Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist (his years of life were 1770 – 1827).
Ludwig van Beethoven was baptized on December 17, 1770 in Bonn. exact date his birth is not known.

Biography of Ludwig van Beethoven - early years.
It was no coincidence that Ludwig van Beethoven became a composer - his father Johann Van Beethoven and grandfather Ludwig were directly related to music. My father was a singer, he sang in the court chapel, and my grandfather first also sang in the court chapel, and then was a bandmaster. Ludwig's mother, Mary Magdalene, was from the common people and had no interest in music - she worked as an ordinary cook. Ludwig Beethovin's father, Johann, dreamed that his son would be the second Mozart and from early childhood taught his son to play the harpsichord and violin. At the age of eight, Ludwig van Beethoven made his first public appearance. It was in Cologne. But the father saw that nothing special came of introducing the child to music, and then Johann Van Beethoven instructed his colleagues to study music with his son, some of them taught Ludwig to play the organ, others to play the violin. When Ludwig was eight years old, the composer and organist Christian Gottlieb Nefe came to Bonn, who recognized little Ludwig Beethoven's musical talent. Thanks to studying music with Nefe, the first work of the future famous composer was published - variations on a theme of Dressler's march. Beethoven had just turned twelve years old. But at this time, Ludwig Beethoven was already working as an assistant to the court organist.
Like many great people, Beethoven, due to his difficult financial situation, was forced to leave school. This happened after the death of my grandfather. But, nevertheless, the biography of Beethoven remains as the biography of a highly educated person. He knew Latin and several foreign languages, including Italian and French. Beethoven devoted a lot of time to reading books. His favorite authors were Homer, Plutach, Goethe, Schiller, Shakespeare. At this time, the future composer began to compose music, but many of his works remained unpublished, and after many years they were revised by him. From early works Beethoven's sonata "The Marmot" is famous. Once Ludwig van Beethoven visited Vienna, then he was sixteen years old, Mozart, after listening to him, amazed those around him with the following phrase: “He will make everyone talk about himself!” Beethoven by family circumstances(his mother became seriously ill and subsequently died, and he was forced to take care of his brothers) was unable to take lessons from Mozart and returned to Bonn. At the age of 17, Beethoven joined the orchestra as a violist. He especially liked the operas of Mozart and Gluck.
In 1789, Beethoven decided to listen to lectures at the university. At this time, the revolution began in France, and Ludwig Beethoven wrote music based on poems by one of the university professors praising the revolution. At this time, Beethoven was noticed by the famous composer Haydn, and Ludwig van Beethoven decided to take lessons from him, and in 1792 Beethoven headed to Vienna. Lessons with Haydn quickly disappointed Beethoven. And Haydn lost interest in Beethoven. Beethoven’s music and spiritual mood were not understood by Haydn: too gloomy, too bold reasoning and views for those times. Then Beethoven's biography developed as follows: Haydn was forced to leave for England, and I. B. Schenk, I. G. Albrechtsberger, A. Salieri began to study with Beethoven. Ludwig van Beethoven became one of the most fashionable pianists in Vienna, a true virtuoso of his craft. His debut as a pianist took place in 1795. By 1802, Beethoven was known as the creator of 20 piano sonatas, including "Pathetique" (1798), "Moonlight" (No. 2 of two "fantasy sonatas" 1801), six 6 string quartets, eight violin sonatas and piano, many chamber ensemble works.
But at the end of the 1790s, Ludwig Beethoven began to develop a terrible illness for a musician - deafness. At this time, Beethoven was overcome by pessimism, and he even sent his brothers a document known in his biography as the “Heiligenstadt Testament.” But, being collected and strong man, Beethoven overcame the crisis in his soul and continued his work.

Biography of Ludwig van Beethoven - mature years.
Beethoven's creative biography from 1803 to 1812 is known as the new middle period of the composer's professional flourishing. This period is marked by heroic notes in Beethoven's music. For example, the author’s subtitle of the Third Symphony is “Eroic” (1803), the piano sonata “Appassionata” (1805), the cycle of 32 variations in C minor for piano in 1806, Symphony No. Five (1808) with its famous “motif of fate” ", the opera "Fidelio", the overture "Coriolanus" (1807), in 1810 - "Egmont". Also filled with heroism, dynamism, tempo are Symphony No. 4 (1806), symphonies No. 6 “Pastoral”, No. 7 and No. 8, Piano Concertos No. 4, Violin Concerto and many other musical works. In the mid-1800s, Beethoven achieved universal respect and recognition. Due to hearing problems, in 1808 Beethoven gave his last concert. By 1814, Beethoven became completely deaf.
In 1813-1814, Beethoven suffered from apathy, which, of course, affected his work; he composed very little. In 1815, Beethoven took upon himself the care of the son of his deceased brother. The nephew also had a complex character.
Since 1815, a new stage in the composer’s biography began, or, as it is also called, the late period of creativity. During this period, eleven works by the great composer were published, among them: sonatas for piano and cello, piano Variations on the Diabelli Waltz, the Ninth Symphony, the Solemn Mass, and string quartets.
Beethoven's work late period distinguished by contrasts, his music of those times called for extreme action, emotional experience and lyricism.
Ludwig van Beethoven died on March 26, 1827 in Vienna, Austria. Say goodbye to famous composer about twenty thousand people came

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© Biography of the composer Beethoven. Biography of the author of the Moonlight Sonata, Ludwig van Beethoven. Biography of the great Austrian Beethoven.

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“Personality development” - Model of personality structure according to K. K. Platonov: Guiding principle schooling: Continuous development of the entire set of personality qualities. A harmoniously developed personality. Personality development of secondary school students. Outline of the report: Personal temperament level. Principles and forms of work aimed at developing the child’s personality.

"Vincent van Gogh" - In March 1868, in the middle of school year, Vincent unexpectedly dropped out of school and returned to his father's house. On October 1, 1864, van Gogh went to boarding school in Zevenbergen, 20 km from his home. Van Gogh hardly played with other children. Vincent, although he was born second, became the eldest of the children... Vincent is good at languages ​​- French, English, German.

“Personal Biography” - Contents of the program for the study of biographical material. The pages of the biography are an introduction to the most striking periods of the author’s life that are morally significant for modern students. How good life is when you do something good and true. Grades 5-6 – the period of “naive realism” Most often people are interested in individual bright episodes of the writer’s biography.

“Biography of Beethoven” - From the age of 13, organist of the Bonn Court Chapel. In 1800, Beethoven's 1st symphony was performed. About the composer. Since 1780, he was a student of K. G. Nefe, who raised Beethoven in the spirit of the German Enlightenment. BEETHOVEN Ludwig Van (1770-1827) - German composer, pianist, conductor. Great and always famous.

“Personality structure” - V.N. Myasishchev. Thus, V.N. Myasishchev characterizes the unity of personality by the dynamics of neuropsychic reactivity. 3. Freud. personality structure 3. Freud. K.G. Jung (1875-1961). 3. “Block” strategy for studying personality structure. 2. “Factor” strategy for studying personality traits. Personality structure and approaches to the question of the combination of biological and social.

Beethoven's creations are an expression of his truly talented personality. He was not only one of the greatest composers, but also a kind of “bridge” from classicism to romanticism.

That is why the work of Ludwig Beethoven is classified as both romanticism and classicism, but due to his genius, the creator actually goes far beyond these definitions. His musical creations occurred in the era of classicism and romanticism, occupying a place somewhere in the middle. An outstanding composer, who gained recognition during his lifetime, managed to combine all the genres known to him. He felt confident in opera and choral compositions. At the request of theatrical figures of that period, Ludwig, without false modesty, also took on dramatic performances. All this speaks about his place in world music. Ludwig van Beethoven left an incalculable legacy. His violin, cello, and piano sonatas are recognized as particularly iconic.

From the biography of the great composer:

Beethoven's life facts include data related to his birth. It's no secret that the musician was born in 1770 and that he was baptized in the Catholic Church the very next day. But the exact date of birth of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven is not known for certain. According to surviving documents, he was baptized on December 17, 1770 in Bonn in Germany.

