BEETHOVEN 9: ODE TO JOY
The humanity of mankind revealed in an ode to sorrow and an ode to joy.
Beethoven childhood
At an early age, van Beethoven took an interest in music and his father taught him day
and night, on returning to the house from music practice or the tavern. Without a
doubt, the child was gifted and his father Johann, envisaged creating a new Mozart, a
child prodigy.
On March 26th 1778, at the age of 7 ½, Ludwig Van Beethoven gave his first public
performance, at Cologne. His father announced that he was 6 years-old. Because of
this Beethoven always thought that he was younger than he actually was. Even much
later, when he received a copy of his baptism certificate, he thought it belonged to his
brother Ludwig Maria, who was born two years before him and died as a child.
The musical and teaching talents of Johann were limited.
Soon Ludwig learned music, notably the organ and
composition by renowned musicians, such as Gottlob
Neefe. Neefe recognized how extraordinarily talented
Beethoven was and not only did Neefe teach him music,
but he made the works of philosophers, ancient and
modern, known to Beethoven as well.
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Beethoven's music teachers
In 1782, before the age of 12, (Beethoven published his first work, 9 Variations in C
Minor, for piano on a march by Earnst Christoph Dressler (WoO 63). The following
year, in 1783, Neefe wrote in the Magazine of Music, about his student. “If he
continues like this, he will be, without a doubt, the new Mozart.”
In June 1784, on Neefe’s recommendations, Ludwig Van Beethoven, was appointed
organist of the court of Maximillian Franz, Elector of Cologne. He was 14 years-old.
This post enabled him to frequent new circles, other than those of his father and friends
of his family. Here he met people who were to remain friends for the rest of his life:
The Ries family, the Von Breuning family, and the charming Elenore, Karl Amenda—
the violinist, Franz Gerhard Wegeler—a doctor, and a dear friend who also went to
Vienna, etc.
At home, little by little, Ludwig replaced his father. First of all financially, because
Johann, often under the influence of drink, was less and less capable of keeping up his
role at the court. The young Beethoven felt responsible for his two younger brothers,
and idea he kept for the rest of his life, sometimes to the extent of being excessive.
Ludwig van Beethoven Music
Prince Maximillian Franz was also aware of Beethoven music and so he sent
Beethoven to Vienna, in 1787, to meet Mozart and the further his musical education.
Vienna was, after all, the beacon city in terms of culture and music. There exist only
texts of disputable authenticity on the subject of this meeting between Mozart and
Beethoven. Mozart is thought to have said “don’t forget his name – you will hear it
spoken often!”
A letter called Beethoven back to Bonn—his mother was dying. The only person in his
family with whom he had developed a strong and loving relationship with, passed
away on July 17th 1787.
Five years later, in 1792, Ludwig Van Beethoven went back to Vienna, benefiting
from another grant, for two years, by the Prince Elector, again to pursue his musical
education. He never went back to the town of his birth. His friend Waldstein, wrote to
him, “you shall receive Mozart’s spirit from Haydn’s hands…”
>At Vienna, the young musician took lessons with Haydyn,
then with Albrechtsberger and Salieri. He captured the
attention of, and astonished Vienna with his virtuosity and his
improvisations on piano. In 1794, Beethoven composed Opus
1, the Trios for Piano. The following year, Ludwig Van
Beethoven made his first public performance at Vienna (an
“Academy”) whereby each musician was to play his own
work. Then followed tour; Prague, Dresden, Leipzig, and
Berlin, before leaving for a concert in Budapest.
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Beethoven's works
Beethoven made numerous acquaintances at Vienna. Everybody in the musical and
aristocratic world admired the young composer. These music-lovers were Beethoven’s
greatest supporters. He became angry regularly with one or another of them, often
making honorable amends soon afterwards. His talent excused his excessive, impulsive
behavior.
In 1800, Beethoven organized a new concert at Vienna including, notably, the
presentation of his first symphony. Although today we find this work classical, and
close to the works of Mozart and Haydn, at the time certain listeners found the
symphony strange, overly extravagant, and even risqué’. This genius, Beethoven, who
was still a young, new composer, was already pushing the established boundaries of
music.
