Creation and Reception of Ludwig van Beethovens Fifth Symphony - Essay Example

Section/# Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.what Whereas it is currently believed that most composers ical music were strictly composers, the fact of the matter is that prior to the end of the Romantic period of classical music, almost every composer was also an accomplished performer; oftentimes on a number of different instruments. One of the most famous performer/composer that ever lived was of course Ludwig van Beethoven. As a means of better understanding this performer/composer as well as his most famous composition, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, this brief analysis will analyze Beethoven’s personal biographical information, a brief background on the Symphony in question as well as a detailed musical description of the piece. It is the hope of this author that by analyzing composer/performer as well as the piece in question the reader will gain new appreciation work the performer/composer as well as his overall contribution to the field of music. Born December 16, 1770 Ludwig van Beethoven came from something of a musical family. Beethoven’s grandfather Lodewijk van Beethoven was a lifetime musician and was even employed as the court musician in Cologne for a period of time. Likewise Beethoven’s father, Johan worked as a tenor and frequently gave both violin and adolescence as a means of substituting his meager income. As a result of this musical family, it was Johan who gave young Ludwig is very first music lessons. Unfortunately, Johan was a difficult task master; oftentimes forcing the young Beethoven to practice for hours on end. This was not done due to the fact his father was necessarily cruel but rather due to the fact that Johan Beethoven had seen the amazing success that Leopold Mozart had with his son Wolfgang. Hoping to exploit his own son as something of a child prodigy, Beethoven set out on a series of performances at the tender age of seven. One can argue that one of the most formative experiences that Ludwig van Beethoven had was with regards to his times and studying under the tutelage of Joseph Haydn. While in Bonn, Switzerland, Beethoven met Haydn. One of the most fascinating aspects of Beethoven’s musical career was that he did not intend initially on focusing all of his efforts on composition. Rather, he set out master musical theory, the performance of several different instruments, and musical counterpoint. Accordingly, the reader easily see why he was both an accomplished composer as well as a virtuoso musician (Melia 294). This background as both a performer and composer doubtless helped Beethoven to integrate with an understanding of what he was ultimately requesting the musicians do with them all of his compositions. As a means of not only understanding the mechanics and theory of the music but also the mechanics playing these instruments, Beethoven was able to integrate on a more personal level with his symphony orchestra as well as the individual musicians who were responsible for relating his concepts and ideas into the mood of the music Once Ludwig began composing and publishing his compositions, Beethoven experienced an astounding level of initial success. This success lasted well up until the year 1809. At this point, Beethoven was suffering from the effects of hearing loss. Due to the fact that a keen sense of hearing was required in order for any composer to incorporate the many different instruments that a Symphony relies upon, his ability to continue to earn money through the composition process was severely reduced (Knapp 291). As with many young prodigies, the latter half of Beethoven’s life was not nearly as bright or promising as the first half. Ultimately, Beethoven became reliant upon the generosity and sponsorship of a range of individuals within various positions of wealth and power within Europe. Although this approach allowed Beethoven to meet his physical needs, the level and extent to which the support be counted upon was highly uncertain. Eventually, Beethoven came to rely on selling the rights to many of his former symphonies and productions. Even long after Beethoven’s notoriety had entered into the European consciousness, new composers, economic difficulties, and poor health ultimately took a heavy toll upon the later years of Beethoven’s life (Jameson 46). Naturally, the most famous piece of music that can be attributed to Beethoven is his 5th Symphony. A number of musical historians have noted that the Fifth Symphony took nearly 5 years complete. However, it cannot be understood that Beethoven worked continuously on this project; rather, they work on the Fifth Symphony was nearly continually interrupted so that Beethoven could focus on other tasks at hand. Yet, when it was finally performed in 1808, it met with a somewhat muted response. Interestingly, the time which the piece came together and was performed was a period of great strife and complexity in Europe (Pritchard 25). The Napoleonic wars were raging and the level to which Beethoven could rely on the steady salary was all but guaranteed. Regardless of these factors, Beethoven premiered the Fifth and the Sixth symphonies back to back in nearly a four hour performance; directed by himself. The Symphony itself is composed in the key of C minor. Likewise, as with all symphonies, Beethoven’s Fifth is in four movements. The first and most famous of these movements of course is that of the Allegro con brio. This is followed by an Andante con moto, a