It is unlikely that the musician’s parents or even he himself could have predicted that over time Ludwig van Beethoven would turn into such a figure. However, the talent of the future musician manifested itself in early childhood. One could even say more - Ludwig inherited it in the family dynasty. The great composer was the third musician in the Beethoven family. The first was his grandfather, who became a famous Bonn musician, and the second was his older brother, born 6 years earlier.

The grandfather, after whom it was named, served in the court chapel. Beethoven's father, Johann, later performed there. Mother Mary Magdalene had nothing to do with music, being the daughter of a noble chef serving at court.

The future composer's father, Johann Beethoven, was a tenor in the court chapel. The man noticed the child’s inclination for music early on and from a young age he taught Beethoven to play the violin and harpsichord. And he was obsessed with the idea of ​​making his son, in whom he early noticed musical talent, “a second Mozart.” Johann Beethoven admired the work of Mozart. From the moment his son was born, he literally became obsessed with the idea of ​​making him a great composer. Such a seemingly crazy idea could have led to other consequences, but the result is obvious. The boy played instruments day and night, but to his father’s disappointment, Beethoven was not a miracle child. When little Ludwig was eight years old, he abandoned musical education the boy and entrusted him to his friends.

Despite his father's disappointment, Beethoven continued to study diligently and in 1787 visited Vienna for the first time, where Mozart heard him perform. The great musician was impressed that Ludwig was so ahead of his peers and noted his talent. According to legend, upon leaving the room, Mozart said: “Someday he will give the world a reason to talk about himself.”

From a young age, Beethoven Jr. picked up the violin and harpsichord. By the age of eight he gave his first public performances. The father asked his colleagues to work with the boy in more depth. Ludwig also studied organ. One of those who had a strong influence on Ludwig’s development as a musician was Christian Nefe. He took the works of Handel, Haydn, and Bach as a basis. Beethoven composed the famous Dressler March (or rather, his first variation) at the age of 12. At the same time he was listed as an assistant to the court organist.

Not everything in the life of the future great composer was successful. Having matured, Beethoven himself admitted this in one of his letters. Admirers of his talent know that the great creator had to go through a thorny creative path.

Deteriorated Family status forced Ludwig to leave school. The future composer left school at the age of 11 due to financial difficulties in the family. At the same time, being fascinated by languages ​​and literature, he read a lot of Shakespeare and Goethe, studied Latin and several languages ​​at the same time. And in the intervals he did the main things - he wrote music.

Beethoven hid his first works, which were not taken seriously, from others for a long time. Later, he repeatedly began to recycle them. Bringing works to perfection, many hours of titanic work - this undoubtedly inspires respect.

In his youth, Ludwig created several children's sonatas, which were later placed on a par with “adult” works. One of them remains the classic song “Groundhog,” included in music teaching programs. In the late 1780s, Beethoven met personally with Mozart and Haydn. Each of them spoke warmly about Ludwig’s talent, expressing the hope that he would certainly be able to conquer the world.

In his works, which he composed after moving to Vienna, the composer boldly introduced innovative elements that went beyond the classics of that time. Probably no one would be willing to take such a risk. But progress does not stand still. Cheerful and darker sounds are equally received by enthusiastic audiences.

Beethoven wanted to continue his general and musical education in Vienna, but this was not destined to come true. The composer learned of his mother's illness and returned to Bonn. On July 17, 1787 she died. Beethoven's father began to drink heavily. The composer became the head of the family and took full charge of caring for the brothers.

In Vienna, he developed a unique piano style, receiving the title of virtuoso pianist. This is reflected in sonatas No. 8, 13 and 14. The latter will later be renamed “Lunar”. It will remain one of the composer's most famous sonatas. All of Beethoven's works enjoyed recognition. The rich classes and elite of the country were aware of who Beethoven was and what niche he occupied in society. They invited him to events where he played for everyone present. But he did this solely at will and in a good mood.

Ludwig created the First and Second Symphonies, cult works, in Vienna. In general, this city became his favorite home for many years. Vienna gave him strength and inspiration. It was here that the musician created real art. By the end of the century, there was no one left who did not know who Beethoven was.

The composer's personal life was full of secrets, but it never worked out, although there were always many women around him. But Ludwig van Beethoven had very difficult relationships with women. Some admired his genius, others believed that he was “ugly, ill-mannered and unpleasant.” One of the ladies whom the pianist was courting was terrified of him. In a conversation with friends, she called him half crazy. Beethoven's humble origins twice prevented him from getting married.

In Vienna, his student was the beautiful Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, with whom the composer became seriously interested and even thought about marrying her. However, the Countess married Count Gallenberg, whom she considered the best composer.

Another of his students, the beautiful Teresa Brunswik, also became interested in Beethoven. She devoted herself to raising children and charity, but she had a long, heartfelt friendship with the composer. After Beethoven's death, a tender letter was found, the addressee of which is unknown, but many of the composer's biographers believe it was Teresa Brunswik. The letter is famous under the name “Letter to the Immortal Beloved.”

The last hope for happiness for Beethoven was Bettina Brentano, Goethe's friend, a German writer. But here, too, failure awaited him: in 1811 she married another, the writer Achim von Arnim. Happiness passed over the great composer.

Illnesses plagued Beethoven from childhood. He suffered from typhoid, smallpox, skin diseases, various infections and colitis. In adulthood, he suffered from deafness, rheumatism, anorexia, jaundice and cirrhosis of the liver. At the age of 26, the composer developed inflammation of the inner ear. It is unknown what led to the disease. Some believe that his habit of dipping his head in cold water, so as not to fall asleep and spend more time on notes.

By the age of 27, Beethoven was completely deaf and could only hear a continuous hum. Since then, the composer began to write compositions “from memory,” playing music in his imagination. The composer communicated with people using “conversational notebooks”: the interlocutors expressed their thoughts in writing. Two such manuscripts remained with the composer's friend, Anton Schindler, but they have not survived to this day. According to one version, Schindler burned the notebooks because they contained many statements against the emperor. “This, unfortunately, was Beethoven’s favorite theme. In conversation, he was constantly indignant at the powers that be, their laws and regulations,” recalled Beethoven’s friend and biographer.

At first, the musician carefully hid his hearing loss. Once, while conducting an orchestra, he did not turn to face the audience - he simply did not hear the applause. One can imagine how dramatic the moment was for Beethoven when he was delicately turned towards the audience.

Rapid hearing loss led to complete deafness. Ludwig could not imagine how one could do what he loved with such disabilities. For a while he settled in a quiet suburb. With new strength and a desire to continue his creativity, he began to create the Third Symphony. In it, according to Tchaikovsky, all facets of the author’s unsurpassed talent are revealed. Perhaps this is due to how difficult the composition was for the genius due to his health.

Despite his deafness, it was after 1797 that the composer created his most famous works, including the Ninth Symphony, which includes part of Friedrich Schiller's poem "Ode to Joy." Beethoven introduced a choir into the finale of the 9th symphony. This was considered a serious crime back then. An angry debate over this issue continued in music circles for decades to come. Fortunately, the public did not care at all about the opinion of the chicanery; The first performance of the 9th symphony was a huge success. The audience showered Beethoven with flowers and gave him a deafening ovation. But by this time Beethoven was already completely deaf; he sat facing the orchestra and did not see the reaction of the audience. One of the singers, showing touching cordiality, carefully took Beethoven by the shoulders and turned him to face the audience so that he could see their delight.

The composer died on March 26, 1827 at the age of 56. The cause of his death is still unknown. Various researchers believed that it could have been caused by typhus, lupus, syphilis or lead poisoning. Three days after the death of the great composer, he was buried in the Central Cemetery of Vienna. IN last way he was seen off by close friends and 20 thousand fans of his brilliant work.

Beethoven's sayings and quotes:

*"Music is a revelation higher than wisdom and philosophy."

* “Music should strike fire from the human soul.”

