LUDWIG VON BEETHOVEN
Music Appreciation Final Project
BIOGRAPHY
The actual birthday of Ludwig von Beethoven is unknown but historians believe
from records that it was around December 16, 1770. At an early age Beethoven’s
father started teaching him music. His father was known as an alcoholic and was
a very harsh teacher. In spite of the harsh teaching Beethoven showed signs of
being a great musician. Beethoven’s first recital was on March 26, 1778.
Beethoven was an average student in school and struggled with it so much that he
quit school at the age of ten to study music full time and by age twelve he had
written his first composition. By 1784 Beethoven’s father was unable to support
the family so the responsibility fell to him. He supported his family by becoming
an assistant court organist. In 1787 the court sent Beethoven to Vienna to study
with Mozart. After a short time in Vienna Beethoven received word that his
mother was ill and rushed home to be with her. He returned to Vienna years later
and that was when he met Joseph Haydn.
After returning to Vienna Beethoven devoted himself to music and it was on
March 29, 1795 that he had his public debut. It was at this point in his life that
his music career really took off. He wrote piece after piece. It was also during this
time that he had to accept and come to terms with the fact that he was going deaf.
“From 1803-1812, what is known as his "middle" or "heroic" period, he composed
an opera, six symphonies, four solo concerti, five string quartets, six string
sonatas, seven piano sonatas, five sets of piano variations, four overtures, four
trios, two sextets and 72 songs.” (Biogrophy.com) Some composed some of his most
famous works towards the end of his life in spite of being deaf. Some of
Beethoven’s greatest works include “Moonlight Sonata”, “Kreutzer”, and
“Symphony no. 9”. At the age of 56 Beethoven died on March 26, 1827 having
achieved the widely accepted title of greatest composer of all time.
“MOONLIGHT SONATA”
For my music selection I chose to do Beethoven’s
“Moonlight Sonata”. The sonata was written in 1801
and was not originally named the moonlight sonata.
Beethoven dedicated the piece to the countess
Giulietta Gucciardi who was a pupil of his. It was in
1836 that Ludwig Rellstab gave it the name
moonlight sonata because it reminded him of the
reflected moonlight on Lake Lucerne.
The sonata is made up of three parts adagio
sostenuto, allegretto, and presto agitato. The first
part is a bit dark and mysterious with a sullen mood.
The second part is relatively short and connects the
first and third parts together. The third and final part
is much longer and faster then the first two giving the
sonata a powerful ending.
LISTENING GUIDE “MOONLIGHT SONATA”
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0:00 the beginning of the first section. It
starts with a slow triple meter repeating itself,
the volume is piano this section, the tone of the
music goes up and down making it feel happier
at moments
2:45 melody changes from three notes
repeating to a run of notes and then back to
the melody of the three notes repeating at 3:25
5:50 music slows to almost a stop and there are
long pauses between the notes as the end of the
first section comes to an end
6:00 Second section begins this section starts
with more of a staccato rhythm the tempo
picks up and the mood lightens volume moves
to metso forte
6:34 there is a repeat from the previous 30
seconds
6:50 A less staccato melody starts to play but
still has moments of the staccato rhythm
8:00 the third section begins, again the tempo
picks up and the notes jump and move a lot
faster volume becomes forte
8:30 Very quick runs start and repeat giving a
rushed stressful feel to the rhythm
8:40 becomes a little disjunct with the jumps
from one note to another
9:00 becomes slightly less staccato with fast
smooth runs of notes that grow and then drop
and then grow again.
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9:40 goes back to the staccato disjunct mode
again
10:30 slows to the runs of notes again then
back to the disjunct staccato
11:00 tempo slows and the volume comes
down as if a breath is being taken
11:20 jumps back to the louder staccato feel
then slows to less staccato but still disjunct
12:18 slows to almost a stop then jumps back
into a loud staccato rhythm
12:40 slows slightly and repeats a section
like at the beginning of section 3
13:00 starts to slow as if coming to and end
but has notes that surprise a bit by being
loud and fast
14:15 Slows even more and runs of notes
take the tone up and down getting softer
with each one
14:50 tempo picks back up for a few notes
then the music end with two short loud
outbursts
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Beethoven, All about. All About Beethoven. 2006.
8 May 2014. <http://www.all-aboutbeethoven.com/moonsonata.html>.
 Biogrophy.com. Ludwig von Beethoven. 2014. 8
May 2014.
 Green, Aaron. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
2014. 8 May 2014.
<http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/onestopbeeth
oven/a/moonlightsonata.htm>.
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