Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), a German composer, is universally recognized as one of the greatest composers who ever lived. Young Beethoven’s musical gifts were acknowledged by Mozart and Haydn, and his piano virtuosity and extraordinary compositions won him the generous support of the Viennese aristocracy despite his notoriously boorish manners. Despite the onset of deafness, which became progressively worse and was total by 1817, his creative work was never restricted. Beethoven’s work may be divided into three distinct periods. The early works, influenced by the tradition of Mozart and Haydn, include the First and Second Symphonies, the first three piano concertos, and a number of piano sonatas, including the “Pathétique.” From 1802, his work broke the formal conventions of classical music. This most productive middle period included the Third Symphony ("Eroica"); the Fourth through Eighth Symphonies; his one Violin Concerto; and his sole opera, Fidelio.
Beethoven’s final period, dating from about 1816, is characterized by works of greater depth, including the Hammerklavier Sonata; the monumental Ninth Symphony, with its choral finale based on Schiller’s "Ode to Joy"; the Missa Solemnis; and the last five string quartets. A prolific composer, Beethoven produced numerous smaller works besides his major symphonies, concertos, sonatas, and quartets. His work crowned the classical period and initiated the romantic era in music.
Vocal Works Performed by the San Francisco Bach Choir
Hallelujah from Christ on the Mount of Olives, Op. 85
Missa solemnis, Op. 123
Trinklied, WoO 109
For more information about the life and music of Ludwig van Beethoven, check out these other websites:
The Classical Music Pages: Ludwig van Beethoven
An excerpt from the Grove Dictionary of Music on Beethoven’s life, as well as a short list of his works.
Compiled by Professor Tom Neenan at the California Institute of Technology, this site contains music criticism as well as biographical and bibliographical resources on the Missa Solemnis