*"There are no barriers for a person with talent and love of work."

* “A true artist is devoid of vanity; he understands too well that art is inexhaustible.”

* “There is nothing higher and more beautiful than giving happiness to many people.”

* “Raise your children in virtue: it is the only one that can give happiness.”

*"Great art should not defile itself by turning to immoral subjects."

* “None of my friends should endure need while I have something,” he said, although he himself often suffered need and deprivation.

*"This is the mark of a truly remarkable person: perseverance in the face of adversity."

* “Nothing is more unbearable than having to admit your own mistakes.”

35 interesting facts from the life of Beethoven and his work:

1. Beethoven can be described as a person who knows how to compassion. He took personal custody of his nephew, but Karl Czerny got carried away gambling. Ludwig desperately wanted to “make a man out of him,” which reputation and connections could help with. Because of these unrest, the musician’s condition worsened, which subsequently led to death.

2. The musician did not like to give piano lessons. The only exceptions were gifted students and attractive young women.

3. Forced to leave school at the age of eleven due to poverty, the future great musician never learned multiplication and division.

4.His favorite drink was coffee. When starting to cook, the musician meticulously counted out 64 grains each time - no less and no more.

5. Napoleon greatly disappointed Beethoven. The composer's third (“Eroic”) symphony was originally dedicated to Napoleon I Bonaparte. Beethoven had been working on the work since 1803, but already in 1804 the composer became disillusioned with Napoleon because he declared himself emperor. The composer deleted his name from the symphony's score without changing a single note. Beethoven explained his disappointment this way: “This Napoleon is an ordinary man. Now he will trample all human rights underfoot and become a tyrant.”

6. Beethoven’s family had 7 children.

7. The composer criticized the government and laws all his life.

8.The public saw Beethoven on stage for the first time when he was 8 years old.

9.In 1789, Beethoven wrote “Song free man"and dedicated it to the French Revolution.

10. Anton Schindler believed that Beethoven’s music has its own tempo.

11. Beethoven’s contemporaries noted that his behavior left much to be desired.

12.But the pianist’s friends noted his friendliness, good nature and excellent sense of humor. Beethoven loved to sit with friends in a pub called “At the Swan”. One day he didn’t come for several days in a row. When one of his comrades asked if he was sick, the musician cheerfully replied: “I’m healthy, but my only boots got such a terrible fever that they almost gave up their soul to God.”

13.Beethoven knew Italian well and French languages, but best of all he learned Latin.

14.After losing his hearing, the composer wrote works from memory and played music relying on his imagination.

15.In 1845 in hometown Beethoven Bonn opened the first monument in honor of this composer.

16. It is believed that the Beatles’ song “Because” is based on the melody of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”, which is played in reverse order.

17. The composer had a complex character. At the same time, his friends considered him a man with a kind heart, always ready to help.

18. At certain periods of his life, the composer often closed in on himself. But it was precisely this time that was associated with the creation of cult works, including the opera Fidelio.

19.The composer’s works have been performed on world stages many times. The German pianist and Beethoven's student Dorothea Ertmann is recognized as one of the best performers.

20.Lack of education did not prevent Beethoven from becoming a true polymath in the field of classical literature. He was well versed in the works of Shakespeare, Goethe, Homer, Plutarch, and knew a lot by heart.

21. The composer’s character was very difficult, and sometimes grumpy. Once, during his public appearance, a certain young man began to enthusiastically talk with his lady. The musician immediately stopped playing and exclaimed in anger: “I will not perform in front of such pigs!” Despite persuasion and apologies, he refused to continue playing.

22.Shaggy hair and a stern look made the composer stand out from secular society the end of the 18th century. Beethoven often walked unkempt and dressed casually.

23. The composer behaved very incorrectly when he was visiting one of his patrons, Prince Likhnovsky. When the representative high society wanted Beethoven to play for the assembled guests, the composer categorically refused to perform and locked himself in the room. The owner of the estate was indignant and ordered the door to be broken down. In response to such impudence, Beethoven left. The next morning he wrote a letter to his patron in which he stated: “I owe who I am to myself. There are thousands of princes, but there is only one Beethoven.”

24.Beethoven wrote his most famous works after losing his hearing.

25. Beethoven’s contemporaries claimed that he valued friendship very much.

26. One of the craters on Mercury was named after Beethoven.

27.In his entire life, the great composer managed to write only one opera. It was called "Fidelio".

28. Ludwig Van Beethoven was the first musician to be given an allowance of 4,000 florins.

29.The story of the writer from the Czech Republic Antonin Zgorzhi with the title “Alone against Fate” is dedicated to life path Beethoven.

30. A wayward genius once almost destroyed one of his best works. Having written the romance, he decided to burn it. He was saved from the fate of “Dead Souls” by a certain official Bart, who had a wonderful tenor. Looking at the composer and seeing that he was about to throw the notes into the fire, he snatched them from his hands. Then Bart sat down at the instrument and performed the romance. Beethoven unexpectedly liked it, and he graciously agreed to leave his brainchild “alive.” This is how the magnificent romance “Adelaide” was saved.

31. Beethoven was not particularly interested in politics, but was always aware of events taking place in the country. He had a cool attitude towards authorities and politicians. When meeting, he could limit himself to a light greeting when, for example, a deep bow was required.

32.The composer often worked on several works at the same time.

33.Beethoven's portrait is depicted on old postage stamps.

34. Famous " Moonlight Sonata"is dedicated to Giulietta Guicciardi, a pianist from Austria. Biographers have repeatedly asserted their romantic relationship with Beethoven.

35.Beethoven's music is successfully used in cinema, as film soundtracks

Ludwig Van Beethoven is a famous deaf composer who created 650 musical works, which are recognized as world classics. The life of a talented musician is marked by a constant struggle with difficulties and adversity.

In the winter of 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in a poor quarter of Bonn. The baby's baptism took place on December 17. The boy's grandfather and father are distinguished by their singing talent, so they work in the court chapel. It’s difficult to call a child’s childhood happy, because a constantly drunk father and a miserable existence do not contribute to the development of talent.

Ludwig remembers with bitterness his own room, located in the attic, where there was an old harpsichord and an iron bed. Johann (father) often got drunk to the point of unconsciousness and beat his wife, taking out his evil. My son also received beatings from time to time. Mom Maria dearly loved the only surviving child, sang songs to the baby and brightened up the gray, joyless everyday life as best she could.

Ludwig showed signs of musical abilities, which Johann immediately noticed. Envious of the fame and talent, whose name is already thundering in Europe, he decided to raise a similar genius from his own child. Now the baby’s life is filled with exhausting lessons in playing the piano and violin.

The father, figuring out the boy’s talent, forced him to practice 5 instruments simultaneously - organ, harpsichord, viola, violin, flute. Young Louis spent hours poring over playing music. The slightest mistakes were punished by flogging and beatings. Johann invited teachers to his son, whose lessons were mostly mediocre and unsystematic.

The man sought to quickly train Ludwig to perform in concert in the hope of royalties. Johann even asked for an increase in salary at work, promising to place his gifted son in the archbishop's chapel. But the family did not live any better, as the money was spent on alcohol. At the age of six, Louis, urged by his father, gives a concert in Cologne. But the fee received turned out to be tiny.

Thanks to his mother's support, the young genius began to improvise and take notes on his own works. Nature generously endowed the child with talent, but development was difficult and painful. Ludwig was so immersed in the melodies created in his mind that he could not get out of this state on his own.

In 1782, Christian Gottloba was appointed director of the court chapel, who became Louis's teacher. The man saw glimpses of talent in the young man and began to educate him. Realizing that musical skills do not provide full development, he instills in Ludwig a love of literature, philosophy and ancient languages. , become the idols of the young genius. Beethoven eagerly studies the works and Handel, dreaming of working together with Mozart.

The young man first visited the musical capital of Europe, Vienna, in 1787, where he met Wolfgang Amadeus. The famous composer, having heard Ludwig’s improvisations, was delighted. To the astonished audience, Mozart said:

“Keep your eyes on this boy. One day the world will talk about him.”

