Beethoven – His Life and the 6th Symphony

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Welcome to the Hidden History of Music.  This program dives deeper into the life and times of some of the greatest composers in history. What were their early lives like? What made them the person they became? What was the inspiration behind the music? There are so many questions that are traditionally hidden from our view and uncovering and answering those questions are what this program is all about.

In this episode, I will look closer at one of, if not the, greatest composers of all time. I will take a closer look at Beethoven and also look at his composition  “ Symphony No. 6 in F Major ‘Pastoral’, Op. 68”, commonly known as the “Pastoral Symphony,”  The music in the background is from that symphony, it’s the first track the “Allegro non troppo”  Ready?

First stop on our journey back in time is Bonn, Germany and the date is December 16^th, 1770. The day the Maestro was born.

What type of world was Beethoven born into? Bonn in 1770 was actually a large city with a population of over 300,000. The city was renowned for not only being a center of political influence and power. It was also very much one of Germany’s and Europe’s leading spiritual and trading centers. At that time Germany was a part of what was the Holy Roman Empire and Bonn was the ecclesiastical principality of the region. It was ruled by a bishop and was very much under the control of Rome. Beethoven’s family was employed by the principality, and that gave them a certain level of status and prestige among the population.

One of the most interesting things about Beethoven’s family was that while his Grandfather was a respected musician, his father, Johann while being an accomplished singer was also an alcoholic. His goal or ambition was to turn his son Ludwig into a child prodigy like Mozart. In order to do so, he often made Ludwig practice for hours on end. His methodology was not one of encouragement but instead harsh and demeaning. In spite of, or maybe because of, Beethoven did display an incredible talent from an early age. He worked with and learned from professional musicians such as Christian Gottlob Neefe who taught him how to play Bach’s “Well Tempered Clavier”. it was occasions such as this that clearly showed Beethoven’s talent and helped others to recognize his almost unlimited potential.

He began to realize his potential when he was 12 and published his first composition. This was a set of keyboard variations, that was entitled  “Nine Variations on a March by Ernst Christoph Dressler for piano (C minor) WoO 63.” This clearly displayed his unique talent, because he had started working on it while he was only 10.

Finally at the ripe old age of 22, he moved to Vienna. At that time Vienna was the international capital  of music. He moved there in order to study with Joseph Haydn. As is often the case when two brilliant and talented people try to work together, especially when one is trying to teach or serve as a mentor, tensions will arise between them. The Haydn – Beethoven relationship was no different. Even though there was friction between the two, the Lichnowskys, one of Vienna’s most prominent families, took notice of Beethoven and he was able to gain their support. During this time, he began to establish himself as one of the most brilliant pianists, and he was most noted for his ability to improvise. It was also during his Vienna days that he composed the first two of his piano concertos. Both of which clearly showed how much both Haydn and Mozart had influenced him. The two pieces, ‘1^st String Quartets” and “Symphony Number 1” clearly showed glimpses of his powerful and truly innovative style. Unfortunately, this was also the time when he began to experience difficulty hearing. As was and is the case with hearing loss, it continued to grow worse over time. He realized that it was incurable around 1802, at which time he wrote to his brothers telling them of his despair and how he thought of committing suicide. His letter is known as the “Heiligenstadt Testament”, and while it was indeed dark and foreboding, he continued to compose because his music and his art were his sole reason for living.

It was during this time that he composed some of the works he is most known for including:

“Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”)” in 1803. This was initially dedicated to Napoleon, but he changed the dedication due to his disillusionment with Napoleon’s raw ambition to create an empire.  In 1804 and 1805, he composed, The Waldstein and Appassionato Piano Sonatas” and then in 1807 – 1808 he composed both hie famous “Symphony No. 5” and the focus of this episode, “Symphony No. 6”

Commonly known as the “Pastoral Symphony,” the 6^th Symphony clearly displays how deeply Beethoven loved nature. The notes take the listener on a journey through the countryside and is often thought of as one of, if not the, earliest examples of what is known as programmatic music. Programmatic music is music that tells a story or in many cases actually helps the listener hear extra-musical ideas. While it was mostly composed during the 1807-1808 time period, there are some of his papers that suggest he was working on it as early as 1802.

He premiered the piece in Vienna on December 22^nd, 1808, at the same time as he premiered his 5^th, Symphony.  The composition is most notable for each of its 5 movements, evoking an image of various aspects of the natural world. The movements are:

Allegro ma non troppo – “Awakening of Cheerful Feelings Upon Arrival in the Countryside”. When listening to this piece, the audience is given a calm and joyful, almost playful introduction to nature.

Andante molto mosso – “Scene by the Brook” – if you’ve ever sat by a brook or creek and listened to the water flowing by while birds sang in the nearby trees, you’ll recognize the feelings this gives you. In fact, if you listen carefully, you will hear how the woodwind section of the orchestra imitate the calls of nightingales, quails, and cuckoos.

Allegro – “Merry Gathering of Country Folk” – Takes the listener back to those days of a family or group picnic, A gathering of friends and family mostly in rural settings.

Allegro – “Thunderstorm” – Living in the country, hearing the sounds of thunder as they interrupt an otherwise idyllic outdoor gathering. 

Allegretto – “Shepherd’s Song – Happy and Thankful Feelings After the Storm” Once the storm has passed, the air is cleaner, the birds resume singing, and nature returns to a state of relaxation and peacefulness.

The Pastoral Symphony was truly groundbreaking in how it clearly laid out a program that people could follow and understand. It also was a foundation for other composers such as Berlioz, Liszt, and Wagner, each of whom expanded on the concept of telling a story through symphonic music.  In addition to individual composers, most music historians believe that it also served as an important influence on the Romantic movement, when composers such as Mendelssohn (Scottish and Italian Symphonies), Mahler, and Richard Strauss began to incorporate themes inspired by nature into their music.

The Pastoral Symphony is one of Beethoven’s most beloved compositions. The way he wove the elements together, with its lyrical beauty, a truly unique storytelling approach, and the emotional depth it display that has helped to make it a timeless masterpiece.

Even though many consider the 5^th and 6^th to be masterpieces, they were not the culmination of his work. From 1808 through 1815, he continued to compose. This period has been labeled his “Heroic Period and Masterpieces”  and despite his hearing loss many music historians believe this might have been his most creative period. Perhaps his most famous concert was the one he gave in Vienna in 1808, when he featured the premier of both his “5th and 6th Symphonies” the “Choral Fantasy”, and other works.

Some of his notable works that he produced during this period include: 

In 1812, “Symphony No. 7” also known as “the apotheosis of the dance” It derived this name due to its rhythmic drive.  Also, in 1812 “Symphony No. 8” – this is a very playful, light-hearted symphony, which when you consider his hearing loss is very special.

Then in 1814, he revised “Fidelio” which was originally composed in 1805 This is his only opera, in which he emphasized the overall themes of freedom and justice.

His life from 1815 until his death in 1827, could be considered a life of personal struggle but also a time in which he still produced important works.  It was during this time that he produced, ”Symphony No. 9 (“Choral”)” This work included the famous “Ode to Joy,” and it was one of the first times a choir was included in a symphony.

Beethoven’s health continued to deteriorate and eventually he succumbed from liver disease in March of 1827. He was 56 and his funeral was attended by an estimate of over 20,000 people.

Beethoven’s influence on the musical world cannot be overstated, that is why 200 years after his passing, his music is still performed in all parts of the globe.