Biography Ludwig van Beethoven

1 biography

1.1 background , life
1.2 establishing career in vienna
1.3 musical maturity
1.4 loss of hearing
1.5 patronage
1.6 middle period
1.7 personal , family difficulties
1.8 custody struggle , illness
1.9 late works
1.10 illness , death

biography
background , life

beethoven s birthplace @ bonngasse 20, beethoven house museum

beethoven grandson of ludwig van beethoven (1712–73), musician town of mechelen in duchy of brabant in flemish region of belgium, @ age of twenty moved bonn. ludwig (he adopted german cognate of dutch lodewijk) employed bass singer @ court of elector of cologne, rising become, in 1761, kapellmeister (music director) , thereafter pre-eminent musician in bonn. portrait commissioned of himself towards end of life remained proudly displayed in grandson s rooms talisman of musical heritage. ludwig had 1 son, johann (1740–1792), worked tenor in same musical establishment , gave keyboard , violin lessons supplement income. johann married maria magdalena keverich in 1767; daughter of johann heinrich keverich (1701–1751), had been head chef @ court of archbishopric of trier.

prince-elector s palace (kurfürstliches schloss) in bonn, beethoven family had been active since 1730s

beethoven born of marriage in bonn. there no authentic record of date of birth; however, registry of baptism, in catholic service @ parish of st. regius on 17 december 1770, survives. children of era traditionally baptised day after birth in catholic rhine country, , known beethoven s family , teacher johann albrechtsberger celebrated birthday on 16 december, scholars accept 16 december 1770 date of birth. of 7 children born johann van beethoven, ludwig, second-born, , 2 younger brothers survived infancy. kaspar anton karl born on 8 april 1774, , nikolaus johann, youngest, born on 2 october 1776.

beethoven s first music teacher father. later had other local teachers: court organist gilles van den eeden (d. 1782), tobias friedrich pfeiffer (a family friend, provided keyboard tuition), , franz rovantini (a relative, instructed him in playing violin , viola). outset tuition regime, began in fifth year, harsh , intensive, reducing him tears; involvement of insomniac pfeiffer there irregular late-night sessions young beethoven being dragged bed keyboard. musical talent obvious @ young age. johann, aware of leopold mozart s successes in area (with son wolfgang , daughter nannerl), attempted promote son child prodigy, claiming beethoven 6 (he seven) on posters first public performance in march 1778.

some time after 1779, beethoven began studies important teacher in bonn, christian gottlob neefe, appointed court s organist in year. neefe taught him composition, , march 1783 had helped him write first published composition: set of keyboard variations (woo 63). beethoven began working neefe assistant organist, @ first unpaid (1781), , paid employee (1784) of court chapel conducted kapellmeister andrea luchesi. first 3 piano sonatas, named kurfürst ( elector ) dedication elector maximilian friedrich (1708–1784), published in 1783. maximilian frederick noticed talent early, , subsidised , encouraged young man s musical studies.

a portrait of 13-year-old beethoven unknown bonn master (c. 1783)

maximilian frederick s successor elector of bonn maximilian francis, youngest son of empress maria theresa of austria, , brought notable changes bonn. echoing changes made in vienna brother joseph, introduced reforms based on enlightenment philosophy, increased support education , arts. teenage beethoven influenced these changes. may have been influenced @ time ideas prominent in freemasonry, neefe , others around beethoven members of local chapter of order of illuminati.

in march 1787 beethoven travelled vienna, possibly @ s expense, first time, apparently in hope of studying mozart. details of relationship uncertain, including whether met. having learned mother ill, beethoven returned 2 weeks after arrival in vienna. mother died shortly thereafter, , father lapsed deeper alcoholism. result, became responsible care of 2 younger brothers, , spent next 5 years in bonn.

he introduced in these years several people became important in life. franz wegeler, young medical student, introduced him von breuning family (one of daughters wegeler married). visited von breuning household, taught piano of children. here encountered german , classical literature. von breuning family environment less stressful own, increasingly dominated father s decline. came attention of count ferdinand von waldstein, became lifelong friend , financial supporter.

