Beethoven - interesting facts from life. Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven remains a phenomenon in the world of music today. This man created his first works as a young man. Beethoven, interesting facts from whose life to this day make one admire his personality, believed all his life that his destiny was to be a musician, which he, in fact, was.

Ludwig van Beethoven family

Ludwig's grandfather and father had a unique musical talent in the family. Despite the rootless origin, the first managed to become a bandmaster at the court in Bonn. Ludwig van Beethoven Sr. had a unique voice and ear. After the birth of his son Johann, his wife Maria Theresa, who was addicted to alcohol, was sent to a monastery. The boy, upon reaching the age of six, began to learn to sing. The child had a great voice. Later, men from the Beethoven family even performed together on the same stage. Unfortunately, Ludwig's father was not distinguished by his grandfather's great talent and diligence, which is why he did not reach such heights. What could not be taken away from Johann was the love of alcohol.

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

Childhood and youth

The date of birth of Ludwig van Beethoven is not listed in any documents. Historians suggest that Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770, since he was baptized on December 17, and according to Catholic custom, children were baptized the day after birth.

When the boy was three years old, his grandfather, the elder Ludwig Beethoven, died, and his mother was expecting a child. After the birth of another offspring, 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 break the strings: little Ludwig van Beethoven (later composer) sat down and improvised, playing with both hands at the same time, which is unusual for small children. One day, the father caught the child doing this. He had ambition. What if his little Ludwig is the same 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 the grandfather was alive, who was actually the head of the family, little Ludwig Beethoven lived comfortably. The years after the death of Beethoven Sr. became an ordeal for the child. The family was constantly in need because of his father's drunkenness, and thirteen-year-old Ludwig became the main earner of livelihood.

Attitude towards learning

As contemporaries and friends of the musical genius noted, it was rare in those days to meet such an inquisitive mind that Beethoven possessed. Interesting facts from the life of the composer are also connected with his arithmetic illiteracy. Perhaps the talented pianist did not manage to master mathematics due to the fact that, without finishing school, he was forced to work, or perhaps the whole thing is in a purely humanitarian mindset. Ludwig van Beethoven cannot be called ignorant. He read literature in volumes, adored Shakespeare, Homer, Plutarch, was fond of the works of Goethe and Schiller, knew French and Italian, mastered Latin. And it was the inquisitiveness of the mind that he owed his knowledge, and not the education received at school.

Beethoven's teachers

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.

The teachers that his father brought him were sometimes just his drinking companions, and sometimes became mentors to the virtuoso.

The first person, whom Beethoven himself recalls with warmth, was his grandfather's friend, the court organist Eden. Actor Pfeifer taught the boy to play the flute and harpsichord. For some time, the monk Koch taught to play the organ, and then Hantsman. Then came 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 experts, Johann realized that an outstanding pianist from Ludwig did not work out, and, nevertheless, the father continued to bring teachers to his son.

Mentors

Soon Christian Gottlob Nefe arrived in the city of Bonn. Whether he himself came to Beethoven's house and expressed a desire to become a teacher of young talent, or Father Johann had a hand in this, is unknown. Nefe became the mentor that Beethoven the composer remembered all his life. Ludwig, after his confession, even sent Nefe and Pfeiffer some money as a token of gratitude for the years of study and the help given to him in his youth. It was Nefe who helped promote the thirteen-year-old musician at court. It was he who introduced Beethoven to 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 was even lucky enough to play for the great Amadeus. At first, the great Austrian composer took Ludwig's game coldly, mistaking it for a piece he had previously learned. Then the stubborn pianist invited Mozart to set the theme for the variations himself. From that moment on, Wolfgang Amadeus listened to the young man's game without interruption, and later exclaimed that the whole world would soon talk about the young talent. The words of the classic became prophetic.

Beethoven managed to take several playing lessons from Mozart. Soon the news came of the imminent death of his mother, and the young man left Vienna.

After his teacher was such as Joseph Haydn, but they did not find And one of the mentors - Johann Georg Albrechtsberger - considered Beethoven to be a complete mediocrity and a person unable to learn anything.

