Beethoven - interesting facts from life. Ludwig van Beethoven - biography, creativity

Ludwig van Beethoven still remains a phenomenon in the world of music. He created his first works as a young man. Beethoven, interesting facts from whose life to this day they make him admire his personality, considered all his life that his destiny was to be a great composer and musician, which he, in fact, was.

The family of Ludwig van Beethoven

A unique musical talent in the family was the grandfather and father of Ludwig. Despite his ancestral origins, the first managed to become a Kapellmeister at the court in Bonn. Ludwig van Beethoven Sr. had a unique voice and hearing. After the birth of Johann's son, his wife Maria-Theresa, who had a predilection for alcohol, was sent to a monastery. The boy, after reaching the age of six, began to learn singing. The child had a great voice. Later, men from the genre Beethoven even performed together on the same stage. Unfortunately, Ludwig's father was not very talented and hardworking grandfather, which is why he did not reach such heights. What did not take away from Johann, it's love for alcohol.

Beethoven's mother was the daughter of the Elector's cook. A well-known grandfather was against this marriage, but, nevertheless, did not interfere. Maria-Magdalena Koverich was already a widow at the age of 18. Of the seven children in the new family, only three survived. Maria was very fond of her son Ludwig, and he, in turn, was very attached to his mother.

Childhood and Youth

Date of birth of Ludwig van Beethoven does not appear in any documents. Historians assume that the second child in the Beethoven family was born on December 16, 1770, because he was baptized on December 17, and according to the Catholic custom, children were baptized the next day after birth.

When the boy was three years old, his grandfather, the elder Ludwig Beethoven, died, and my mother was waiting for the child. After the birth of another son, she could not pay attention to her eldest son. The child grew up as a bully, for which he was often locked in a room with a harpsichord. But, surprisingly, he did not tear the strings: little Ludwig van Beethoven (composer in the future) sat and improvised, playing with both hands simultaneously, which is unusual for young children. Once, during this occupation, the child found his father. Ambition played in him. Suddenly his little Ludwig is as much a genius as Mozart? It was from this time that Johann began to study with his son, but often hired teachers more qualified than himself.

While Grandfather was alive, who was in fact the head of the clan, little Ludwig Beethoven lived comfortably. Years after the death of Beethoven, Sr. became a severe test for the child. The family was constantly in need because of his father's drunkenness, and the thirteen-year-old Ludwig became the main earner of livelihood.

Attitude towards study

As noted by contemporaries and friends of musical genius, rarely in those days met such inquisitive mind, which possessed Beethoven. Interesting facts from the life of the composer are connected with his arithmetical illiteracy. Perhaps a talented pianist could not master mathematics because he had to work without finishing school, and maybe it's all about a purely humanitarian mindset. Ludwig van Beethoven can not be called ignorant. He read books in volumes, loved Shakespeare, Homer, Plutarch, was fond of works by Goethe and Schiller, knew French and Italian, and mastered Latin. And it was precisely the inquisitiveness of the mind that he owed his knowledge, and not the education received at school.

Teachers of Beethoven

From early childhood Beethoven's music, unlike the works of his contemporaries, was born in his head. He played variations on all kinds of compositions known to him, but because of his father's conviction that it was too early for him to compose melodies, the boy did not write down his compositions for a long time.

Teachers, which his father brought him, at times were just his drinking companions, and sometimes became mentors of a virtuoso.

The first person, whom Beethoven himself recalls with warmth, was the friend of his grandfather - the court organist Eden. Actor Pfeifer taught to play the boy on the flute and harpsichord. For a while, the monk Koch taught a gifted child and then Khantsman. Then appeared the violinist Romantini.

When the boy was 7 years old, his father decided that the work of Beethoven, Jr. should become public, and organized his concert in Cologne. According to the experts, Johann realized that the outstanding pianist from Ludwig did not work, and, nevertheless, the father continued to lead to the son of the teachers.

Mentors

Soon Christian Gottlob Nephe arrived in the city of Bonn. Whether he himself came to the house of Beethoven and expressed a desire to become a teacher of young talent, or Father Johann put his hand to this, it is not known. Nef became that mentor, whom Beethoven-composer remembered all his life. Ludwig, after his confession, even sent Nef and Pfeiffer some money as a token of gratitude for the years of training and assistance extended to him in his youth. It was Nef who helped promote the thirteen-year musician at court. It was he who introduced Beethoven to the work of Bach and other luminaries of the musical world.

Beethoven's work was influenced not only by Bach - the young genius idolized Mozart. Once upon arrival in Vienna, he even had the good fortune to play for the great Amadeus. In the beginning, the great Austrian composer took the game of Ludwig coldly, taking it as a previously learned work. Then the stubborn pianist suggested that Mozart himself set the topic for variations. From that moment, Wolfgang Amadeus listened, without interruption, to the game of the young man, and later exclaimed that the whole world would soon start talking about the young talent. The words of the classic became prophetic.

Beethoven managed to take a few lessons from Mozart. Soon came the news of the mother's close death, and the young man left Vienna.

After his teacher was such a famous composer as Joseph Haydn, but they did not find a common language. And one of the mentors - Johann Georg Albrechtsberger - considered Beethoven a complete lack of talent and a man incapable of learning anything.