in 1789 beethoven obtained legal order half of father s salary paid directly him support of family. contributed further family s income playing viola in court orchestra. familiarised him variety of operas, including 3 mozart performed @ court in period. befriended anton reicha, flautist , violinist of own age nephew of court orchestra s conductor, josef reicha.

from 1790 1792, composed significant number of works (none published @ time, , listed works without opus number) demonstrated growing range , maturity. musicologists have identified theme similar of third symphony in set of variations written in 1791. on neefe s recommendation beethoven received first commissions; municipal leaders in bonn had commissioned cantatas mark occasion of death in 1790 of franz joseph ii , subsequent accession of leopold ii holy roman emperor. 2 emperor cantatas (woo 87, woo 88) scored never performed @ time , remained lost until 1880s. were, according brahms, distinctively beethoven through , through , such prophetic of tragic style mark music distinct classical tradition.

he first introduced joseph haydn in late 1790, when latter travelling london , stopped in bonn around christmas time. year , half later, met in bonn on haydn s return trip london vienna in july 1792, , arrangements made @ time beethoven study old master.

establishing career in vienna

with elector s help, left bonn vienna in november 1792, amid rumours of war spilling out of france; learned shortly after arrival father had died. mozart had died. count waldstein, in farewell note beethoven, wrote: through uninterrupted diligence receive mozart s spirit through haydn s hands. on next few years, beethoven responded widespread feeling successor deceased mozart studying master s work , writing works distinctly mozartean flavour.

portrait of beethoven young man carl traugott riedel (1769–1832)

beethoven did not set out establish himself composer, rather devoted himself study , performance. working under haydn s direction, sought master counterpoint. studied violin under ignaz schuppanzigh. in period, began receiving occasional instruction antonio salieri, in italian vocal composition style; relationship persisted until @ least 1802, , possibly 1809. haydn s departure england in 1794, beethoven expected elector return home. chose instead remain in vienna, continuing instruction in counterpoint johann albrechtsberger , other teachers. although stipend elector expired, number of viennese noblemen had recognised ability , offered him financial support, among them prince joseph franz lobkowitz, prince karl lichnowsky, , baron gottfried van swieten.

by 1793, had established reputation improviser in salons of nobility, playing preludes , fugues of j. s. bach s well-tempered clavier. friend nikolaus simrock had begun publishing compositions; first believed set of variations (woo 66). 1793, had established reputation in vienna piano virtuoso, apparently withheld works publication publication in 1795 have greater impact. first public performance in vienna in march 1795, concert in first performed 1 of piano concertos. uncertain whether first or second. documentary evidence unclear, , both concertos in similar state of near-completion (neither completed or published several years). shortly after performance, arranged publication of first of compositions assigned opus number, 3 piano trios, opus 1. these works dedicated patron prince lichnowsky, , financial success; beethoven s profits sufficient cover living expenses year.

musical maturity

beethoven composed first 6 string quartets (op. 18) between 1798 , 1800 (commissioned by, , dedicated to, prince lobkowitz). published in 1801. premieres of first , second symphonies in 1800 , 1803, became regarded 1 of important of generation of young composers following haydn , mozart. continued write in other forms, turning out known piano sonatas pathétique sonata (op. 13), cooper describes surpass[ing] of previous compositions, in strength of character, depth of emotion, level of originality, , ingenuity of motivic , tonal manipulation. completed septet (op. 20) in 1799, 1 of popular works during lifetime.

beethoven in 1803, painted christian horneman

for premiere of first symphony, hired burgtheater on 2 april 1800, , staged extensive programme of music, including works haydn , mozart, septet, first symphony, , 1 of piano concertos (the latter 3 works unpublished). concert, allgemeine musikalische zeitung described interesting concert in long time, not without difficulties; among criticisms players did not bother pay attention soloist.

mozart , haydn undeniable influences. example, beethoven s quintet piano , winds said bear strong resemblance mozart s work same configuration, albeit own distinctive touches. melodies, musical development, use of modulation , texture, , characterisation of emotion set him apart influences, , heightened impact of works made when first published. end of 1800, beethoven , music in demand patrons , publishers.

ludwig van beethoven: detail of 1804–05 portrait joseph willibrord mähler. complete painting depicts beethoven lyre-guitar.

