Reviews

9th Symphony

Early Period

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the town of Bonn in Germany. His father Johann and his grandfather Ludwig were both musicians. Although Johann for some time functioned as a personal music teacher for Ludwig, this relationship was soon exchanged, with a court organist by the name of C.G. Neefe. Reaching twelve years of age, Ludwig had his first music published. He remained in Bonn, as Neefe's assistant until year 1787, when he finally decided to take off for Vienna. However, this visit became short, as he quickly had to return to Bonn again, upon receiving news of his mother being deadly sick.

Five years later, Ludwig returned to Vienna, where he studied composition and counterpoint under Albrechtsberger, Schenk, Salieri and Haydn. He worked hard on establishing himself as both composer and pianist. Thanks to his relations with the aristocracy in town, he could live on a well-secured income. During this time, Ludwig was trying to master the high classical style, which later resulted in the second symphony.

Middle Period

During the middle period of his life, Ludwig learned to master and develop the high classical style, into a more individualistic and dynamic one. This led to the completion of symphonies Nr. 3-8, piano concert Nr. 5, and various chamber music. Although these musical writings were successful in all ways, Ludwig began to suffer from his bad hearing, which now had become worse. At one point, he was considering the thought of taking his own life, although his art and virtues held him back, and forced him to release all ideas he had stored within himself. The hearing disorder greatly affected his social relations; he locked himself up and lived a very isolated life. When meeting people, he could suddenly burst out into bad temper or anger, and even insult people.

He never had any luck with women either, as he often tended to fall in love with women he knew were hard to get. Antoine Brentano, a woman he at one point had a relationship with, broke up with him, in order to marry his friend. As if this wasn't enough, the hearing disorder had gone worse, and now reached the stage where he could no longer perform. During the following years, Ludwig's creative drive stagnated, and his life became instead filled with personal matters. He had recently gained custody of his nephew Karl, but as Ludwig wasn't mentally ready for such a responsibility, it became a total mess, and Karl himself even at one point tried to take his own life.

Late period

During the last years of Ludwig's life, a 9th symphony called 'Choral', was completed - a piece which generated a personal economical success, and at least meant a small amount of welfare. Despite this fact, Ludwig had lived most of his life in poverty, and even more now, as his patrons no longer could support him. This may be one of the reasons, to why Ludwig's health with time became worse, and eventually lead to his death in March 26, 1827.

The classical music of Ludwig van Beethoven is still today, celebrated as one of the finest musical pieces ever created by mankind. Despite his personal despairs, Ludwig managed to explore and reflect the holistic form of joy and happiness that is to be found in a sensible and romantic set of virtues. His music dwells into the heart of heroic deeds, beautiful nature and withstanding eternity of our world. While most people who attended his last symphony, did not understand his genius in art, Beethoven had full trust in what he created, and by looking past his own physical and mental boundaries, transcended his own style, in order to later become renown as one of the absolute masters within classical and romantic music.



© 2006 mock Him productions in association with CORRUPT

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