Musician character

The story of Beethoven and the ups and downs of his life left a noticeable imprint on his work, made his face gloomy, but did not break the stubborn and strong-willed young man. In July 1787, the closest person to Ludwig, his mother, dies. The young man took the loss hard. After the death of Mary Magdalene, he himself fell ill - he was struck down by typhus, and then by smallpox. Ulcers remained on the face of the young man, and myopia struck his eyes. The still immature young man takes care of the two younger brothers. His father by that time finally drank himself and died 5 years later.

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

Personal life

Very little is known about the emotional experiences of the great musician. Beethoven was attached to children, loved beautiful women, but he never created a family. It is known that his first bliss was the daughter of Helena von Breining - Lorchen. Beethoven's music of the late 80s was dedicated to her.

It became the first serious love of the great genius. This is not surprising, because the fragile Italian was beautiful, complaisant and had a penchant for music, and the already mature thirty-year-old teacher Beethoven focused his eyes on her. Interesting facts from the life of a genius are associated 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 Wegeler, in which he confessed his passionate feelings for Juliet. But after a year of study and tender friendship, Juliet married Count Gallenberg, whom she considered more talented. There is evidence that after a few years their marriage was unsuccessful, and Juliet turned to Beethoven for help. The former lover gave money, but asked not to come again.

Teresa Brunswick - another student of the great composer - became his new hobby. She devoted herself to raising children and philanthropy. Until the end of his life, Beethoven had a correspondence friendship with her.

Bettina Brentano - writer and friend of Goethe - became the composer's last passion. But in 1811 she connected her life with another writer.

Beethoven's longest attachment was the love of music.

Music of the great composer

Beethoven's work immortalized his name in history. All his works are masterpieces of world classical music. During 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 before him, no one played and did not compose melodies.

In the composer's work, art historians distinguish several periods:

Early, when variations and plays were written. Then Beethoven composed several songs for children.
The first - the Vienna period - dates from 1792-1802. The already well-known pianist and composer completely abandons the manner of performance characteristic of him in Bonn. Beethoven's music becomes absolutely innovative, lively, sensual. The manner of performance makes the audience listen in one breath, absorb the sounds of beautiful melodies. The author numbers his new masterpieces. During this time he wrote chamber ensembles and piano pieces.

1803 - 1809 were characterized by dark works reflecting the raging passions of Ludwig van Beethoven. During this period, he writes his only opera, Fidelio. All compositions of this period are filled with drama and anguish.
The music of the last period is more measured and difficult to perceive, and the audience did not perceive some concerts at all. Ludwig van Beethoven did not accept 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 would later become a masterpiece of the world musical heritage of the 18th century.

Disease

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

The last path of the great composer

The death of Beethoven was a great grief for all admirers of the composer. He died on March 26, 1827. The reason has not been clarified. For a long time, Beethoven suffered from liver disease, he was tormented by abdominal pain. According to another version, the genius was sent to the other world by mental anguish associated with the sloppiness of his nephew.

The latest data obtained by British scientists suggests that the composer could have inadvertently poisoned himself with lead. The content of this metal in the body of a musical genius was 100 times higher than the norm.

Beethoven: interesting facts from life

Let's summarize a little what was said 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 is still in doubt and controversy. Some historians argue that the parents of the future musical genius were sick, and therefore a priori could not have healthy children.

The talent of the composer woke up in the child from the first lessons of playing the harpsichord: he played the melodies that were in his head. The father, under pain of punishment, forbade the baby to reproduce unrealistic melodies, it was only allowed to read from a sheet.

Beethoven's music had an imprint of sadness, gloom and some despondency. One of his teachers - the great Joseph Haydn - wrote to Ludwig about this. And he, in turn, retorted that Haydn had taught him nothing.

Before composing musical works, Beethoven dipped his head in a basin of ice water. Some experts claim that this kind of procedure could have caused his deafness.

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

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

On the day of the musician's death, nature was rampant: bad weather broke out 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 a genius: "Music should strike fire from the human soul."