in may 1799, beethoven taught piano daughters of hungarian countess anna brunsvik. during time, fell in love younger daughter josephine has therefore been identified 1 of more candidates addressee of letter immortal beloved (in 1812). shortly after these lessons, josephine married count josef deym. beethoven regular visitor @ house, continuing teach josephine, , playing @ parties , concerts. marriage accounts happy (despite initial financial problems), , couple had 4 children. relationship beethoven intensified after deym died in 1804.

he had few other students. 1801 1805, tutored ferdinand ries, went on become composer , later wrote beethoven remembered, book encounters. young carl czerny studied beethoven 1801 1803. czerny went on become renowned music teacher himself, instructing franz liszt, , on 11 february 1812 gave vienna premiere of beethoven s fifth piano concerto (the emperor ).

his compositions between 1800 , 1802 dominated 2 large-scale orchestral works, although continued produce other important works such piano sonata sonata quasi una fantasia known moonlight sonata . in spring of 1801 completed creatures of prometheus, ballet. work received numerous performances in 1801 , 1802, , rushed publish piano arrangement capitalise on popularity. in spring of 1802 completed second symphony, intended performance @ concert cancelled. symphony received premiere instead @ subscription concert in april 1803 @ theater der wien, had been appointed composer in residence. in addition second symphony, concert featured first symphony, third piano concerto, , oratorio christ on mount of olives. reviews mixed, concert financial success; able charge 3 times cost of typical concert ticket.

his business dealings publishers began improve in 1802 when brother kaspar, had assisted him casually, began assume larger role in management of affairs. in addition negotiating higher prices composed works, kaspar began selling of earlier unpublished compositions, , encouraged him (against beethoven s preference) make arrangements , transcriptions of more popular works other instrument combinations. beethoven acceded these requests, not prevent publishers hiring others similar arrangements of works.

loss of hearing

beethoven reported have dated hearing loss fit suffered in 1798 induced rage @ interruption of work—having fallen over, got find himself deaf. hearing ever partially recovered and, during gradual decline, impeded severe form of tinnitus. 1801, wrote friends describing symptoms , difficulties caused in both professional , social settings (although of close friends aware of problems).

the cause of deafness unknown, has variously been attributed typhus, auto-immune disorders (such systemic lupus erythematosus), , habit of immersing head in cold water stay awake. explanation autopsy had distended inner ear , developed lesions on time.

beethoven in 1815 portrait joseph willibrord mähler

on advice of doctor, beethoven lived in small austrian town of heiligenstadt, outside vienna, april october 1802 in attempt come terms condition. there wrote heiligenstadt testament, letter brothers records thoughts of suicide due growing deafness , records resolution continue living , through art. on time, hearing loss became profound: @ end of premiere of ninth symphony in 1824, had turned around see tumultuous applause of audience because hear neither nor orchestra. hearing loss did not prevent him composing music, made playing @ concerts—a lucrative source of income—increasingly difficult. after failed attempt in 1811 perform own piano concerto no. 5 (the emperor ), premiered student carl czerny, never performed in public again until directed premiere performance of ninth symphony in 1824, involved him giving cues conductor michael umlauf.

a large collection of hearing aids, such special ear horn, can viewed @ beethoven house museum in bonn, germany. despite obvious distress, czerny remarked beethoven still hear speech , music until 1812. around 1814 however, age of 44, totally deaf, , when group of visitors saw him play loud arpeggio of thundering bass notes @ piano remarking, ist es nicht schön? (is not beautiful?), felt deep sympathy considering courage , sense of humour (he lost ability hear higher frequencies first).

as result of beethoven s hearing loss, conversation books unusually rich written resource. used in last ten or years of life, friends wrote in these books know saying, , responded either orally or in book. books contain discussions music , other matters, , give insights thinking; source investigations how intended music should performed, , perception of relationship art. out of total of 400 conversation books, has been suggested 264 destroyed (and others altered) after death secretary anton schindler, wished idealised biography of composer survive. however, theodore albrecht contests verity of schindler s destruction of large number of conversation books.