Beethoven agreed with the maestro on several lessons, which had to be interrupted due to his mother’s illness.

Returning to Bonn and burying his mother, the young man plunged into despair. This painful moment in his biography had a negative impact on the musician’s work. The young man is forced to look after his two younger brothers and endure his father's drunken antics. The young man turned to the prince for financial help, who assigned the family an allowance of 200 thalers. The ridicule of the neighbors and the bullying of the children greatly hurt Ludwig, who said that he would get out of poverty and earn money through his own labor.

The talented young man found patrons in Bonn who provided him with free access to musical meetings and salons. The Breuning family took custody of Louis, who taught music to their daughter Lorchen. The girl married Dr. Wegeler. Until the end of his life, the teacher maintained friendly relations with this couple.

Music

In 1792, Beethoven went to Vienna, where he quickly found friends and patrons of the arts. To improve his skills in instrumental music, he turned to him, to whom he brought his own works for testing. The relationship between the musicians did not work out right away, as Haydn was annoyed by the obstinate student. Then the young man takes lessons from Schenk and Albrechtsberger. Vocal writing is being improved together with Antonio Salieri, who introduced young man in the circle of professional musicians and titled persons.

A year later, Ludwig van Beethoven created music for the “Ode to Joy,” written by Schiller in 1785 for the Masonic lodge. Throughout his life, the maestro modifies the anthem, striving for a triumphant sound of the composition. The public heard the symphony, which caused frantic delight, only in May 1824.

Beethoven soon became a fashionable pianist in Vienna. The debut took place in 1795 young musician in the cabin. Having played three piano trios and three sonatas own composition, charmed his contemporaries. Those present noted Louis's stormy temperament, richness of imagination and depth of feeling. Three years later, the man is overtaken by a terrible disease - tinnitus, which develops slowly but surely.

Beethoven hid his illness for 10 years. Those around him did not even realize that the pianist had begun to become deaf, and his slips and answers were inadvertently attributed to absent-mindedness and inattention. In 1802 he wrote the “Heiligenstadt Testament” addressed to his brothers. In the work, Louis describes his own mental suffering and worry about the future. The man orders this confession to be announced only after death.

In the letter to Dr. Wegeler there is a line: “I will not give up and take fate by the throat!” The love of life and expression of genius were expressed in the enchanting “Second Symphony” and three violin sonatas. Realizing that he will soon become completely deaf, he eagerly gets to work. This period is considered the heyday of the work of the brilliant pianist.

The “Pastoral Symphony” of 1808 consists of five movements and occupies a special place in the life of the master. The man loved to relax in remote villages, communicate with nature and think about new masterpieces. The fourth movement of the symphony is called “Thunderstorm. Storm”, where the master conveys the riot of the raging elements, using piano, trombones and piccolo flute.

In 1809, Ludwig received a proposal from the management of the city theater to write musical accompaniment for Goethe’s drama “Egmont”. As a sign of respect for the writer’s work, the pianist refused monetary reward. The man wrote music in parallel with theater rehearsals. Actress Antonia Adamberger joked with the composer, admitting to him his lack of singing talent. In response to the puzzled look, she skillfully performed the aria. Beethoven did not appreciate the humor and said sternly:

“I see that you can still perform overtures, so I’ll go and write these songs.”

From 1813 to 1815 he wrote fewer works, as he finally lost his hearing. A brilliant mind finds a way out. Louis uses a thin wooden stick to “hear” the music. One end of the plate is clamped with the teeth, and the other is leaned against the front panel of the instrument. And thanks to the transmitted vibration, he feels the sound of the instrument.

The compositions of this life period are filled with tragedy, depth and philosophical meaning. Works greatest musician become classics for contemporaries and descendants.

Personal life

The personal life story of the gifted pianist is extremely tragic. Ludwig was considered a commoner among the aristocratic elite, and therefore had no right to lay claim to noble maidens. In 1801 he fell in love with the young Countess Julie Guicciardi. The feelings of the young people were not mutual, since the girl was simultaneously dating Count von Gallenberg, whom she married two years after they met. The composer expressed the torment of love and the bitterness of losing his beloved in the “Moonlight Sonata,” which became a hymn to unrequited love.

From 1804 to 1810, Beethoven was passionately in love with Josephine Brunswick, the widow of Count Joseph Deim. The woman enthusiastically responds to the advances and letters of her ardent lover. But the romance ended at the insistence of Josephine's relatives, who are sure that a commoner would not be a worthy candidate for a wife. After a painful breakup, a man proposes to Teresa Malfatti out of principle. Receives a refusal and writes the masterpiece sonata “Für Elise”.

The emotional turmoil he experienced so upset the impressionable Beethoven that he decided to spend the rest of his life in splendid isolation. In 1815, after the death of his brother, he became embroiled in a legal battle over the custody of his nephew. The child's mother has a reputation as a woman who goes out for a walk, so the court satisfied the musician's demands. It soon became clear that Karl (nephew) had inherited bad habits mother.

The uncle raises the boy strictly, tries to instill a love of music and eradicate alcohol and gambling addiction. Having no children of his own, the man is not experienced in teaching and does not stand on ceremony with the spoiled young man. Another scandal leads the guy to attempt suicide, which was unsuccessful. Ludwig sends Karl to the army.

Death

In 1826, Louis caught a cold and contracted pneumonia. The pulmonary disease was accompanied by stomach pain. The doctor incorrectly calculated the dosage of the medicine, so the malaise progressed daily. The man was bedridden for 6 months. At this time, Beethoven was visited by friends trying to ease the suffering of the dying man.

Talented composer died at the age of 57 - March 26, 1827. On this day, a thunderstorm raged outside the windows, and the moment of death was marked by a terrible thunderclap. During the autopsy, it turned out that the master’s liver had decomposed and the auditory and adjacent nerves were damaged. Beethoven is seen off on his last journey by 20,000 townspeople and leads the funeral procession. The musician was buried in the Waring cemetery of the Holy Trinity Church.

• At the age of 12 he published a collection of variations for keyboard instruments.
• He was considered the first musician to whom the city council assigned a financial allowance.
• Wrote 3 love letters to the “Immortal Beloved”, found only after death.
• Beethoven wrote a single opera called Fidelio. There are no other similar works in the master’s biography.
• The greatest misconception of contemporaries is that Ludwig wrote the following works: “Music of Angels” and “Melody of Tears of Rain.” These compositions were created by other pianists.
• He valued friendship and helped those in need.
• Could work on 5 works at the same time.
• In 1809, when he bombed the city, he was worried that he would lose his hearing from the shell explosions. Therefore, he hid in the basement of the house and covered his ears with pillows.
• In 1845, the first monument dedicated to the composer was opened in Beaune.
• The Beatles' song "Because" is based on the "Moonlight Sonata" played in reverse.
• “Ode to Joy” has been designated as the anthem of the European Union.
• Died from lead poisoning due to medical error.
• Modern psychiatrists believe that he suffered from bipolar disorder.
• Photographs of Beethoven are printed on German postage stamps.

