FREE ESSAY ON BEETHOVEN

BEETHOVEN

Beethoven
"Keep your eyes on him; some day he will give the world something to talk about"-Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart (Orga 27). Beethoven was considered the greatest composer who ever lived,
but all the truths lie deep inside his music. Beethoven's symphonies were extraordinary.
His innovative style was unheard of throughout the world during his time. There are three
major symphonies that take beyond the "Immortal Beloved" referring to Beethoven, to his
grave. Well-written and magnificent in the ears of every person who appreciated
Beethoven's works of art. Symphonies numbers 3, 5, and 9 were probably the best
symphonies ever composed by a human being. Beethoven's technique was unique in creating
slow to fast tempos during the beginning of every piece. Each of his pieces had a meaning
behind it. The mood of the music will tell it all just by listening to the joyous harmony
each instrument played and the excitement whenever the tempo moved to a faster beat. 
Symphony number three in B-flat major, Op.55 titled "Eroica" was then the largest
symphony at the time, and the first great symphony of the 19th century. In 1798, General
Bernadotte, the French ambassador to Austria, suggested to Beethoven that he might write
a symphony in honor of Napoleon. So Beethoven agreed to write the symphony for the great
commander. But on May 18th, 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor, and upon hearing the
news Beethoven tore the title page in half, screaming that Napoleon would "become a
greater tyrant than anyone!" (Orga 85). When the symphony was finally published, it was
listed as a "Heroic" symphony, composed to celebrate the memory of fallen soldiers. The
"Eroica" is important because it was Beethoven's first truly Romantic composition.
Symphony No.3 uses a wide variety of tonality and the use of themes and motifs. The
"Eroica" is almost twice as long as any earlier symphony. The performing instruments had
been enlarged by just one instrument, a third horn. The "Eroica" is the first symphony to
mix the traditionally minuet of scherzo movement into the large dramatic work. "It has an
exposition in which the theme is gradually assembled, beginning with a terse bass line
and eventually incorporating a broad melody; a development which comprises a fugato on
the first four notes of the bass line"(Orga 89).
Symphony number five in C minor, Op.67 is Beethoven's most popular symphony heard
everywhere. The "Fate" symphony has it is referred to begins with a theme of a struggle
and ends with a glorious victory. The fifth symphony was first performed at a concert on
December 22, 1808, in which Beethoven also offered the premieres of the fourth piano
concerto, the sixth symphony, two movements of the Mass in C, and the Choral fantasy, and
a piano improvisation by Beethoven. The sixth symphony was listed as number five that
night, but there was no big confusion because the audience wasn't paying attention. The
fifth symphony explodes the music world in every way except the length of the piece. "The
fifth is a model of compression, packing a wealth of memorable events into a much shorter
work"(Orga 112). Beethoven's original intent was that the scherzo and trio both be played
twice before going on to the transitional section to the finale. 
Symphony number nine in D minor, Op.125, the "Choral" symphony is the outstanding piece
accompanied with vocal chorus. Beethoven began concentrated work on the piece only in
1822. It occupied him throughout 1823, and he completed it in February 1824. The first
performance took place at the Karntnertor Theater in Vienna on May 7, 1824. The deaf
composer stood on stage beating time and turning the pages of his score, but the real
conducting was done by Michael Umlauf. The first American performance was given on May
20, 1846 by the New York Philharmonic under George Loder. Its performance can never be an
ordinary event, just another concert, it is something special because the feeling you get
inside when you hear it for the first time. The work of Friedrich von Schiller to set "An
die Freude" should be much of the credit of the ninth symphony, but Beethoven's ability
to put into music; its an art song, which is lovely poetry put into music. By 1823,
Beethoven was not yet sure whether the finale would be vocal or instrumental. Once the
symphony was finished, a performance had to be organized. Beethoven saved the premiere
for the city that had been his home for the past thirty-one years. At the end of the
premiere, Beethoven was still hunched over towards the orchestra, so he was gently turned
around so that he might see the applause he could not hear. "The D turns out to be the
"answer" on which the whole orchestra agrees in the great fortissimo summit of that first
crescendo, but the tense anticipation of that note is a personal, marvelous, and utterly
characteristic touch"(Orga 155). The ninth symphony is my favorite symphony just because
the music is so heavenly. It seems in the beginning of the piece brings a person from
darkness to light. 
Beethoven, I believe, was ahead of his time. To me, he is the greatest composer of all
time. His music is not just sounds of music played together in harmony, but a way of
life. The music he created for the world is not just to listen to it, but grab on to the
emotion he was setting up. Beethoven's unordinary style cannot never be copied by any
composer or music artist. Today, when we hear music of any kind we can only thank a
certain person, and that person should be Ludwig van Beethoven.
Bibliography
Works Cited 
Orga, Ates. The illustrated Lives of the Great Composers. 
Omnibus Press, New York 1983.