patronage

beethoven s patron, archduke rudolph

while beethoven earned income publication of works , public performances, depended on generosity of patrons income, whom gave private performances , copies of works commissioned exclusive period prior publication. of patrons, including prince lobkowitz , prince lichnowsky, gave him annual stipends in addition commissioning works , purchasing published works.

perhaps important aristocratic patron archduke rudolph, youngest son of emperor leopold ii, in 1803 or 1804 began study piano , composition him. cleric (cardinal-priest) , composer became friends, , meetings continued until 1824. beethoven dedicated 14 compositions rudolph, including archduke trio (1811) , missa solemnis (1823). rudolph, in turn, dedicated 1 of own compositions beethoven. letters beethoven wrote rudolph today kept @ gesellschaft der musikfreunde in vienna. patron count (later prince) andreas razumovsky, whom string quartets nos. 7–9, op. 59, rasumovsky named.

in autumn of 1808, after having been rejected position @ royal theatre, received offer napoleon s brother jérôme bonaparte, king of westphalia, well-paid position kapellmeister @ court in cassel. persuade him stay in vienna, archduke rudolph, prince kinsky , prince lobkowitz, after receiving representations composer s friends, pledged pay him pension of 4000 florins year. archduke rudolph paid share of pension on agreed date. kinsky, called military duty, did not contribute , died after falling horse. lobkowitz stopped paying in september 1811. no successors came forward continue patronage, , beethoven relied on selling composition rights , small pension after 1815. effects of these financial arrangements undermined extent war france, caused significant inflation when government printed money fund war efforts.

middle period

beethoven monument in bonn, münsterplatz

beethoven s return vienna heiligenstadt marked change in musical style, , designated start of middle or heroic period. according carl czerny, beethoven said, not satisfied work have done far. on intend take new way. heroic phase characterised large number of original works composed on grand scale. first major work employing new style third symphony in e flat, known eroica. work longer , larger in scope previous symphony. when premiered in 1805 received mixed reception. listeners objected length or misunderstood structure, while others viewed masterpiece.

the middle period associated heroic manner of composing, use of term heroic has become increasingly controversial in beethoven scholarship. term more used alternative name middle period. appropriateness of term heroic describe whole middle period has been questioned well: while works, third , fifth symphonies, easy describe heroic , many others, symphony no. 6, pastoral, not.

some of middle period works extend musical language had inherited haydn , mozart. middle period work includes third through eighth symphonies, rasumovsky, harp , serioso string quartets, waldstein , appassionata piano sonatas, christ on mount of olives, opera fidelio, violin concerto , many other compositions. during time income came publishing works, performances of them, , patrons. position @ theater der wien terminated when theatre changed management in 1804, , forced move temporarily suburbs of vienna friend stephan von breuning. slowed work on fidelio, largest work date, time. delayed again austrian censor, , premiered in november 1805 houses empty because of french occupation of city. in addition being financial failure, version of fidelio critical failure, , beethoven began revising it.

during may 1809, when attacking forces of napoleon bombarded vienna, according ferdinand ries, beethoven, worried noise destroy remained of hearing, hid in basement of brother s house, covering ears pillows.

the work of middle period established beethoven master. in review 1810, enshrined e. t. a. hoffmann 1 of 3 great romantic composers; hoffman called fifth symphony 1 of important works of age.

personal , family difficulties

beethoven s love life hampered class issues. in late 1801 met young countess, julie ( giulietta ) guicciardi through brunsvik family, @ time when giving regular piano lessons josephine brunsvik. mentions love julie in november 1801 letter boyhood friend, franz wegeler, not consider marrying her, due class difference. later dedicated sonata no. 14, commonly known moonlight sonata, her.

his relationship josephine brunsvik deepened after death in 1804 of aristocratic first husband, count joseph deym. wrote josephine 15 passionate love letters late 1804 around 1809/10. although feelings reciprocated, josephine forced family withdraw him in 1807. cited duty , fact have lost custodianship of aristocratic children had married commoner. after josephine married baron von stackelberg in 1810, beethoven may have proposed unsuccessfully therese malfatti, supposed dedicatee of für elise ; status commoner may again have interfered plans.