In 1801, Beethoven confessed to his friends at Bonn his worry
of becoming deaf. At Heiligenstadt, in 1802, he wrote a
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famous text which expressed his disgust at the unfairness of
life, that he, a musician, could become deaf was something he
did not want to live through. But, music made him carry on
and he wrote that he knew that he still had many other musical
domains to explore, to discover, and to pass on. Beethoven did
not commit suicide, rather, knowing that his handicap was
getting worse and worse. He threw himself into his greatest
Beethoven music; Sonatas for Piano (notably The Storm, Opus
31), the second and the third symphonies – The Eroica and of
course many more.
Beethoven's deafness
Beethoven wrote his third symphony in honor of a great man, Bonaparte. He was seen
as the liberator of the people, opening, from the French Revolution, a door to hope.
When the First Consul declared him Emperor, Beethoven became enraged and scowled
out Bonaparte’s name from the score.
On April 7th, 1805, the Eroica symphony was played for the first time.
Meanwhile, Beethoven had finally finished his opera,
Lenore, the only opera he ever wrote. He wrote and rewrote four different overtures. The name of the opera
therefore, changed to Fidelio, against the wishes of the
composer. November 20th 1805 was the date of the
opening performance before a thin audience of French
offices. This was because Napoleon, head of the army, had
captured Vienna for the first time. This happened again in
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1809.
the 4 overtures to this opera
In the years that followed, the creative activity of the composer became intense. He
composed many symphonies, amongst which were the Pastora, the Coriolan Overture,
and the famous Letter for Elise. He took on many students, those he found young and
attractive, and he therefore fell in love with several of them. The Archbishop, Rudolph,
brother of the emperor, also became his student, his friend, and eventually one of his
benefactors.
In 1809, Beethoven wanted to leave Vienna, at the invitation of Jerome Bonaparte. His
long-standing friend, the Countess Anna Marie Erdody, kept him at Vienna with the
help of his wealthiest admires: the Archbishop Rudolph, the Prince Lobkowitz, and the
Prince Kinsky. These men gave Beethoven and annual grant of 4,000 florins, allowing
him to live without financial constraint. The only condition was that Beethoven was
not to leave Vienna. Beethoven accepted. This grant made him the first independent
composer. Before this contract musicians and composers alike (even Bach, Mozart,
and Haydn), became servants in the houses of wealthy aristocratic families. They were
thus part of the domestic staff, with no more rights than any other, but with the added
task of composition and performance. Thus, for the musician of the day, Beethoven
had outstanding circumstances and he was free to write what he wanted, when he
wanted, under command or not, as he pleased.
In 1812, Beethoven went for hydrotherapy at Teplitz,
where he wrote his ardent letter to “The Immortal
Beloved.” This letter which was found in a secret
draw with the Heiligenstadt Testament, has not
stopped the theories and suppositions of researchers
and biographers ever since. Numerous women
amongst his students and friends have been, in turn,
proposed as the recipient of this letter. Unless a new
document is discovered (perhaps within the
possessions of a private collector) it is likely that the
truth about this mysterious woman will remain a
secret.
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the letter to the Immortal Beloved
At the end of July 1812, Beethoven met Goethe, under the organization of Bettina
Brentano. These two great men admired each other, but didn’t understand each other.
The composer found the poet too servile, and the poet last estimation was that
Beethoven was “completely untamed.” Beethoven admired Goethe; he put to music
several of his poems. I always regretted not having been better understood by Goethe.
Then one of his benefactors, the Prince Lobkowitz, fell into financial difficulty, and
the Prince Kinski, died from falling off his horse. Kinski’s descendant decided to put
an end to the financial obligations towards Beethoven. Here started one of the
composer’s many attempts at saving his financial independence.
