The World of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven ( Born : 16 December 1770 , Died 26 March 1827) was a highly acclaimed German composer and pianist.
He was a crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most acclaimed and influential composers of all time.
Born in Bonn, then in the Electorate of Cologne in western Germany, he moved to Vienna in his early twenties and settled there, studying with Joseph Haydn and quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. Beethoven's hearing gradually deteriorated beginning in his twenties, yet he continued to compose, and to conduct and perform, even after he was completely deaf.
Beethoven is acknowledged as one of the giants of classical music; occasionally he is referred to as one of the "three Bs" (along with Bach and Brahms) who epitomize that tradition. His influence on subsequent generations of composers was profound.
Beethoven composed in a fairly wide variety of musical genres, and for a fairly wide variety of instrument combinations. His works for symphony orchestra include nine symphonies (of which the Ninth includes a chorus), and about a dozen pieces of "occasional" music.
His work for piano was extensive; 32 piano sonatas, and numerous shorter works, including arrangements (for piano solo or piano duet) of some of his other works. Works with piano accompaniment include 10 violin sonatas, 5 cello sonatas, and a sonata for french horn, as well as numerous lieder.
Beethoven's personal life was troubled due to his encroaching deafness which led him to contemplate suicide (documented in his Heiligenstadt Testament). Beethoven was often irascible and may have suffered from bipolar disorder and irritability brought on by chronic abdominal pain beginning in his twenties that has been attributed to his lead poisoning. Nevertheless, he had a close and devoted circle of friends all his life, thought to have been attracted by his reputed strength of personality. Towards the end of his life, Beethoven's friends competed in their efforts to help him cope with his incapacities.
Sources show Beethoven's disdain for authority, and for social rank. He stopped performing at the piano if the audience chatted among themselves, or afforded him less than their full attention. At soirées, he refused to perform if suddenly called upon to do so. Eventually, after many confrontations, the Archduke Rudolph decreed that the usual rules of court etiquette did not apply to Beethoven.
After Beethoven lost custody of his nephew, he went into a decline that led to his death on Monday 26 March 1827 during a thunderstorm.
Unlike Mozart, who was buried in a common grave (as was the custom at the time), 20,000 Viennese citizens lined the streets at Beethoven's funeral on 29 March 1827. Franz Schubert was a torch bearer. Beethoven was buried in the Währing cemetery, west of Vienna. His remains were moved in 1888 to Vienna's Zentralfriedhof.
Contents of DVD ROM : "The World of Beethoven"
Section One : Audio - The Nine Symphonies (Full performances - in MP3 Format)
- Symphony No.1 (in C major)
- Symphony No. 2 (in D major)
- Symphony No.3 (in E flat major)
- Symphony No.4 (in B flat)
- Symphony No.5 (in C minor)
- Symphony No.6 (in F major)
- Symphony No.7 (in A major)
- Symphony No.8 (in F major)
- Symphony No.9 (in D minor)
Section Two : Beethoven's Complete Musical Scores for Solo Piano (PDF Format)
Concerto's
- Concerto No.1 in C major
- Concerto No.2 in B flat major
- Concerto No. 3 in C minor
- Concerto No.4 in G major
- Concerto No.5 in E flat major
- Concerto for piano, violin and cello
Sonata's
- Sonata No 1 to Sonata No 32 (individual PDF for each work)
Sonatina's
- Sonatina No 1 to Sonata No 6 (individual PDF for each work)
Various Works
- 13 variations on an Arietta by Dittersdorf
- 24 variations on an Arietta by Righini
- Allegretto in B minor
- Allegretto in C Major
- Allegretto in C minor
- Allegretto Quasi Andante
- Allemande
- Andante Favori
- Bagatelle
- Contredances
- Contredances (wo0 14)
- Ecossaise
- Ecossaise (in E flat major)
- Eight variations on a Romance by Gretry
- Eight variations on a trio by Sussmayr
- Eleven Bagatelles
- Fantasia
- Fantasia in C Minor
- Fifteen variations and fugue
- Five variations (Wo0 79)
- Fur Elise
- German Dances
- Happy - Sad
- Minuet
- Nine variations on a march by Dressler
- Nine variations on an Aria by Paisiello
- Polonaise
- Prelude in F minor
- Presto
- Rage over a lost penny
- Rondo
- Rondo in C major
- Rondo in C Major (Wo0 48)
- Rondo in G major
- Seven Bagatelles
- Seven Landler
- Seven variations (Wo0 78)
- Seven variations on a quartet by Winter
- Six Bagatelles
- Six easy variations on a Swiss song
- Six Ecossaises
- Six Landler
- Six Minuets
- Six variations on a duet by Paisiello
- Six variations on an original theme
- Six variations on an original theme (Op 34)
- Six variations on an original theme (Op 76)
- Ten variations on a dance by Salieri
- Thirty three variations on a waltz by Diabelli
- Thirty two variations on an original theme
- Twelve German Dances (Wo0 8)
- Twelve German Dances (Wo0 13)
- Twelve Minuets
- Twelve variations on a dance by Wrantizky
- Twelve variations on a theme by Haibel
- Two Preludes through all 12 major keys
- Waltz in D major
- Waltz in E flat major
Section Three : Video Performances (in FLV and Mpeg format)
- Symphony 5 (Movt. 1)
- Symphony 6 In F Major 'Pastoral'
- Fur Elise
- Piano Sonata no 8 'Pathetique'op 13
- Symphony 7
- Symphony 9 Part 1
- Symphony 9 Part 2
Section Four : Reference Works (PDF format)
- Beethoven - George Alexander Fisher
- Beethoven - A critical biography - Vincent d'Indy
- Beethovens Letters (Vol 1) - Alfred Kalischer
- Beethovens Letters (Vol 2) - Alfred Kalischer
- Beethovens symphonies critically discussed - Alexander Teetgen
- Beethoven and his nine symphonies - Sir George Grove
- The Violin Music of Beethoven - J Matthews
- Studies of Great Composers - Charles Parry
- The Life of Ludwig Van Beethoven ( Vol 1) - Alexander Thayer
- The Life of Ludwig Van Beethoven (Vol 2) - Alexander Thayer
- The Life of Ludwig Van Beethoven (Vol 3) - Alexander Thayer
- Life of Beethoven - Ludwig Noel
- Great composers and their work - Louis Elson
- The Great Composers - Hezekiah Butterworth
- Studies of Great Composers - Charles Parry
- The Great German Composers - George Ferris
- Great Composers of the World - Gervase Hughes
- The World of Great Composers - David Ewen
- An introduction to the Beethoven's piano works - Adolf Marx
- Musical criticisms - Arthur Johnstone
An incredible Beethoven resource for both the serious music student or for anyone with an appreciation for Beethoven's work and music.
