Beethoven's details

Ludwig van Beethoven (December 16, 1770 - March 26, 1827), born in Bonn, Germany, was one of the leading figures of the Viennese School of Classical Music, and a composer during the Classical period in Europe.

Beethoven spent his childhood under his father's strict and harsh education, which created his stubborn, sensitive and agitated character. 22 years old, he began to settle in Vienna for the rest of his life, and his Third Symphony, which was composed between 1803 and 1804, marked the maturity stage of his composition. 1827 March 26, Beethoven died in Vienna at the age of 57 years.

Beethoven composed a wide range of works, including nine symphonies, one opera, 32 piano sonatas, five piano concertos, several orchestral overtures, and sonatas for violin and cello. He was honored as the "Saint of Music" and the "King of Symphony".

Beethoven's life creation of a wide range of genres, a large number. In the field of instrumental music, including 9 symphonies, 11 orchestral pieces and theater scores, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 16 string quartets and other forms of repertoire, 32 piano sonatas, as well as violin, cello sonatas, variations and so on.

In the field of vocal music, it involves operas, oratorios, masses, cantatas, choral fantasies and a large number of art songs. Representative works in the field of vocal music include the opera Fidelio, Mass in D major, and the vocal suite To a Loved One Far Away.

The symphonies that most centrally reflect Beethoven's ideological development and artistic pursuit are his nine symphonies. Beethoven's symphonies are rich and varied, grand in scale, and much more complex than those of Haydn and Mozart, most notably for its poignant conflicts, heroism and positive elements.

Musical image is always in the contradictory conflicts and contrasts in the display, in the approach, the development of the sonata form and symphonic suite, he made the sonata form of the various parts of the scale is enlarged, enhanced contrast and drama, the unfolding of the section as the central part of the even more intense conflict, for example, the unfolding of the "Third Symphony".

Beethoven's symphonies can be divided into the following categories in terms of content: first, heroic, dramatic, which is the most basic aspect of his creation, such as the Third, Fifth and Ninth Symphonies; second, life customs, lyrical, such as the First, Fourth and Eighth Symphonies; and third, the mass, dance, such as the Seventh Symphony.

Besides symphonies, piano works also play an important role in Beethoven's compositions. It can be said that he wrote piano works all his life. The most important are the five piano concertos and five piano sonatas (Pathétique, Moonlight, Tempest, Dawn, and Passion).

The piano sonatas are similar to his symphonies, with profound ideas, rich content, and broad forms, and they also strengthen the contrasting elements within the sonata-like structure, expanding the conflicting and developing dynamics of the unfolding section, making his piano sonatas far superior to those of Haydn and Mozart.

Expanded:

Beethoven's life was marked by the radical changes in European society before and after the French Revolution, and his works are the product of a combination of time and personality. He greatly expanded the ideological content of symphonic music, making it a genre that directly reflects social change, and the expressive range of the piano was greatly enhanced .

The expansion of the content led to the innovation of expression: he broke through the traditional formal structure, the use of motivic themes and the development of motivic ideas, so that the music has a remarkable momentum and power; built on the functional system of the system of variations, which became the characteristics of his harmonic style.

Flexible off-key modulations and large-scale rhythmic contrasts and intensity contrasts play an important role in portraying conflicts and dramatic developments. In addition, the use of counterpoint, the combination of orchestra sound, and the writing of piano music are all distinctive features.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia - Ludwig van Beethoven