Beethoven 1790

AGE 19 - 20 [1790]

Compiled by Gary D. Evans

Last Updated: March 25, 2019 6:59 PM

THE EARLY PERIOD

BONN: 1790 (Age 19 - 20)

Continued bursts of creative activity; 40% of work for voice -

From age 19-21 (1790-1792), Beethoven's creative output grew dramatically along with his maturity. Leaders in Bonn commissioned the two Emperor Cantatas, WoO 87 and WoO 88, to mark the death of Franz Joseph II in 1790 and the accession of Leopold II as Holy Roman Emperor. These were not performed at the time and were lost, then later discovered 90 years later.

Sometime late in December, 1790, Haydn traveled from Vienna to London and stopped in Bonn, where was introduced to Beethoven. On Haydn's July 1792 return trip from London back to Vienna, again stopping in Bonn, they met again and probably discussed the possibility of Beethoven beginning studies with him in Vienna at a future date.

image from 1801
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WORKS CREATED

' op 19: Piano Concerto #2 in Bb	( first completed vers, 2nd '93, 3rd '95)
WoO 5: Concerto movement in C for viola	(first begun) (1790-92). Ded: Gerhard von Breuning
WoO 50: 2 movements of a Sonata in F	(1790-92) Ded to Franz Wegeler
WoO 87:Cantata on death Emp.Joseph II
WoO 88:Cantata on Elev. of Leopold II	(written September - October)
WoO 110: Song Elegie auf den Tod eines Pudels
Hess 12: Oboe Concerto in F	(1790-93?) ( Unheard Beethoven - midi file here)
Hess 33: Minuet in Ab	(1790-92)
Hess 48: Allegretto in Eb for piano, cello & violin	(1790-92)
Hess 88: Piano arr. Of Hess 33	(1790-92) (Unheard Beethoven - midi file here)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

DATE	LIFE NOTES
	Friends at this time included: . Christoph, Lorenz, St. von Breuning Franz Gerhard Wegeler Gerhard & Karl Kugelgen (twins) - painters. Gerhard later painted one of B's portraits. Andreas & Bernard Romberg (cousins) Karl August von Malchus Anton Reichad *Simrock (horn player, later pub for him
Feb 20	Emperor Joseph II's death - news reached Bonn 4 days later. With his death came reversal of his enlightened anticlerical & antifeudal reforms. This resulted in Austrian withdrawal from changes that were underway in Europe. Secret police were operating but middle class money was tied to the welfare of the court. This, then suppressed major objection to secret police tactics. The lesser aristocrats (Beethoven's friends) relied on the social fabric for their positions.
Feb 24	The literary society of Bonn immediately planned a Joseph II memorial for Mar19th.
Feb 28	Text for a cantata on Joseph's death was presented in Bonn. B. was asked to write the music. [Kerman p7]
Mar 17	Beethoven's plan to perform the setting of his cantata was abandoned (later became WoO87)
Sep 30	Leopold II election as Emperor
Oct 8 ?	Coronation of Leopold II. ? Oct 9 ?
Oct 23	Third Bonn opera season opened - including works of Paisiello, Dalayrac, and Umlauf.
Dec 25 ?	Franz Joseph Haydn [1732-1809] traveled from Vienna to London, stopping in Bonn. (He had been under service to Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy at Eisenstadt from 1761. In 1762 the prince died & was succeeded by Princehim. Prince Nicolaus died in 1790, then succeeded by Prince Anton. He cared little for music but continued Haydn's position w/ few demands however; this left Haydn free to travel. That same year he therefore accepted invitation of London impresario Johann Peter Salomon [1745-1815] to compose series of works & present them via concerts in London. Haydn & Salomon left Vienna, arriving in London Jan 1,1791. He remained there 18 months after which he returned to Vienna.) En-route to England, they stopped in Bonn. It is considered likely that they had dinner w/ B. & other court musicians while there. [Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia] Dec 26 ?