Discography

Symphonies

• First C major op. 21 (1800)
• Second D major op. 36 (1802)
• Third Es-dur “Heroic” op. 56 (1804)
• Fourth B major op. 60 (1806)
• Fifth C minor op. 67 (1805-1808)
• Sixth F-dur “Pastoral” op. 68 (1808)
• Seventh A major op. 92 (1812)
• Eighth F major op. 93 (1812)
• Ninth d minor op. 125 (with choir, 1822-1824)

Overtures

• "Prometheus" from op. 43 (1800)
• "Coriolanus" op. 62 (1806)
• "Leonora" No. 1 op. 138 (1805)
• "Leonora" No. 2 op. 72 (1805)
• "Leonora" No. 3 op. 72a (1806)
• "Fidelio" op. 726 (1814)
• "Egmont" from op. 84 (1810)
• "Ruins of Athens" from op. 113 (1811)
• "King Stephen" from op. 117 (1811)
• "Birthday" op. 115 (18(4)
• "Consecration of the House" cf. 124 (1822)

More than 40 dances and marches for symphony and brass orchestra

Date added: March 2006

Beethoven's childhood was shorter than that of his peers. Not only because everyday worries burdened him early. In his very character, an amazing thoughtfulness manifested itself early beyond his years. Ludwig loved to contemplate nature for a long time. At the age of ten, he was known in his hometown of Bonn as a skilled organist and harpsichordist. His amazing gift of improvisation is famous among music lovers. Along with adult musicians, Ludwig plays the violin in the Bonn Court Orchestra. He is distinguished by a strong will beyond his age, the ability to set a goal and achieve it. When his eccentric father forbade him to attend school, Ludwig firmly decided to complete his education through his own efforts. Therefore, young Beethoven was drawn to Vienna, the city of great musical traditions, the kingdom of music.

Mozart lives in Vienna. It was from him that Ludwig inherited the drama of sudden transitions from sorrow to happy, serene gaiety in music. Listening to Ludwig's improvisations, Mozart sensed the future of music in this brilliant young man. In Vienna, Beethoven was fully engaged in his musical education; Maestro Haydn gave him lessons in musical composition. He achieves perfection in his skill. Beethoven dedicated the first three piano sonatas to Haydn, despite the difference in their views. Beethoven called his Eighth Piano Sonata “Great Pathetic,” which reflects the struggle of various feelings. In the first part, the music boils like an angry stream. The second part is melodious, it is a calm reflection. Beethoven wrote thirty-two piano sonatas. In them you can hear melodies that grew out of German and Slavic folk songs and dances.

In April 1800, in his first open concert at the Vienna Theater, Ludwig van Beethoven performed the First Symphony. True musicians praise him for his skill, novelty and wealth of ideas. He dedicates the fantasy sonata, called “Moon,” to Juliet Guicciardi, his student. However, it was precisely at the height of his fame that Beethoven rapidly lost his hearing. Beethoven is going through a deep mental crisis; it seems to him that it is impossible for a deaf musician to live. However, having overcome deep despair with the strength of his spirit, the composer writes the Third Symphony “Eroic”. At the same time, the world famous “Kreutzer Sonata”, the opera “Fidelio”, “Appassionata” were written. Due to his deafness, Beethoven no longer performs in concerts as a pianist and conductor. But deafness does not stop him from creating music. His inner hearing is intact, and in his imagination he clearly imagines music. The last, Ninth Symphony is Beethoven's musical testament. This is a song of freedom, a fiery call to posterity

The composer was not particularly gentle. He was harsh, hot-tempered and aggressive. They say that once during his concert one of the gentlemen spoke to his lady, so Beethoven suddenly stopped the performance and sharply declared that “he will not play for such pigs!” No matter how they persuaded him, no matter how they begged him and asked him for forgiveness, nothing helped.

He dressed extremely casually and sloppily. Perhaps he simply did not pay attention to his appearance, and appearance his home testified to the same thing, but in general, we can say that he imitated the same Napoleon, whom, like many of his contemporaries, he admired. He also had a rather hard time with accuracy.

One day an incident occurred with one of his patrons. Prince Likhnovsky wanted the young pianist to play for him and his guests. He refused. At first the prince persuaded him, then little by little he began to lose patience and finally gave him an order, which he ignored. In the end, the prince ordered the doors of Beethoven's room to be broken down.

And this despite the endless respect and respect that the prince showed to the composer. In a word - he delivered. After the door was successfully broken down, the composer left the estate in indignation and in the morning sent the prince a letter with the following words: “Prince! I owe what I am to myself. There are and will be thousands of princes, but Beethoven is only one!”

And at the same time he was considered quite kind person. Maybe the relativity of character was measured differently then? Although, maybe he really was much better than he was sometimes thought to be. Here, for example, are some of his words:

“None of my friends should be in need as long as I have a piece of bread, if my wallet is empty, I am not able to help immediately, well, I just have to sit down at the table and get to work, and pretty soon I will I’ll help him get out of trouble...”

It is worth noting that Beethoven’s literary preferences were - how to say - as if from the pen of a stylist. At that time, he was interested in ancient Greek writers such as Homer and Plutarch, or more modern Shakespeare, Goethe and Schiller, who were quite recognized and respected authors.

Despite finishing school early, he was already able to develop a love of reading. Then he admitted that he tried to understand the essence of everyone famous philosophers and scientists whose works I could get my hands on.

The beginning of a creative life

Already at that time, Ludwig focused his attention on composing compositions. But he was in no hurry to publish his works. He worked on them a lot, refined them and constantly improved them. His first musical publication was made when he was about twelve years old. Of his works from those times, the Knight's Ballet and the Great Cantata are now better known. Shortly before this, he traveled to Vienna, where he met. The meeting was fleeting...

Upon arrival home, he suffered a terrible grief: his mother died. Beethoven was only seventeen years old at the time, and he had to take charge of the family and take care of his younger brothers. Since then family environment became even worse, and after some time, under the patronage of Count Waldeinstein, he moved to Vienna for several years. There he was able to complete his musical education under the direction of Haydn.

But while living in Bonn, he managed to get carried away revolutionary movement, which at that time arose in France, joined the ranks of the Freemasons and even dedicated some of his works to both the revolution and Freemasonry.

Subsequently, Beethoven borrowed much of Haydn's style of writing and performing music, and the three of them, together with Mozart, became the big Viennese trio, who founded the school of classical Viennese music.

He also took a theoretical course in Vienna, and studied vocal compositions with the famous Salieri. Soon Beethoven received good recommendations and he was accepted into elite. So, for example, Prince Likhnovsky provided him with housing in his own house, Count Razumovsky offered him his quartet, which began to play his music, and Prince Lobkowitz gave him his chapel at his disposal. So there was something to work with, and Beethoven, naturally, did not fail to take advantage of it.

If we talk about dates, Beethoven’s entrance into high society took place in 1795.

Vein

The young man soon got used to Vienna and sincerely fell in love with this city. As a result, he traveled to Prague and Berlin only once, in 1796, and spent the rest of the time living in Vienna. If he wanted to relax somewhere in nature in the summer, he went to the suburbs of Vienna, where he lived for some time in extremely modest surroundings. There he rested from his everyday work and gained strength in communication with nature.

He soon took first place among the pianists of Vienna, and it must be said that this was more than deserved. He had an exceptional gift for improvisation.

And when he published his first three piano trios, he also acquired a reputation as an excellent composer. Since then, he has discovered within himself a seemingly inexhaustible source of fantasy and creative inspiration, with each of his new compositions showing more and more of his talent, developing it and continuing to experiment.

Genres in which Beethoven worked

At first, he mastered the chamber genre in its most varied manifestations, perfected the very concept of a piano sonata, accompanied by other musical instruments. He also created sixteen quartets, significantly expanding their boundaries, developed new compositional techniques, and then began to transfer open methods and techniques to a symphonic basis. That is, he began to write music for orchestras.

He liked the musical techniques that Mozart and Haydn left behind, and therefore he boldly took on the task of improving and developing them. He completely succeeded, which was difficult to doubt. He was very knowledgeable about musical forms and at the same time retained its unique individuality.

Already after his third overture, Beethoven had completely decided on the style. Then it manifested itself in one way or another in all his works.

Beethoven composed with ecstasy instrumental music, but did not ignore vocal works. He wrote both simple songs and small vocal works. Among them, “Christ on the Mount of Olives” deserves special mention. His opera Fidelio at the time of its release special success I didn’t use it, and only a little later, in 1814, when he reworked it, it was accepted and appreciated. And how they rated it! She was accepted on all German stages! Before this, only Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” enjoyed such success.

But alas, nothing more significant in the field of the genre musical opera Beethoven failed to create it, although he made significant efforts to do so. Otherwise, he became an increasingly influential figure in the Western musical world.

