Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Bio and Chronology

Beethoven is one of the most important composers in world history. He led the transition from the Classical to the Romantic era. Beethoven was unsurpassed in creating musical themes, and in the techniques of development and variation. He wrote symphonies, concerti, chamber music and piano sonatas. He composed an oratoria, opera and the mass. In all compositions, which were rooted in tradition, Beethoven would break tradition, expressing the right to an individual's artistic freedom. Beethoven overcame the obstacle of deafness to create some of the greatest music of all time.

Beethoven witnessed the rise of democratic forces manifested in the French Revolution, the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. During his formative years, Beethoven was instructed in the philosophies of Kant and the French Encyclopedists, while studying theory and music of German contemporaries and composers, including Johann Sebastian and CPE Bach.

Beethoven was raised in Bonn, Germany, and settled in Vienna. He remained in Austria for most of his adult life, performing and composing in Vienna, while venturing to country villages for the summer. He worked in seclusion. His method was painstaking, slow and deliberate. Beethoven took the accepted forms of the sonata and symphony and expanded them with unlimited imagination and virtuosity. It was sometimes difficult for professional orchestra members to understand and perform Beethoven's new works, and Beethoven had a "short fuse" for them. He was a perfectionist, a musical pioneer, and remained steadfast in his beliefs. The poet Goethe described Beethoven in a letter, "I have never seen an artist more concentrated, energetic and fervent."

Gradually deafness set in during a twenty year period, until Beethoven became totally deaf in 1818. This was devastating. Still he pressed on, composing great works and symphonies in isolation, relying on his Catholic faith.

It is interesting to trace the history of Beethoven's Mass in C major, Op. 86 (1807). He wrote, "I do not want to say anything about my Mass, or indeed about myself, but I believe I have treated the text as it has seldom been treated before." Beethoven surprised his publisher with a request to have the original Latin words translated into German so that it would be accessible to more people. The result was a poetic rendering, a technique of Romanticists, which only marginally matched the Latin text. It was documented that when Beethoven read the manuscript of the 'Qui tollis' he wept while in the company of friends, which was uncustomary, saying, "Yes, that was what I felt when I wrote this!" The text reflects Beethoven's patient trust in God, as follows:

"He bears even the sinner with gentle love, with true fatherly care, full of pity, he looks graciously down from above. He is the support of the weak, he is the help of those in affliction, the hope of those weary of life, he is the Lord; no cry to him is unheard, no tear is shed in vain. His help, his salvation are near us, and great is his compassion."

Beethoven's second Mass was written for his former pupil Archduke Rudolph when he was appointed Archbishop of Olmutz. Missa solemnis in D major (1819) is considered one of Beethoven's greatest achievements. It is 90 minutes long, and consists of full chorus, orchestra and four soloists. Unlike Beethoven's compositions which vary and repeat motives and phrases, there is a continuous musical narrative in the Missa solemnis, unveiling creative procedures from the past. Beethoven's writing evokes the Medieval chants of Palestrina and the fugal concepts of Bach. In the Sanctus, a violin performs in the highest register to depict the descent of the Holy Spirit. The mass concludes with military drumbeats and a plea for mercy. There is an additional connection. It is often thought that the "answer" to the Missa Solemnis can be found at the hopeful conclusion of the Ninth Symphony, based on Ode to Joy.

Suggested listening: For beginners and professionals -- Fifth Symphony! Piano sonatas, chamber works and all the rest. It will take a while!

Sources: Beethoven Bicentennial Edition 1770-1970: Beethoven-Archiv-Bonn
Encyclopedia of Classical Music: Billboard Books
Peter Gammond, The A-Z of Classical Composers: BHB International 1997

1770 Born in Bonn, Germany, Dec. 16th
1774 Piano lessons begin
1778 First public piano performance in Cologne, March 26th
1784 Appointed Assistant Organist, Electoral Court chapel
1787 Lessons with Mozart in Vienna
1792 Moved to Vienna; Studies with Haydn and contemporaries
1795 First performance in Vienna of his Piano Concerto no. 2
1800 First Symphony (age 30)
1808 Pastoral Symphony
1809 France takes over Vienna
1812 Letter to mystery woman - Immortal Beloved (my opinion, Antonie Brentano)
1818 Total deafness; use of conversation notebooks
1819 Guardianship of nephew Karl revoked because
of deafness; Missa Solemnis composed
1820 Karl returned home
1824 Ninth Symphony
1826 Health failing; several operations follow
1827 Died in Vienna, March 26th, same date first
performance as child prodigy in Cologne