life mask made in 1812

in spring of 1811 beethoven became ill, suffering headaches , high fever. on advice of doctor, spent 6 weeks in bohemian spa town of teplitz. following winter, dominated work on seventh symphony, again ill, , doctor ordered him spend summer of 1812 @ spa teplitz. @ teplitz when wrote love letter immortal beloved . identity of intended recipient has long been subject of debate; candidates include julie guicciardi, therese malfatti, josephine brunsvik, , antonie brentano.

he visited brother johann @ end of october 1812. wished end johann s cohabitation therese obermayer, woman had illegitimate child. unable convince johann end relationship , appealed local civic , religious authorities. johann , therese married on 9 november.

beethoven in 1814. portrait louis-rené létronne.

in 1813 beethoven apparently went through difficult emotional period, , compositional output dropped. personal appearance degraded—it had been neat—as did manners in public, when dining. took care of brother (who suffering tuberculosis) , family, expense claimed left him penniless.

beethoven motivated begin significant composition again in june 1813, when news arrived of defeat of 1 of napoleon s armies @ vitoria, spain, coalition of forces under duke of wellington. news stimulated him write battle symphony known wellington s victory. first performed on 8 december, along seventh symphony, @ charity concert victims of war. work popular hit, because of programmatic style, entertaining , easy understand. received repeat performances @ concerts staged in january , february 1814. renewed popularity led demands revival of fidelio, which, in third revised version, received @ july opening. summer composed piano sonata first time in 5 years (no. 27, opus 90). work in markedly more romantic style earlier sonatas. 1 of many composers produced music in patriotic vein entertain many heads of state , diplomats came congress of vienna began in november 1814. output of songs included song cycle, die ferne geliebte, , extraordinarily expressive second setting of poem die hoffnung (op. 94) in 1815. compared first setting in 1805 (a gift josephine brunsvik), far more dramatic ... entire spirit of operatic scena.

custody struggle , illness

between 1815 , 1817 beethoven s output dropped again. attributed part of lengthy illness (he called inflammatory fever ) afflicted him more year, starting in october 1816. biographers have speculated on variety of other reasons contributed decline, including difficulties in personal lives of would-be paramours , harsh censorship policies of austrian government. illness , death of brother kaspar tuberculosis may have played role.

beethoven in 1818 august klöber

kaspar had been ill time, , beethoven spent small fortune in 1815 on care. after kaspar died on 15 november 1815, beethoven became embroiled in protracted legal dispute kaspar s wife johanna on custody of son karl (de), 9 years old. beethoven, considered johanna unfit parent because of morals (she had illegitimate child different father before marrying kaspar , had been convicted of theft) , financial management, had applied kaspar have himself named sole guardian of boy. late codicil kaspar s gave him , johanna joint guardianship. while beethoven successful @ having nephew removed custody in february 1816, case not resolved until 1820, , preoccupied demands of litigation , seeing welfare of karl, whom first placed in private school.

the austrian court system had 1 court nobility , members of landtafel, landrechte, , many other courts commoners, among them civil court of vienna magistrate. beethoven disguised fact dutch van in name did not denote nobility german von , case tried in landrechte. owing influence court, beethoven felt assured of favourable outcome of being awarded sole guardianship. while giving evidence landrechte, however, beethoven unable prove being of noble birth , consequence, on 18 december 1818 case transferred magistracy, lost sole guardianship.

he appealed , regained custody. johanna s appeal emperor not successful: emperor washed hands of matter. during years of custody followed, beethoven attempted ensure karl lived highest moral standards. beethoven had overbearing manner , interfered in nephew s life. karl attempted suicide on 31 july 1826 shooting himself in head. survived , brought mother s house, recuperated. , beethoven reconciled, karl insisted on joining army , last saw beethoven in january 1827.

late works

beethoven began renewed study of older music, including works j. s. bach , handel, being published in first attempts @ complete editions. composed overture consecration of house, first work attempt incorporate these influences. new style emerged, called late period . returned keyboard compose first piano sonatas in decade: works of late period commonly held include last 5 piano sonatas , diabelli variations, last 2 sonatas cello , piano, late string quartets (see below), , 2 works large forces: missa solemnis , ninth symphony.

