Composer Style Report

The classical music style is art produced in the western traditions music (Grout). The style has been for a long span of time from roughly the 11th century and even in the present day it still exists. Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most influential, celebrated and very famous composers of the classical music of all time. Beethoven was born in Germany in 1770 being the second born child among the seven siblings he had. Johann Beethoven, his father, was his first music teacher offering him music lessons at their home. Ludwig van Beethoven also had other local teachers like Franz Rovantini, who was a relative and taught him to play the violin.

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Sometime in 1779, he started his serious studies with Christian Gottlob, who was courts organist where his father was working (Clive). By March 1783 Ludwig van Beethoven published his first composition that was a set of variations on the keyboard. Soon afterwards he started working with Christian Gottlob as an assistant organist in the court. He was motivated by his family and teachers in music, but he started deriving most of his ideas from Freemasonry since Gottlob and others around him were members of a local freemason. Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 the city where he led the rest of his life. By 1795, Beethoven was already getting recognition as a gifted composer from his counterparts due to his skills in the keyboard and his ability to improvise. Improvisation competition was hosted by aristocrats between pianists and Beethoven defeated all the other competitors. Beethoven started growing bigger and started supporting himself as he offered private lessons to members of the aristocracy. He also dedicated much of his time to composing music.

Beethoven was regarded as the most important of the young generation of young composers after Haydn and Mozart, who were the greatest of the time, considering Beethoven moved to Vienna for him to study with Haydn (Cooper). In 1799, he managed to complete his Septet, which is considered to be his most popular works in his lifetime. Between 1802 and 1812 was a period where the extraordinary creativity of Beethoven were experienced as a series of his masterpieces were produced at the time (Clive). He composed seven symphonies during this time. It is within that time that the greatness and creativity of Beethoven were seen as well as getting much recognition. Five years later were viewed as drought period for him because less effort was put in although he produced few piano sonatas, but he never performed in public.

Beethoven was experiencing hearing difficulties and by 1818 he was completely deaf which was a big blow to his career (Cooper). The years the followed marked his renewal in creativity since he completed his last string quartets, piano sonatas, the Ninth Symphony among other accomplishes. By 1826, Beethoven was suffering from liver failure that was worsening each passing day. Medical attention was given to him as there was an attempt to drain fluid from his abdomen, but no more could be done. He eventually died in 1827 in Vienna.

Even with Beethoven's death his legacy still lives on in many centuries and eras later. Many upcoming composers still look at him and his great creative pieces of work (Clive). Beethoven Monument in Bonn was unveiled in honour of Ludwig van Beethoven in 1845 during his 75th anniversary. Generation of young composers emulating the style of Beethoven is seen with works resembling that of Beethoven. With promising talented composers of classical music like Roger Zare shows the legacy of the classical style of music still lives on and on in the generations to come. Roger Zare is an award-winning composer and pianist just like many other young and upcoming composers in this generation. John Luther Adams is another great classical composer who shows that classical music still reigns. His recent masterpiece won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize.

References

Cooper, Barry. Beethoven. Oxford: Oxford University press, 2008. Print.

Clive, Peter. Beethoven and His World. New York Oxford Press, 2001.

Grout, Donald. History of Western Music. New York, 1973.