Thursdays – Ludwig van Beethoven

Thursdays – Ludwig van Beethoven

4/16 Beethoven the Revolutionary.  In this lecture, Ira will discuss how Beethoven, who is considered the bridge between the Classical and Romantic periods, will break from classical music.  The lecture encompasses Beethoven’s early period, when he masters his composition capabilities and Beethoven’s middle years, when Beethoven ushers in the period in music when composers focus on their personal voice.  Instead of composing to fulfill the requirements of a patron or the church, Beethoven began to create music as a form of self-expression, often reflecting his personal experiences, such as his deafness, and his ideals of freedom and individuality.

4/30 Beethoven the Visionary.   This lecture will look at Beethoven’s late period, when Beethoven considers focusing inward.  We will look at the artistic consequences of Beethoven’s deafness and examine the late string quarters, and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis and Ninth Symphony.  We will end this session will a brief look at Beethoven’s legacy in the arc of the period of common practice.