Character of the musician

The history of Beethoven and the vicissitudes of his life left a noticeable imprint on his work, made his face morose, but did not break the stubborn and strong-willed youth. In July 1787, the closest person to Ludwig, his mother, died. The young man suffered a great loss. After the death of Mary-Magdalene, he himself went blind - he was struck down by typhus, and then smallpox. On the face of the young man there were ulcers, and my eyes were struck by myopia. Care for the two younger brothers is still immature young man takes over. His father had by then finally drunk off and died after 5 years.

All these life troubles affected the character of the young man. He became closed and unsociable. Was often sullen and harsh. But his friends and contemporaries argue that, despite such an unbridled disposition, Beethoven remained a true friend. Money helped all his friends who needed, provided the brothers and their children. It is not surprising that Beethoven's music seemed to his contemporaries gloomy and gloomy, because it was a complete reflection of the inner world of the maestro himself.

Personal life

Little is known about the spiritual experiences of the great musician. Beethoven was attached to children, loved beautiful women, but the family did not create. It is known that the first of his was the daughter of Elena von Breining - Lorkhen. She was dedicated to Beethoven's music of the late 80's.

Juliette Guicciardi became the first serious love of the great genius. This is not surprising, because the fragile Italian woman was beautiful, flexible, and had a propensity for music, and her already focused thirty-year-old teacher-Beethoven focused on her. Interesting facts about the life of a genius are connected with this particular person. Sonata No. 14, later called "Lunar", was dedicated to this particular angel in the flesh. Beethoven wrote letters to his friend Franz Wegler, in which he confessed his fervent feelings for Juliet. But after a year of classes and gentle friendship, Juliet married Count Gallenberg, whom she considered more talented. There are reports that in a few years their marriage was unsuccessful, and Juliet turned to Beethoven for help. A former lover gave me money, but asked me not to come again.

Theresa Brunswick - another student of the great composer - became his new hobby. She devoted herself to raising children and charity. Until the end of life Beethoven associated with her friendship by correspondence.

Bettina Brentano - writer and girlfriend of Goethe - was the last hobby of the composer. But in 1811 she also linked her life with another writer.

The longest affection of Beethoven was the love of music.

Music of the great composer

Creativity Beethoven immortalized his name in history. All his works are masterpieces of world classical music. In the years of the composer's life, his style of performance and musical compositions were innovative. In the lower and upper register at the same time, no one played it and did not compose melodies.

In the work of the composer, art historians distinguish several periods:

• Early, when variations and plays were written. Then Beethoven composed several songs for children.
• The first - the Viennese period - dates from 1792-1802. Already the well-known pianist and composer completely refuses from the manner of performance peculiar to him in Bonn. Beethoven's music becomes absolutely innovative, lively, sensual. The manner of performance makes spectators listen in one breath, soak up the sounds of beautiful melodies. The author numbered his new masterpieces. At this time he writes chamber ensembles and plays for piano.

• 1803 - 1809 years. Were characterized by gloomy works reflecting the raging passions of Ludwig van Beethoven. During this period he wrote his only opera Fidelio. All the compositions of this period are filled with drama and tear.
• The music of the last period is more measured and complex for perception, and some spectators did not perceive any concerts at all. Ludwig van Beethoven did not take such a reaction. The sonata dedicated to the ex-duke Rudolph was written at this time.

Until the end of his days, the great, but already very sick composer continued to compose music, which later became a masterpiece of the world musical heritage of the XVIII century.

Disease

Beethoven was an extraordinary and very hot-tempered person. Interesting facts from life relate to the period of his illness. In 1800, the musician began to feel a ringing in his ears. After a while, the doctors admitted that the ailment was incurable. The composer was on the verge of suicide. He left society and the upper world and lived in seclusion for a while. After a while, Ludwig continued to write from memory, reproducing sounds in his head. This period in the composer's work is called "heroic." By the end of life Beethoven completely deaf.

The last way of the great composer

The death of Beethoven was a huge grief for all the fans of the composer. He died on March 26, 1827. The reason was not clarified. For a long time Beethoven suffered from liver disease, he suffered from abdominal pain. According to another version, the genius sent to the next world the mental anguish associated with the slovenliness of his nephew.

Recent data obtained by British scientists indicate that the composer could inadvertently poison himself with lead. The content of this metal in the body of musical genius was 100 times higher than normal.

Beethoven: interesting facts from life

Let us summarize the foregoing in the article. Beethoven's life, like his death, was overgrown with many rumors and inaccuracies.

The date of birth of a healthy boy in the Beethoven family still raises doubts and disputes. Some historians argue that the parents of the future musical genius were sick, and therefore a priori could not have healthy children.

The composer's talent was awakened in the child from the first lessons of playing the harpsichord: he played tunes that were in his head. Father under pain of punishment forbade the baby to reproduce unreal melodies, it was only allowed to read from the sheet.

The music of Beethoven had an imprint of sadness, gloominess and some despondency. One of his teachers - the great Joseph Haydn - wrote about this to Ludwig. And the latter, in turn, retorted that Haydn had not taught him anything.

Before composing music, Beethoven dipped his head into a basin of icy water. Some experts argue that such procedures could cause him to deaf.

The musician loved coffee and brewed it always from 64 grains.

Like any great genius, Beethoven was indifferent to his appearance. He often walked disheveled and untidy.

On the day of the death of the musician, nature raged: the storm broke with a blizzard, hail and thunder. At the last moment of his life, Beethoven raised his fist and threatened the sky or higher powers.

One of the great sayings of genius: "Music must strike fire from the human soul."