Scherzo, and a final Allegro. In keeping with traditional Symphony form, both the first and the final movements are powerful, loud, and exhilarating. As with many great works of art, compositions, or ideas, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony did not achieve a degree of notoriety until it was again performed nearly a year later. This was not due to the fact that the people of Vienna were not ready for the Fifth Symphony or the themes and means by which it was presented; rather, the performance was over 4 hours long, the hall was freezing cold, and the symphony performing the piece had only had the opportunity to practice it twice; therefore making several mistakes and forcing Beethoven to halt the music at one point and start again. Ultimately, it was not until an article was published with a full review of the Symphony that individuals within Austrian and European society began to take note and demand further compositions by this eminently talented composer (Cassedy 13). Although it cannot be said that the Fifth Symphony launched Beethoven’s career, it can be said that this particular Symphony was a fundamental aid in increasing his overall notoriety within the continent of Europe at that time. Unfortunately, as has already been stated, the fact of the matter was that Beethoven only had around another 6 to 7 years of productive work left prior to his hearing deteriorating completely. Regardless, the piece remains the single most commonly performed classical music piece in the history of the world; known and recognized countless millions around the globe. Sadly, as has been detailed within this analysis, the level to which society of Beethoven’s time appreciated and patronized his music reached a high point early in his career. Rather than recognizing the genius behind the Fifth Symphony in seeking to demand more, the society of the time quickly forgot and moved on to other composers. This is not to say that Beethoven became unpopular immediately; however, his popularity did nothing but declined after the popularity and success of his magnum opus. Through an understanding and appreciation for the way that Beethoven’s own career as a performer/composer developed, as well as an appreciation for the means by which the Fifth Symphony has comments to be so fundamentally important to classical music and Western civilization, both the personal and historical aspects of the piece have been considered. Works Cited Cassedy, Steven. "Beethoven The Romantic: How E. T. A. Hoffmann Got It Right." Journal Of The History Of Ideas 71.1 (2010): 1-37. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. This particular article discusses the way in which music critic E. T. A Hoffman originally reviewed Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. It was this very review, first published in 1810, that was the primal motivator towards Beethoven’s symphony coming to realize a great degree of recognition and appreciation. In this way, this particular source goes in depth with regards to analyzing Hoffman’s review of the piece. Jameson, Wesley. "The First Four Notes: Beethoven's Fifth And The Human Imagination." Publishers Weekly 259.38 (2012): 46. Business Source Premier. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. This particular source delves even more deeply into the psychological means by which the listener integrates with Beethoven’s music. By discussing the mechanical usage of music to evoke feelings, imagery, and symbolism, the author denotes the fact that Beethoven himself understood the power of psychological imagery to a much greater extent than did his contemporaries. Knapp, Raymond. "A Tale Of Two Symphonies: Converging Narratives Of Divine Reconciliation In Beethoven's Fifth And.." Journal Of The American Musicological Society 53.2 (2000): 291. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. This particular journal article discusses the means by which religion influenced Beethoven’s composition of the fifth Symphony. Due to the fact that predominant norms of Christianity dominated nearly every aspect of society within the times in which the fifth Symphony was composed, the authors think it only natural to assume that religion had a heavy impact upon the means by which Beethoven integrated musical theory symbolism and styles then the fifth. Melia, Tom. "Beethoven's Fifth 'Sine'-Phony: The Science Of Harmony And Discord." Contemporary Physics 48.5 (2007): 291-295. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. This journal entry helps to point out the fact that Beethoven’s mastery of music theory was as integral to the beauty and sophistication of the fifth Symphony as was his overall skill as a composer in general. By using this particular source, the author assumes the understanding that the overall success that the fifth Symphony enjoyed was not only the result of one or two polished aspects of its composition; rather, it’s perfection was realized from a number of different aspects – all of which Beethoven had mastered. Pritchard, William H. "Dot-Dot-Dot-Dash." Commonweal 140.6 (2013): 23-25. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. This particular piece compares Beethoven’s pastoral Symphony and the bird calls that are utilized within it to other symphonies, including the fifth. By seeking to understand the means by which Beethoven utilized pastoral elements within his work, the authors of this piece seek to understand the degree to which the same pastoral elements were included and works as famous as the Fifth Symphony. Read More