Masterpieces of Classical Music

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Masterpieces of Classical Music

Orchestra Research Paper

Ludwig Van Beethoven is perhaps one of the best known composures in all of history. His legacy on the art of music is profound. He had a difficult, strict life, which morphed into tragedy as his hearing and health faded. Despite this complicated life, Beethoven’s works remain incredibly popular today.

Beethoven was born in December of 1770 in Bonn, in present day Germany (Budden, 2014). Beethoven’s father, Johann, drilled Beethoven continuously and harshly in musical studies. His father had hoped that Beethoven would match the prodigy status of Mozart as a child. However, it was not until slightly later in life that he studied with Mozart and began making a name for himself. Beethoven went on to study with Hayden, Brahms, and other great composers of the time.

At the age of 27, Beethoven was in the middle of a growing, and prolific career. However his hearing began to fade. He utilized every aide possible to continue to hear, but he was soon unable to hear the applause of the audience. Beethoven battled thoughts of suicide as his still unknown disease progressed. Eventually he died of liver failure in March of 1827 (Huxtable, 2000).

Despite his mental and physical challenges, Beethoven was extremely prolific. He composed nine numbered symphonies, 32 sonatas, an opera, and multiple concertos and chamber pieces (British Library, 2009). One of his most well-known works is his ninth symphony. This was the piece which, at the conclusion of a performance, Beethoven was brought to tears when he couldn’t hear the audience applaud (Huxtable, 2000).

The idea for the ninth symphony arose in Beethoven in his twenties when he wanted to write a music piece to accompany An die Freu...

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Gibbs, C. (2006). Notes on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony . Retrieved from National Public Radio: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5487727

Horsely, P. (2010). Symphony No. 9. Retrieved from The Kennedy Center: http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=composition&composition_id=2761

Huxtable, R. (2000). The deafness of Beethoven: A paradigm of hearing problems. Proceedings of the Western Pharmacological Society, 1-8.

Kelly, T. (1999). Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Retrieved from National Public Radio: http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/milestones/990203.motm.beethoven.html

Los Angeles Philharmonic Association. (2014). Symphony No. 9, "Choral". Retrieved from Los Angeles Philharmonic Association: http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/symphony-no-9-choral-ludwig-van-beethoven

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