In the summer 1803, he began to write the Third Symphony, the "Eroica" in honor of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Beethoven number 1 :)
Beethoven is best known for his nine symphonies, which have been called the cornerstones of Western civilization. The most famous two are the Fifth Symphony and the Ninth Symphony because of their grandeur. The Moonlight is best remembered for it's dream-like opening. The Pathetique, on the other hand, is a passionate and desperate work which requires that the symphony produce a loud, overwhelming sound.
18. But that's just his first NUMBERED symphony. He composed two earlier ones as a student.
Composition commenced 1811, completed June 1812, (he was about 42 then) first performed dec 1813
His first piece was written before he was 12 years of age, in 1782. 9 variations, in C Minor, for Piano, on a march by Ernst Christoph Dressler (WoO 63)
Beethoven number 1 :)
Beethoven is best known for his nine symphonies, which have been called the cornerstones of Western civilization. The most famous two are the Fifth Symphony and the Ninth Symphony because of their grandeur. The Moonlight is best remembered for it's dream-like opening. The Pathetique, on the other hand, is a passionate and desperate work which requires that the symphony produce a loud, overwhelming sound.
16.
18. But that's just his first NUMBERED symphony. He composed two earlier ones as a student.
Composition commenced 1811, completed June 1812, (he was about 42 then) first performed dec 1813
His first piece was written before he was 12 years of age, in 1782. 9 variations, in C Minor, for Piano, on a march by Ernst Christoph Dressler (WoO 63)
Beethoven's first ever performance was at the age of seven and a half (falsified as six to make him seem more prodigal) in Cologne playing various clavier concertos and trios. He had not yet composed anything of his own yet.
I remember reading off of an album cover thirty or forty years ago that Beethoven quipped, "The Ninth Symphony has a Story, but no one will ever guess it!" It is perhaps impertinent to guess, buy mine is that his Ninth is his autobiography..writ large, of course. Beethoven's last string quartets might have been *personal*, as might have other chamber works, famously for example the "Moonlight Sonata", dedicated to an Italian diva, whose name has otherwise been lost, perhaps unfortunately, to history. But there is nothing personal about the Ninth. It is Beethoven imagining the perfection of humanity. So the last movement, obviously, is death and transfiguration amongst a host of choristers. Ergo, the first movement is Conception and Birth. In the Twenty-First Century (caps for us, aren't we important?), conception is taken for granted. Indeed, we even have CONTRA-conception. But in 1820, when Beethoven was thinking about Life, Conception was a Pretty Big Mystery. (That also made room for "immaculate conceptions" and other good stuff.) But it was a Big Mystery. So that's the basic idea of the first movement, with maybe labor pains when the tympani enter half-way through, beyond the Mystery of Conception. Then the first movement ends with the power of New Life. The second movement is Scherzo, Youth, and joyful childhood and adolescence. The third movement is maturity and old age. Hence the reversal of the classical positions of Scherzo and Adagio. The last movement, as I have guessed, is Death and Transfiguration. This all seems very obvious to me, but I'm sure Beethoven would be entertained to hear your interpretation, too.
He was an innovator, widening the scope of sonata, symphony, concerto and quartet, and combining vocals and instruments in a new way. He was an innovator, widening the scope of sonata, symphony, concerto and quartet, and combining vocals and instruments in a new way. At the age of 7 he had his first public performance.
1787--The young 17 year old Beethoven meets Mozart 1792--Beethoven's Opus 1 Trios are performed; meets Joseph Haydn 1798--Beethoven starts to loose his hearing 1805--Eroica Symphony 1808--Symphonies 5-6 1809--Piano Concerto # 5 "Emperor" 1817--Custody battle over Beethoven's nephew Carl 1819--Beethoven completely deaf 1824--Ninth Symphony written and performed (May 7) 1826--Last string quartets and piano sonatas written
6 years old
Mozart's first symphony was written by him when he was 8 years old, making him a child prodigy. The title of it was simply, "Symphony No. 1 in E Flat Major."