.
Beethoven accepted. This grant made him the first
independent composer. Before this contract musicians and
composers alike (even Bach, Mozart and Haydn), became
servants in the houses of wealthy aristocratic families.
They were thus part of the domestic staff, with no more
rights than any other, but with the added task of
composition and performance. Thus, for the musician of the
day, Beethoven had outstanding circumstances: he was
free to write what he wanted, when he wanted, under
command or not, as he pleased.

In 1812, Beethoven went for hydrotherapy at Teplitz, where

he wrote his ardent letter to "The Immortal Beloved". This
letter which was found in a secret draw with the
Heiligenstadt Testament, has not stopped the theories and
suppositions of researchers and biographers ever since.
Numerous women amongst his students and friends have
been, in turn, proposed as the recipient of this letter.
Unless a new document is discovered (perhaps within the
possessions of a private collector) it is likely that the truth
about this mysterious woman will remain a secret.
find on this site
the letter to the Immortal Beloved
At the end of July 1812, Beethoven met Goethe, under the
organisation of Bettina Brentano. These two great men
admired each other, but didn't understand each other. The
composer found the poet too servile, and the poet last
estimation was that Beethoven was "completely untamed".
Beethoven admired Goethe, he put to music several of his
poems. I always regretted not having been better
understood by Goethe.

Then one of his benefactors, the Prince Lobkowitz, fell into

financial difficulty, and the Prince Kinski died from falling
off his horse. Kinski's descendant decided to put an end to
the financial obligations towards Beethoven. Here started
one of the composer's many attempts at saving his
financial independence.

The Czech Johann Nepomuk Maelzel took up contact with

Beethoven. Inventor of genius, and probably inventor of
the metronome, Maelzel had already met Beethoven and
had created various devices to help Beethoven with his
hearing: acoustic cornets, a listening system linking up to
the piano, etc. In 1813, Beethoven composed 'The Victory
of Wellington', a work written for a mechanical instrument
made by Maelzel, the "panharmonica" (or
"panharmonicon"). But it was above all the metronome
which helped evolve music and Beethoven, who had taken
interest straight away, noted scrupulously the markings on
his scores, so that his music could be played how he
wished.

The Academy of 1814 regrouped his work, as well as the

seventh and eighth symphonies. This was also the time of
the re-writing of Leonore as Fidelio, Beethoven's only
opera. This work eventually became successful before the
public.
Then the Congress of Vienna met, which brought together
all the heads of state to decided the future of Europe after
Napoleon. This was one of Beethoven's moment of glory.
He was invited to play many times, bringing him
recognition and admiration of which he could be truly
proud.

listen to
Beethoven's symphonies
On November 15th 1815, Kaspar Karl, Beethoven's brother,
died. He left behind his wife, whom the composer referred
to as 'The queen of the night' due to the pastimes of the
widow, as well as a son, Karl, who was 9. Here Beethoven's
life was to change dramatically. His brother had written
that he wished Karl's guardianship to be exercised by both
his wife and his brother Ludwig. Beethoven took this role
very seriously, but the 45 year old celibate who could no
longer hear found it difficult to live with and understand a
child, and then a young man. This cohabitation was the
cause of a new trial against the mother of the child, a
generation conflict and numerous troubles.

In 1816, Carl Czerny (future teacher of Franz Liszt and once

Beethoven's student) became Karl's music teacher, but
didn't find the talent in the boy which Beethoven hoped
him to posses. At this time , he ended his cycle of lieders
'To the distant loved one'and drafted the first theme for his
ninth symphony.

Two years later, the Archduke Rudolph became Cardinal

and Beethoven began composing his mass in D. It was
never ready for the intronisation, but the work was rich
beyond compare.

Gioachino Rossini triumphed in Vienna in 1822 where he

met Beethoven again. The language barrier and
Beethoven's deafness meant that they could only
exchange brief words. The Viennese composer tolerated
Italian opera only in moderation - he found it lacked
seriousness.

The ninth symphony was practically finished in 1823, the

same year as the Missa Solemnis. Liszt, who was 11, met
Beethoven who came to his concert on April 13th. He
congratulated the young virtuoso heartily who, years later,
transcribed the entirety of Beethoven's symphonies for
piano.
listen to
Liszt's transcriptions
May 7th 1824 was the date of the first playing of the ninth
symphony and despite musical difficulties, and problems in
the sung parts, it was a success. Unfortunately it was not
financially rewarding. Financial problems constantly
undermined the composer. He always had money put to
one side, but he was keeping it for his nephew.

Then began the period of the last quartets, which are still
difficult even for today's audience, which knows how to
interpret his other works. He started to compose his tenth
symphony.

In 1826, Beethoven caught cold coming back from his

brother's place, with whom he had rowed again. The illness
complicated other health problems from which Beethoven
had suffered all his life. He passed away encircled by his
closest friends on March 26th 1827, just as a storm broke
out.

The funeral took place at the church of the Holy Trinity. It is

estimated that between 10 000 and 30 000 people
attended. Franz Schubert, timid and a huge admirer of
Beethoven, without ever having become close to him, was
one of the coffin bearers, along with other musicians.
Schubert died the next year and was buried next to
Beethoven.
The actor Heinrich Anschütz read the funeral prayer written
by Franz Grillparzer, (a great writer), in front of the doors of
theWähring cemetery (now Schubert Park).