Beethoven

Beethoven was a famous pianist and composer and was born in 1770 in Bonn (Germany) and had two younger brothers. His father was a chorister in Elector of Colognes chapel. In 1782, he became deputy court organist and theatre accompanist. Beethoven visited Vienna and then returned home to Bonn where he lived for a further five years. He continued in service of Elector, playing in court and opera orchestra. In 1792, Haydn met Beethoven in Bonn and they moved to Vienna for the rest of their life. His father died and his brothers went to Vienna to live shortly afterwards. Beethoven became immersed in the music of the city and earned his living playing piano for the aristocracy. In 1795 Beethoven made his first publications and continued to compose music. In 1800 he gave his first public concert where he produced his first symphony His hearing began to deteriorate and in 1802 he wrote an account of it in a last testament. In 1803 his third symphony was composed and continued up to the eighth symphony in 1812. In 1814 the congress of Vienna brought concerts and more fame to Beethoven. In 1815 his brother Caspar died and he composed little in these few years. In 1820 Beethoven composed his great mass in D which was finished in 1823. He became completely deaf in these years, which was a disadvantage for his composing. In 1824 the ninth symphony and part of the mass in D was performed. In 1826 his brother Karl tried to shoot himself, when convalescing they went to their youngest brothers house. When Beethoven was returning in bad winter conditions he fell ill and never recovered. He died in March 1827.

The Development of the Symphony

Haydns experiments in musical form and the composition of the orchestra resulted in symphony. He wrote 104 symphonies altogether although his best symphonies were wrote towards the end of his life after the death of Mozart. Mozart was twenty four years younger than Haydn and was a devoted admirer of his. He began to write symphonies similar to Hayns but had shown his own individual touches which were great masterpieces. Beethoven found the symphonic pattern well established so he enlarged it and made it more dramatized, so that his 9 symphonies are all popular in concert hall today. The first two belong to his first period, when he was

affected by Haydn and Mozart. The third was written in honour of Napoleon while the fifth and sixth are two of the most popular. The ninth symphony belongs to his third period, which is very long. Schubert wrote 11 symphonies, one of which is lost and another unfinished. At the end of his life he wrote the Great C major, a very long and beautiful symphony which is one of his greatest works.

The Development of the Orchestra

Stamitz (1717-1757) directed a famous orchestra at Mannheim and wrote a number of symphonies for it. The same Weinzierl visit gave Hadyn the opportunity to write his first string quartet also made it possible for him to experiment with larger groups. He wrote a number of simple slight works often for oboes, strings or horns. The greatest step forward was when Haydn was appointed Kapellmeister to Prince Esterhazy at Einstadt. He was able to gradually able to increase the size of the orchestra and have daily practices. Haydn devoted all his attention to composing and conducting music and discovering the best ways to write for an orchestra. He became conscious of the tone qualities for different instruments and how to provide contrast. Hearing the young Mozarts symphonies also affected Haydns later symphonies. Mozart and Haydn both used clarinet later when it became possible to get players. Beethoven and Schubert began to use trombones. Although the essential features of orchestral writing were laid down by Haydn.