He continued to create, and worked in all genres that existed at that time, while bringing them to art form to the absolute. He elevated them to the status of classics, where they remain to this day. Today they would say that he wrote like pop music, both classics and film music. Of course, there were no films then, and therefore he actively worked on musical accompaniment for dramatic performances. But he was best at sonatas; at least, they constitute the most significant share of his creative heritage.

In 1809, Beethoven was offered the position of royal conductor. As a result, his patrons agreed to increase his salary and at least in this way persuade the composer not to leave his current position. They succeeded quite well, although somewhat later, due to the bankruptcy of the state in 1811, this content decreased somewhat. But at that time it was as much as 4,000 for. Beethoven at that time was at the peak of his creativity, and therefore the expected content and what he earned additionally was enough for him to be completely independent in material terms.

After the grandiose performance of the seventh and eighth symphonies, after the presentation of his symphony “The Battle of Vittoria” and some other works, Beethoven’s fame in Vienna soared to the skies! He was extremely popular. But at the same time, he could no longer fully enjoy his position in society - he began to notice that his hearing began to deteriorate and weaken.

Disease

Tinitis. Inflammation of the middle ear.

To be precise, by that time he was almost completely deaf. The disease had been developing since 1802 and was inevitable, like a medieval plague. For a composer and musician, losing your hearing is even worse than losing your sight.

No treatment helped him at all and his mood got worse and worse. Among other things, he finally became a recluse, avoiding appearing in public again. And new worries brought him nothing but grief. In 1815, he took over guardianship of his nephew, and his own financial situation began to deteriorate. It was as if he fell into a creative coma, and for some time stopped composing music altogether.

After his death, some of the composer's friends said that they still had conversation notebooks. They sometimes wrote down their remarks and passed them on to the musician, who responded to them in the same way in writing.

True, some notebooks with his statements were burned, since the composer did not stand on ceremony with those in power, often making sharp and rather rude attacks against the emperor, the crown prince and many other high-ranking officials. Unfortunately, this was Beethoven's favorite theme. He was deeply outraged by Napoleon's departure from the ideals of the revolution. When he declared that he was going to become emperor, Beethoven declared that from that moment on he would begin to turn into a tyrant.

“You will end up on the scaffold!” This is how one of the correspondence ended; the statement, naturally, was addressed to the composer. But his popularity was so high that those in power did not dare to touch him.

Eventually he lost his hearing completely. And yet he managed to keep abreast of the latest musical events. He did not hear new compositions, but he enthusiastically read the scores of Rossini’s operas and looked through collections of compositions by Schubert and other composers.

They say that after the premiere of the Ninth Symphony, Beethoven stood with his back to the audience. He didn't hear the applause. Then one of the singers turned him around to face the audience. And they stood, waving at him with scarves, hats and hands. The ovation lasted so long that the police present in the hall considered it necessary to stop it. In their opinion, only the emperor could be greeted this way.

At the end of the first decade of the nineteenth century, he enthusiastically began composing the mass, the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich was suggested to him by the appointment of Archduke Rudolf as bishop. This work occupied his thoughts until 1822. In its scale, the mass significantly exceeded the usual framework characteristic of such compositions. Beethoven was clearly emerging from a creative crisis.

With no less enthusiasm, the composer began creating a symphony based on Schiller’s “Ode to Joy.” He had long wanted to start writing it, and then the inspiration that turned up was just in time. He completed the symphony by 1824, and the resulting work again outgrew the usual framework and was unusually difficult to perform. This was especially true for vocal parts.

Then his passion for complicating his works continued, and he wrote four large quartets. They turned out to be so complex that experts still study them scrupulously, and they are practically impossible for mere mortals to understand. The almost complete lack of hearing must have taken its toll.

He suffered for a long time and died in 1827. He lived, developed, suffered and enjoyed life in his ever-favorite city, Vienna. Where they erected a monument to him posthumously. His homeland was not left out either: a monument to him was also erected in Bonn, and, it should be admitted, much earlier than in Vienna.

(2 ratings, average: 5,00 out of 5)

Ludwig van Beethoven remains a phenomenon in the world of music today. This man created his first works as a young man. Beethoven, interesting facts from whose life to this day make one admire his personality, believed throughout his life that his destiny was to be a musician, which he, in fact, was.

Ludwig van Beethoven family

Ludwig's grandfather and father had unique musical talent in the family. Despite his rootless origin, the first managed to become a bandmaster at the court in Bonn. Ludwig van Beethoven Sr. had a unique voice and hearing. After the birth of his son Johann, his wife Maria Theresa, who had an addiction to alcohol, was sent to a monastery. Upon reaching the age of six, the boy began to learn to sing. The child had a great voice. Later, men from the Beethoven family even performed together on the same stage. Unfortunately, Ludwig’s father was not distinguished by the great talent and hard work of his grandfather, which is why he did not reach such heights. What couldn’t be taken away from Johann was his love of alcohol.

Beethoven's mother was the daughter of the Elector's cook. The famous grandfather was against this marriage, but, nevertheless, did not interfere. Maria Magdalena Keverich was already a widow at the age of 18. Of the seven children in the new family, only three survived. Maria loved her son Ludwig very much, and he, in turn, was very attached to his mother.

Childhood and adolescence

The date of birth of Ludwig van Beethoven is not listed in any documents. Historians suggest that Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770, since he was baptized on December 17, and according to Catholic custom, children were baptized the day after birth.

When the boy was three years old, his grandfather, the elder Ludwig Beethoven, died, and his mother was expecting a child. After the birth of another offspring, she could not pay attention to her eldest son. The child grew up as a hooligan, for which he was often locked in the room with the harpsichord. But, surprisingly, he did not break the strings: little Ludwig van Beethoven (later a composer) sat down and improvised, playing with both hands at the same time, which is unusual for small children. One day the child’s father found him doing this. Ambition played a role in him. What if his little Ludwig is a genius like Mozart? It was from this time that Johann began to study with his son, but often hired him teachers who were more qualified than himself.

While his grandfather, who was actually the head of the family, was alive, little Ludwig Beethoven lived comfortably. The years after the death of Beethoven Sr. became a difficult ordeal for the child. The family was constantly in need due to his father’s drunkenness, and thirteen-year-old Ludwig became the main breadwinner of their livelihood.

Attitude to study

As contemporaries and friends of the musical genius noted, such an inquisitive mind as Beethoven possessed was rare in those days. Interesting facts from the composer’s life are also connected with his arithmetic illiteracy. Perhaps the talented pianist failed to master mathematics due to the fact that, without graduating from school, he was forced to work, or perhaps the whole point is in a purely humanitarian mindset. Ludwig van Beethoven cannot be called ignorant. He read volumes of literature, adored Shakespeare, Homer, Plutarch, was fond of the works of Goethe and Schiller, knew French and Italian, and mastered Latin. And it was precisely the inquisitiveness of his mind that he owed his knowledge, and not the education received at school.

Beethoven's teachers

From early childhood, Beethoven's music, unlike the works of his contemporaries, was born in his head. He played variations on all kinds of compositions known to him, but due to his father’s conviction that it was too early for him to compose melodies, the boy did not record his compositions for a long time.

The teachers his father brought to him were sometimes just his drinking buddies, and sometimes they became mentors to the virtuoso.

The first person Beethoven himself remembers with warmth was his grandfather’s friend, the court organist Eden. Actor Pfeiffer taught the boy to play the flute and harpsichord. For some time, Monk Koch taught the organ to play, and then Hanzman. Then the violinist Romantini appeared.

When the boy was 7 years old, his father decided that the work of Beethoven Jr. should become public knowledge, and organized his concert in Cologne. According to reviews from experts, Johann realized that Ludwig did not make an outstanding pianist, and, nevertheless, his father continued to bring teachers to his son.

