Classical Composer Unit Study: Beethoven
A bridge between classical styles of music (haydn, Mozart) and the romantic style (Schubert, Belioz, Medelssohn, Chopin, Tchaikovsky)
I have never thought of writing
for reputation and honor. What I have in my heart must out; that is the reason why I compose.
Ludwig van Beethoven Remark to Carl Czerny
Background:
Born in Bonn, Germany on December 17, 1770 (or perhaps a day earlier according to somerecords), Beethoven had a miserable childhood. He was one of seven children, only three of whom survived to adulthood. Although he loved his gentle mother, Maria, he feared his hard‐ drinking, demanding father, Johann. Johann had no great talent, but he gave music lessonsto the children of the nobility. From the time Ludwig was a small boy, turning the iron handle of window shutters to hear the musical noise, the child had been absorbed by music. His father recognized the boy’s ability and nurtured it, possibly because he saw it as a source of income.
In 1787, when he was seventeen, Beethoven made his first trip to Vienna, the city that would become his home. There, he was quickly immersed in the life of Europe’s cultural capital, even playing the piano for Mozart. Mozart’s prediction was: “You will make a big noise in the world.”
Beethoven’s stay was cut short by a series of family tragedies. He returned to Bonn to his dying mother.
Shortly after, his infant sister died. When hisfather lost his job, Beethoven had to take responsibility for the family.
After his father’s death in 1792, Beethoven returned to Vienna for good. The serious boy had grown into a man who was by turns rude and violent, kind and generous.
He helped raise money forthe only surviving child of Johann Sebastian Bach, who was living in poverty, and he donated new compositionsfor a benefit concertin aid ofUrsuline nuns.
Despite his temper, Beethoven attracted friends easily. He studied piano with composer Franz Joseph Haydn. And even though the student‐teacher relationship failed, the two remained friends. In Vienna, Beethoven also met Mozart’s rival, Antonio Salieri – the man rumoured to have poisoned Mozart. Salieri was kind to Beethoven and, in return, Beethoven dedicated three violin sonatasto him. <From Arts Alive in Canada -read the full article the biography starts at page 10>
Classical Music
The classical period of music occurred from about 1730 to 1820. In addition to
Beethoven, other well-known composers from this period include: Bach,
Stamitz, Haydn, Salieri, Mozart, and Schubert. Most of the famous composers
of that period were from Europe.
Beethoven composed nine symphonies. Lots of other composers wrote more
than that, but Beethoven’s Symphonies are very famous and have some
distinguishing characteristics. His Third Symphony, for example, was the
longest symphony ever written at that time. The beginning of the second
movement of Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony imitates a metronome. (see the
definition in the vocabulary section).
Beethoven's Ninth was the first symphony to use voices and his Fifth Symphony
may be the most famous piece of music ever written.
Classics for Kids -- Mozart
Six different programs related to Mozart.
A bit of Trivia
Beethoven's Hair
Beethoven, the great composer, was ill for much of his adult life. He was also totally deaf when he created some of his best work.
Before he died, he wrote a letter to his brothers, begging them to find out why he had been in such poor health. That letter is referred to as the Heiligenstadt Testament.
Locks of the maestro’s hair, snipped from his head at the time of his death, have provided the answer Beethoven sought for so long. He had lead poisoning!
Before he died, he wrote a letter to his brothers, begging them to find out why he had been in such poor health. That letter is referred to as the Heiligenstadt Testament.
Locks of the maestro’s hair, snipped from his head at the time of his death, have provided the answer Beethoven sought for so long. He had lead poisoning!
Online Resources
Audio Resources
Piano Sonata 14 (Moonlight) Op 27Symphony No. 3 (Erocia-meaning 'heroic') Opus 55
String Quartets opus 59, no.1-3 (Razumovsky Quartets)
they look like this (click ctrl+F to find on the page):
Quartetto d'Archi in Fa maggiore op. 59 n° 1
Quartetto d'Archi in Mi minore op. 59 n° 2
Quartetto d'Archi in Do maggiore op. 59 n° 3
Piano Concerto 5 (Emporer) Op 73 - sheet music here
Symphony No. 9 Opus 125 (the one with Ode to Joy at the end)
- Printable composer books by Thomas Tapper at Project Gutenberg (FREE)
- Librivox recordings of Tapper books (FREE)
Video Resources
- Beethoven Lives Upstairs DVD (also available for purchase from Amazon Instant Video)
- “Brand New Outfit” and “The Missing Invitation” both feature “Ode to Joy” from the 9th Symphony
- “Brothers and Sisters to the Rescue” and “Annie and the Beanstalk” both feature the theme from the 5th Symphony.
- There are also 2 other episodes “The Christmas Wish” and ”A Galactic Goodnight” (both feature “Fur Elise”)
Lapbook and Notebook Pages Books
- Beethoven: The Story of a Little Boys Who Was Forced to Practice by Thomas Tapper, which is in the public domain and can therefore be downloaded for free for Kindle or other ebook readers.
- Beethoven lives upstairs: Lapbook by homeschool share
- A list from the American Musicological Society offers more composer biography suggestions
Free and Downloadable unit studies:
Beethoven free printable unit study with quizes and hand drawn illustrations
Simple Powerpoint about his Life
Piano Sonata 8 (Pathetique) Opus 13
Free Composer Notebook Pages
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