by 1818 health had improved, , nephew moved in him in january. on downside, hearing had deteriorated point conversation became difficult, necessitating use of conversation books. household management had improved somewhat; nanette streicher, had assisted in care during illness, continued provide support, , found skilled cook. musical output in 1818 still reduced, included song collections , hammerklavier sonata, sketches 2 symphonies coalesced epic ninth. in 1819 again preoccupied legal processes around karl, , began work on diabelli variations , missa solemnis.

for next few years continued work on missa, composing piano sonatas , bagatelles satisfy demands of publishers , need income, , completing diabelli variations. ill again extended time in 1821, , completed missa in 1823, 3 years after original due date. opened discussions publishers on possibility of producing complete edition of work, idea arguably not realised until 1971. brother johann began take hand in business affairs, in way kaspar had earlier, locating older unpublished works offer publication , offering missa multiple publishers goal of getting higher price it.

two commissions in 1822 improved financial prospects. philharmonic society of london offered commission symphony, , prince nikolas golitsin of st. petersburg offered pay beethoven s price 3 string quartets. first of these commissions spurred him finish ninth symphony, first performed, along missa solemnis, on 7 may 1824, great acclaim @ kärntnertortheater. allgemeine musikalische zeitung gushed, inexhaustible genius had shown new world , , carl czerny wrote symphony breathes such fresh, lively, indeed youthful spirit ... power, innovation, , beauty ever [came] head of original man, although led old wigs shake heads. unlike more lucrative earlier concerts, did not make him money, expenses of mounting higher. second concert on 24 may, in producer guaranteed beethoven minimum fee, poorly attended; nephew karl noted many people [had] gone country . beethoven s last public concert.

beethoven in 1823 ferdinand georg waldmüller

beethoven turned writing string quartets golitsin. series of quartets, known late quartets, went far beyond musicians or audiences ready @ time. 1 musician commented know there there, not know is. composer louis spohr called them indecipherable, uncorrected horrors. opinion has changed considerably time of first bewildered reception: forms , ideas inspired musicians , composers including richard wagner , béla bartók, , continue so. of late quartets, beethoven s favourite fourteenth quartet, op. 131 in c♯ minor, rated perfect single work. last musical wish of schubert hear op. 131 quartet, did on 14 november 1828, 5 days before death.

beethoven wrote last quartets amidst failing health. in april 1825 bedridden, , remained ill month. illness—or more precisely, recovery it—is remembered having given rise felt slow movement of fifteenth quartet, called holy song of ( heiliger dankgesang ) divinity, 1 made well. went on complete quartets numbered thirteenth, fourteenth, , sixteenth. last work completed beethoven substitute final movement of thirteenth quartet, replaced difficult große fuge. shortly thereafter, in december 1826, illness struck again, episodes of vomiting , diarrhoea ended life.

in 1825, 9 symphonies performed in cycle first time, leipzig gewandhaus orchestra under johann philipp christian schulz. repeated in 1826.

illness , death


death mask josef danhauser



beethoven s grave site, vienna zentralfriedhof

beethoven bedridden of remaining months, , many friends came visit. died on 26 march 1827 @ age of 56 during thunderstorm. friend anselm hüttenbrenner, present @ time, said there peal of thunder @ moment of death. autopsy revealed significant liver damage, may have been due heavy alcohol consumption. revealed considerable dilation of auditory , other related nerves.

beethoven s funeral procession on 29 march 1827 attended estimated 20,000 viennese citizens. franz schubert, died following year , buried next him, 1 of torchbearers. buried in dedicated grave in währing cemetery, north-west of vienna, after requiem mass @ church of holy trinity (dreifaltigkeitskirche). remains exhumed study in 1862, , moved in 1888 vienna s zentralfriedhof. in 2012, crypt checked see if teeth had been stolen during series of grave robberies of other famous viennese composers.

there dispute cause of beethoven s death: alcoholic cirrhosis, syphilis, infectious hepatitis, lead poisoning, sarcoidosis , whipple s disease have been proposed. friends , visitors before , after death clipped locks of hair, of have been preserved , subjected additional analysis, have skull fragments removed during 1862 exhumation. of these analyses have led controversial assertions accidentally poisoned death excessive doses of lead-based treatments administered under instruction doctor.