Mentors

Soon Christian Gottlob Nefe arrived in the city of Bonn. Whether he himself came to Beethoven’s house and expressed a desire to become a teacher of the young talent, or whether Father Johann had a hand in this is unknown. Nefe became the mentor whom Beethoven the composer remembered all his life. After his confession, Ludwig even sent Nefa and Pfeiffer some money as a token of gratitude for the years of training and help provided to him in his youth. It was Nefe who helped promote the thirteen-year-old musician at court. It was he who introduced Beethoven to other luminaries of the musical world.

Beethoven's work was influenced not only by Bach - the young genius idolized Mozart. Once upon his arrival in Vienna, he was even lucky enough to play for the great Amadeus. At first, the great Austrian composer received Ludwig’s playing coldly, mistaking it for a piece he had learned previously. Then the stubborn pianist suggested that Mozart himself set the theme for the variations. From that moment on, Wolfgang Amadeus listened without interruption to the young man’s play, and subsequently exclaimed that the whole world would soon be talking about the young talent. The classic's words became prophetic.

Beethoven managed to take several playing lessons from Mozart. Soon the news came about the imminent death of his mother, and the young man left Vienna.

Afterwards, his teacher was someone like Joseph Haydn, but they did not find one. And one of the mentors, Johann Georg Albrechtsberger, considered Beethoven to be completely mediocrity and a person incapable of learning anything.

Character of a musician

The history of Beethoven and the ups and downs of his life left a noticeable imprint on his work, made his face gloomy, but did not break the persistent and strong-willed young man. In July 1787, the most close person for Ludwig - his mother. The young man suffered the loss hard. After the death of Mary Magdalene, he himself fell ill - he was struck down by typhus, and then smallpox. The young man's face was left with ulcers, and his eyes were affected by myopia. The still immature youth takes care of his two younger brothers. His father had completely drunk himself by that time and died 5 years later.

All these troubles in life affected the character young man. He became withdrawn and unsociable. He was often sullen and harsh. But his friends and contemporaries claim that, despite such an unbridled temper, Beethoven remained a true friend. He helped all his friends who were in need with money, provided for his brothers and their children. It is not surprising that Beethoven's music seemed gloomy and gloomy to his contemporaries, because it was a complete reflection inner world the maestro himself.

Personal life

Very little is known about the spiritual experiences of the great musician. Beethoven was attached to children and loved beautiful women, but never started a family. It is known that his first bliss was the daughter of Elena von Breuning, Lorchen. Beethoven's music of the late 80s was dedicated to her.

She became the first serious love of a great genius. This is not surprising, because the fragile Italian was beautiful, flexible and had an inclination for music, and the already mature thirty-year-old teacher Beethoven focused his attention on her. Interesting facts from the life of a genius are connected specifically with this person. Sonata No. 14, later called “Moonlight,” was dedicated to this particular angel in the flesh. Beethoven wrote letters to his friend Franz Wegeler, in which he confessed his ardent feelings for Juliet. But after a year of studies and tender friendship, Juliet married Count Gallenberg, whom she considered more talented. There is evidence that a few years later their marriage was unsuccessful, and Juliet turned to Beethoven for help. The former lover gave money, but asked not to come again.

Teresa Brunswik, another student of the great composer, became his new hobby. She devoted herself to raising children and charity. Until the end of his life, Beethoven was connected with her by correspondence.

Bettina Brentano, a writer and friend of Goethe, became the composer's latest passion. But in 1811, she too connected her life with another writer.

Beethoven's longest lasting affection was his love of music.

Music of the great composer

Beethoven's work has immortalized his name in history. All his works are masterpieces of the world classical music. During the composer's lifetime, his performance style and musical compositions were innovative. Before him, no one had played or composed melodies in the lower and upper registers at the same time.

Art historians distinguish several periods in the composer’s work:

• Early, when variations and plays were written. Then Beethoven composed several songs for children.
• The first - the Viennese period - dates from 1792-1802. The already famous pianist and composer completely abandons the style of performance characteristic of him in Bonn. Beethoven's music becomes absolutely innovative, lively, sensual. The manner of performance makes the audience listen and absorb the sounds of beautiful melodies in one breath. The author numbers his new masterpieces. At this time he wrote chamber ensembles and pieces for piano.

• 1803 - 1809 characterized by dark works reflecting the raging passions of Ludwig van Beethoven. During this period he wrote his only opera, Fidelio. All compositions of this period are filled with drama and anguish.
• Music last period more measured and difficult to perceive, and some concerts were not perceived by the audience at all. Ludwig van Beethoven did not accept this reaction. The sonata dedicated to Ex-Duke Rudolf was written at this time.

Until the end of his days, the great, but already very ill, composer continued to compose music, which would later become a masterpiece of the world musical heritage of the 18th century.

Disease

Beethoven was an extraordinary and very hot-tempered person. Interesting facts from life relate to the period of his illness. In 1800, the musician began to feel. After some time, doctors recognized that the disease was incurable. The composer was on the verge of suicide. He left society and high society and lived in solitude for some time. After some time, Ludwig continued to write from memory, reproducing the sounds in his head. This period in the composer’s work is called “heroic”. By the end of his life, Beethoven became completely deaf.

The last journey of the great composer

Beethoven's death was a huge grief for all fans of the composer. He died on March 26, 1827. The reason was not clear. For a long time, Beethoven suffered from liver disease and was tormented by abdominal pain. According to another version, the genius was sent to the next world by mental anguish associated with the sloppiness of his nephew.

Recent data obtained by British scientists suggests that the composer could have been unintentionally poisoned by lead. The content of this metal in the body of the musical genius was 100 times higher than the norm.

Beethoven: interesting facts from life

Let's briefly summarize what was said in the article. Beethoven's life, like his death, was surrounded by many rumors and inaccuracies.

The date of birth of a healthy boy in the Beethoven family still raises doubts and disputes. Some historians argue that the parents of the future musical genius were sick, and therefore a priori could not have healthy children.

The composer's talent awoke in the child from his first lessons in playing the harpsichord: he played the melodies that were in his head. The father, under pain of punishment, forbade the child to play unreal melodies; he was only allowed to read from sight.

Beethoven's music had an imprint of sadness, gloom and some despondency. One of his teachers, the great Joseph Haydn, wrote to Ludwig about this. And he, in turn, retorted that Haydn had taught him nothing.

Before composing musical works, Beethoven dipped his head in a basin of ice water. Some experts claim that this type of procedure could have caused his deafness.

The musician loved coffee and always brewed it from 64 beans.

Like any great genius, Beethoven was indifferent to his appearance. He often walked disheveled and unkempt.

On the day of the musician’s death, nature was rampant: bad weather broke out with a blizzard, hail and thunder. In the last moment of his life, Beethoven raised his fist and threatened the sky or higher powers.

One of the great sayings of genius: “Music should strike fire from the human soul.”

“You are vast, like the sea, No one knows such a fate...”

S. Neris. "Beethoven"

“The highest quality of man is perseverance in overcoming the most severe obstacles.” (Ludwigvan Beethoven)

Beethoven is a perfect example of compensation: the expression of healthy creativity as a counterpoint to one's own sickness.

Often, in the deepest negligee, he stood at the washbasin, poured one jug after another into his hands, while he either muttered or howled something (he could not sing), not noticing that he was already standing like a duck in water, then walked around several times. room with terribly rolling eyes or a completely frozen gaze and an apparently meaningless face - he would go up to the desk from time to time to take notes, and then continue to wash himself with a howl. No matter how funny these scenes were always, no one should have noticed them, much less interfered with him and this wet inspiration, because these were moments, or rather hours, of the deepest reflection.

Representative of the Viennese classical school.

It should be noted that the tendency to solitude, to loneliness was an innate quality of Beethoven’s character. Beethoven's biographers paint him as a silent, thoughtful child who prefers solitude to the company of his peers; according to them, he would be able to sit motionless for hours at a time, looking at one point, completely immersed in his thoughts. To a large extent, the influence of the same factors that can explain the phenomena of pseudo-autism can also be attributed to those character oddities that were observed in Beethoven from a young age and are noted in the memoirs of all people who knew Beethoven. Beethoven's behavior was often of such an extraordinary nature that it made communication with him extremely difficult, almost impossible, and gave rise to quarrels, sometimes ending in a long cessation of relations even with the persons most devoted to Beethoven himself, persons whom he himself especially valued, considering them his close friends.