The Czech, Johann Nepomuk Maelzel, took up contact with Beethoven. Inventor of
genius, and probably inventor of the metronome, Maelzel had already met Beethoven
and had created various devices to help Beethoven with his hearing: acoustic cornets, a
listening system linking up to the piano, etc. In 1813, Beethoven composed “The
Victory of Wellington,” a work written for a mechanical instrument made by Maelzel,
the “pan harmonica” (or “pan harmonicon”). But it was above all the metronome,
which helped evolve music and Beethoven, who had taken interest straight way, noted
scrupulously the markings on his scores, so that his music could be played how he
wished.
The academy of 1814 regrouped his work, as well as the
seventh and eighth symphonies. This was also the time of the
re-writing of Lenore as Fidelio, Beethoven’s only opera. This
work eventually became successful before the public.
Then the Congress of Vienna met, which brought together all
the heads of state, to decide the future of Europe after
Napoleon. This was one of Beethoven’s moments of glory. He
listen to
was invited to play many times, bringing him recognition and
Beethoven's symphonies
admiration of which he could be truly proud.
Beethoven Bio – Dramatic Life Changes
On November 15th 1815, Kaspar Karl, Beethoven’s brother, died. He left behind his
wife, whom the composer referred to as “The queen of the night” due to the pastimes
of the window, as well as a son, Karl, who was 9. Here Beethoven’s life was to change
dramatically. His brother had written that he wished Karl’s guardianship to be
exercised by both his wife and his brother, Ludwig. Beethoven took this role very
seriously, but the 45 year-old celibate, who could no longer hear, found it difficult to
live with and understand a child and then a young man. This cohabitation was the
cause of a new trial against the mother of the child, a generation conflict and numerous
troubles.
In 1816, Carl Czerny (future teacher of Franz Liszt and once Beethoven’s student)
became Karl’s music teacher, but didn’t find the talent in the boy who Beethoven
hoped him to possess. At this time he ended his cycle of lieder “To the distant loved
one, and drafted the first theme for his ninth symphony.
Two years later, the Archduke Rudolph became Cardinal and Beethoven began
composing his mass in D. It was never ready for the intonation, but the work was rich
beyond compare.
Gioachino Rossini triumphed in Vienna in 1822, where he met Beethoven again. The
language barrier and Beethoven’s deafness meant that they could only exchange brief
words. The Viennese composer tolerated Italian opera only in moderation—he found it
lacked seriousness.
The ninth symphony was practically finished in 1823, the
same year as the Missa Solemnis. Liszt, who was 11, met
Beethoven who came to his concerto on April 13th. He
congratulated the young virtuoso heartily who, years later,
transcribed the entirety of Beethoven’s symphonies for piano.
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Liszt's transcriptions
How many symphonies did Beethoven write?
May 7th 1824 was the date of the first playing of the ninth symphony and despite the
musical difficulties, and problems in the sung parts, it was a success. Unfortunately it
was not financially rewarding. Financial problems constantly undermined the
composer. He always had money put to one side, but he was keeping it for his nephew.
Then began the period of the last quartets of Beethoven music, which are still difficult,
even for today’s audience, who knows how to interpret his other works. He started to
compose his tenth symphony.
Biography of Beethoven – His Final Year
In 1826, Beethoven caught cold coming back from his brother’s place, with whom he
had rowed again. The illness complicated other health problems from which
Beethoven had suffered all his life. He passed away encircled by his closest friends on
March 26th 1827, just as a storm broke out.
The funeral rites took place at the church of the Holy
Trinity. It is estimated that between 10,000 and 30,000
people attended. Franz Schubert, timid and a huge
admirer of Beethoven, without ever having become
close to him, was one of the coffin bearers, along with
other musicians. Schubert died the next year and was
buried next to Beethoven.
The actor, Heinrich Anschutz, read the funeral prayer
written by Franz Grillparzer, a great writer, in front of
the doors of the Wahring cemetery, now Schubert
Park.
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the funeral prayer by Grillparzer
© Décembre 2001 - Dominique PRÉVOT
Many thanks to Hannah SALTER for her translation of this page from French into
English
© Dominique PREVOT