The Legend: Ludwig van Beethoven

A world without music is unimaginable, and the field of music without Beethoven’s Symphony 5 is incomplete. Several composers have played principal roles in the evolution of music, and Beethoven is one big name that will be remembered for centuries. No other artist had created such a marvel in those times, making the name inscribed in the history of Western music. If you are not well aware of Beethoven and his works, here is a short tour through his life and works that you can grasp as the defining elements of the music industry.

Ludwig van Beethoven

This German composer was born in Cologne on December 17, 1770. He later grew to become an agency in the times of transition from the Classical era to the Romantic era. Beethoven was regarded as the greatest musician of all times, and most of this praise is ascribed to his works during the period of change in the field of music. Many of his predecessors loved to express their feelings and opinions about the world’s progress through their music. A new spirit of humanism and nationalism was infused into his compositions, which was also introduced slightly in the works of Friedrich von Schiller and Goethe.

More of the French Revolution, its strengths and weaknesses were vividly revealed in the works of Beethoven, making his music more powerful than that of his predecessors. The assertion of the interests of humans in all art and music was also evident in some of his compositions. Although Beethoven wasn’t a Romantic himself, he gradually became a milestone in the genre by being an inspiration for the work of the Romantics who were his successors. His Sixth Symphony was introduced as more of expression and not a painting, clearly indicating his views about illustrative music.

The contributions of Beethoven broadened the scope of the symphony, concerto, sonata, and quartet. In his Ninth Symphony, the combination of instrumental music and vocals made for an innovative change in the course of compositions. No one else had attempted such a combination ever before, and it was beyond the imagination of many of the musicians of that time. Beethoven is always considered a hero because of his efforts that yielded great results despite his deafness in the last ten years of his life. Beethoven was also the first musician to receive a salary for his compositions even when the age of court and church patronage was declining.

Work and Life

Beethoven started his training with one of the most popular teachers in Bonn in those times, Christian Gottlob Neefe. In the years from 1780 to 1792, he was completely committed to learning compositions from Neefe. He later returned to Vienna and started performing in many venues. In 1795, Beethoven made his debut as a live performer for a piano concerto. It was in the years after 1802 that he suffered from deafness. During his lifetime, he had created some of the best music pieces in history. All his symphonies and opera Fidelio are beloved compositions even today.