His suspiciousness was constantly supported by the fear of hereditary tuberculosis. Added to this is melancholy, which is almost as great a disaster for me as the illness itself... This is how conductor Seyfried describes Beethoven’s room: “... There is truly amazing disorder in his house. Books and notes are scattered in the corners, as well as the remains of cold food, sealed and half-drained bottles; on the counter there is a quick sketch of a new quartet, and here are the remains of breakfast...” Beethoven had a poor understanding of money matters, and was often suspicious and inclined towards innocent people. accuse of deception. Irritability sometimes pushed Beethoven to act unfairly.

Between 1796 and 1800 deafness began its terrible, destructive work. Even at night there was a continuous noise in his ears... His hearing gradually weakened.

Since 1816, when deafness became complete, Beethoven's style of music changed. This is first revealed in the sonata, op. 101.

Beethoven's deafness gives us the key to understanding the composer's character: the deep spiritual depression of a deaf man, tossing around thoughts of suicide. Melancholy, painful mistrust, irritability - that's all famous paintings diseases for the ear doctor."

Beethoven at this time was already physically depressed by a depressive mood, since his student Schindler later pointed out that Beethoven, with his “Largo emesto”, was so cheerful Sonata D-d(op. 10) wanted to reflect the gloomy premonition of an approaching inevitable fate... The internal struggle with his fate undoubtedly determined Beethoven’s characteristic qualities, this, first of all, his growing mistrust, his painful sensitivity and grumpiness. But it would be wrong to try to explain all these negative qualities in Beethoven’s behavior solely by increasing deafness, since many of the features of his character appeared already in his youth. The most significant reason for his increased irritability, his quarrelsomeness and imperiousness, bordering on arrogance, was his unusually intense style of work, when he tried to curb his ideas and ideas with external concentration and squeezed creative plans with the greatest efforts. This painful, exhausting style of work constantly kept the brain and nervous system on the edge of what was possible, in a state of tension. This desire for the best, and sometimes for the unattainable, was expressed in the fact that he often, unnecessarily, delayed commissioned works, not caring at all about the established deadlines.

Alcoholic heredity manifests itself on the paternal side - my grandfather's wife was a drunkard, and her addiction to alcohol was so pronounced that, in the end, Beethoven's grandfather was forced to break up with her and place her in a monastery. Of all the children of this couple, only the son Johann, Beethoven's father, survived... a mentally limited and weak-willed man who inherited a vice from his mother, or rather, the disease of drunkenness... Beethoven's childhood passed in extremely unfavorable conditions. The father, an incorrigible alcoholic, treated his son extremely harshly: with brutal force, beating, forcing him to study the art of music. Returning home at night drunk with his drinking buddies, he lifted the already sleeping little Beethoven out of bed and forced him to practice music. All this, in connection with the material need that Beethoven’s family experienced as a result of the alcoholism of its head, undoubtedly should have had a strong impact on Beethoven’s impressionable nature, laying the foundations already in his very early childhood for those oddities of character that so sharply manifested Beethoven during his subsequent life.

In a sudden outburst of anger, he could throw a chair after his housekeeper, and once in a tavern the waiter brought him the wrong dish, and when he answered him in a rude tone, Beethoven bluntly poured the plate on his head...

During his life, Beethoven suffered many physical illnesses. We will give only a list of them: smallpox, rheumatism, heart disease, angina pectoris, gout with prolonged headaches, myopia, cirrhosis of the liver as a result of either alcoholism or syphilis, since at the autopsy a “syphilitic node in the liver affected by cirrhosis” was discovered.

Melancholy, more cruel than all his ailments... Added to the severe suffering were griefs of a completely different order. Wegeler says that he does not remember Beethoven except in a state of passionate love. He endlessly fell madly in love, endlessly indulged in dreams of happiness, then very soon disappointment set in, and he experienced bitter torment. And it is in these alternations - love, pride, indignation - that one must look for the most fruitful sources of Beethoven's inspiration until the time when the natural storm of his feelings subsides in sad resignation to fate. It is believed that he did not know women at all, although he fell in love many times and remained a virgin for the rest of his life.

At times he was overcome again and again by dull despair, until the depression culminated in thoughts of suicide, expressed in the Heiligenstadt will in the summer of 1802. This stunning document, like a kind of farewell letter to both brothers, makes it possible to understand the full weight of his mental anguish...

It was in the works of this period (1802-1803), when his illness progressed especially strongly, that a transition to a new Beethoven style was outlined. In 2-1 symphonies, in piano sonatas op. 31, in piano variations op. 35, in the “Kreutzer Sonata”, in songs based on Gellert’s texts, Beethoven reveals the unprecedented strength of the playwright and emotional depth. In general, the period from 1803 to 1812 is distinguished by amazing creative productivity... Many of the beautiful works that Beethoven left as a legacy to humanity were dedicated to women and were the fruit of his passionate, but, most often, unrequited love.

There are many traits in Beethoven’s character and behavior that bring him closer to the group of patients designated as “impulsive type of emotionally unstable personality disorder.” Almost all the main criteria for this mental illness can be found in the composer. The first is a clear tendency to take unexpected actions without taking into account their consequences. The second is the tendency to quarrels and conflicts, which increases when impulsive actions are prevented or reprimanded. The third is a tendency to outbursts of rage and violence with an inability to control explosive impulses. The fourth is a labile and unpredictable mood.

Beethoven was presumably born on December 16 (only the date of his baptism is known precisely - December 17) 1770 in the city of Bonn in musical family. From childhood he was taught to play the organ, harpsichord, violin, and flute.

For the first time, composer Christian Gottlob Nefe began to work seriously with Ludwig. Already at the age of 12, Beethoven’s biography included his first musical job – assistant organist at court. Beethoven studied several languages ​​and tried to compose music.

The beginning of a creative journey

After his mother's death in 1787, he took over the family's financial responsibilities. Ludwig Beethoven began playing in an orchestra and listening to university lectures. Having accidentally encountered Haydn in Bonn, Beethoven decides to take lessons from him. For this he moves to Vienna. Already at this stage, after listening to one of Beethoven’s improvisations, the great Mozart said: “He will make everyone talk about himself!” After some attempts, Haydn sent Beethoven to study with Albrechtsberger. Then Antonio Salieri became Beethoven's teacher and mentor.

The rise of a musical career

Haydn briefly noted that Beethoven's music was dark and strange. However, in those years, Ludwig's virtuoso piano playing brought him his first fame. Beethoven's works differ from classic game harpsichordists. There, in Vienna, the future famous works were written: Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Pathétique Sonata.

Rude and proud in public, the composer was very open and friendly towards his friends. Beethoven's work in the following years is filled with new works: the First and Second Symphonies, “The Creation of Prometheus”, “Christ on the Mount of Olives”. However future life and Beethoven's work were complicated by the development of an ear disease - tinitis.

The composer retires to the city of Heiligenstadt. There he works on the Third – Heroic Symphony. Complete deafness separates Ludwig from the outside world. However, even this event cannot make him stop composing. According to critics, Beethoven's Third Symphony fully reveals his greatest talent. The opera “Fidelio” is staged in Vienna, Prague, and Berlin.

Last years

In the years 1802-1812, Beethoven wrote sonatas with special desire and zeal. Then entire series of works for piano, cello, the famous Ninth Symphony, and the Solemn Mass were created.

Let us note that the biography of Ludwig Beethoven in those years was filled with fame, popularity and recognition. Even the authorities, despite his frank thoughts, did not dare to touch the musician. However, strong feelings about his nephew, whom Beethoven took into custody, quickly aged the composer. And on March 26, 1827, Beethoven died of liver disease.

Many of Ludwig van Beethoven's works have become classics not only for adult listeners, but also for children.

There are about a hundred monuments to the great composer around the world.