Ludwig Van Beethoven (1 gen 1770 anni – 1 gen 1827 anni)

Descrizione:

was a German composer and pianist; his music is amongst the most performed of the classical music repertoire, and he is one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music. His works span the transition from the classical period to the romantic era in classical music. His career has conventionally been divided into early, middle, and late periods. The "early" period in which he forged his craft is typically seen to last until 1802. His "middle" period, sometimes characterised as "heroic", showing an individual development from the "classical" styles of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, covers the years 1802 to 1812, during which he increasingly suffered from deafness. In the "late" period from 1812 to his death in 1827, he extended his innovations in musical form and expression. Beethoven’s music is seen often as autobiographical. The stages of his career correspond to changing styles in his music: early, middle, late.

Beethoven versus “Beethoven”
A. Hoffman’s description of Beethoven elevated the composer and his music to the point where
his values are the same as those with the culture of concert music.
B. “Beethoven” the idea becomes more than the man, and as a concept it marks a turning point in a modern perception of music.
C. Hoffman saw Beethoven’s music as the ideal of the Romantic sublime, and the cult of creative genius grew around an image of the composer.
D. Beethoven’s compositions henceforth became the standards by which others were judged.

The Sacralization of Music
A. Beethoven’s music was seen to possess otherworldly power, to transport listeners to a place where reason could not.
B. The concept of the “work” changed from something outlined for performance to something set in stone—a text with authority.
1. The functions of composer and performer split.
2. Performers were expected to adhere more closely to the text than previously.
E. Over the course of the nineteenth century, composers allowed fewer places for improvisation of music—the sacralization of music kept performers from inserting their own improvised embellishments.

Struggle and Victory
1. The way Beethoven’s music was described by Hoffmann and others cast it as “universal”—as if the values and aesthetics extended equally to everyone.
2. Beethoven’s music has been interpreted as “manly” and has been used to praise
aggression, violence, and victory. Some even associate it with German national character. This is not always positive.

Lieder
Beethoven composed almost 100 Lieder, mostly early in his career.
a. His An die ferne Geliebte is the earliest song cycle to remain in the performed repertory today.

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