AGE 32 - 33 [1803]
Compiled by Gary D. Evans
Last Updated:
March 25, 2019 7:04 PM
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WORKS CREATED
op 37: 3rd piano concerto |
(completed March w/ 1st sketches 1796) |
Op 38: Trio for Piano, Clarinet or Violin and Cello in Eb | arrangement of Septet op. 20 |
Op 41: Serenade for pianoforte and flute/violin in D | arrangement of Serenade op. 25 |
Op 42: Nocturne for pianoforte and viola in D | (arrangement of op. 8) |
op 45: 3 Marches for Piano Duet | (Aug) (Com.'ed by Count Brown after Ries jokingly played an extemporized march for the count and other aristocrats in Baden supposedly written by B. (see notes - May) (2nd of the marches was actually composed while B. instructing Ries on the piano re: an upcoming perf. of a sonata. [Wegeler/Ries p80]) NOTE: Anderson letter #61 mentions that two of the marches were written in Heiligenstadt - this could be interpreted to suggest a later date of composition. Instead, it is likely that B. referred to writing in Heiligenstadt as he was actually staying in Oberdobling, within less than a mile from there. |
op 47: Violin Sonata - Kreutzer | (rapidly written w/ 1st perf. May 24) |
op 53: Piano Sonata - Waldstein | (Written Nov - Dec w/ WoO57 [Andante Favori] as 2nd movement. Heroic/Symphonic quality) (Begun just after op55 3rd symphony, completed either Dec. 1803 or early 1804) |
op 55: 3rd symphony [Eroica] | (June - Oct.) (Per Ries, written in Heiligenstadt [p63]) [3rd symphony "broke mold"... Haydn & Mozart had shown that melody could not hold audience more than few min's. They mastered use of harmonic tension to sustain large scale structures. B. went further w/ 1st movement creating single span of uninterrupted music of unprecedented length. NOTE: Funeral movement suggests ambiv. Toward authority - ? patricidal overtones]. The initial idea for this "Heroic Symphony" came from General Bernadote, the French Ambassador in Vienna and Napoleon's aide-De-camp in the campaign of late 1790. Bernadotte met B. in 1798 soon after his arrival. [Per Ira Brilliant Center Exhibit 1997: "The symphony was to proclaim with new rhythms, combinations of instruments, harmonies, phrases, a musical revolution born of social revolution."] |
op 85: Christus am Oelberge | (written out in few wks: Feb thru Mar) |
op 88: Song w/ piano, "Das gluck der Freundshaft" | |
WoO 55: Prelude in f | |
WoO 56: Bagatelle in C for piano (allegretto) | |
WoO 78: 7 vars "God Save the King" in C | |
WoO 79: 5 vars on "Rule Britannia" in D | |
WoO 82: Minuet for piano in bE | |
WoO129: "Der Wachtelschlag" (TheQuail) | (arr. of op122) |
Hess 52: 8 Songs | |
Hess 55: Prelude in f | |
Hess 56: Bagatelle in C for pianoforte (Allegretto) | |
Hess 68: Laendler in C Minor | |
Hess 72: Minuet for Piano in Eb | |
Hess 115: Vestal flame | (Begun in June - abandoned in Dec when B. 1st read libretto of Leonore) |
Hess 141: Busslied op 48 #6 - another version of the last 12 bars | |
Hess 229: "Canguisco e moro" | (early) |
Hess 274: untexted canon in G | |
Hess 275: untexted canon in Ab | (Nov) ? designation: Improv. on Haydn's, "God save Emperor Franz," (April) |
Hess 324: Melody in C minor | |
Hess 325: Piece in D | |
Hess 327: 2 Little Melodies in A minor |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
DATE
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Rise of French democracy. Count Pergen, chief of Secret Police, warned the Emperor that subversive elements were a threat to Viennese monarchical govt. and was thus given authority to act w/ establishment of spy networks built at every level of Viennese life. B. found subsequent protection via his ties to the archbishop. |
Jan
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Employed as composer at the Theater an der Wien, short time later (April) moved w/ Casper into a company flat at the theater until early 1804 (8-9 months). |
Jan 22
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B. wrote in Wiener Zeitung, attacking the Artaria publication of op 29 - describing it as 'very faulty, incorrect, and utterly useless to players.' He further accused Artaria of stealing the work. |
Feb 14
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Arteria successfully sued for statements made. The court agreed with the demand that Beethoven offer a retraction of his earlier statements - B. refused to render a full retraction. |
Feb - Mar
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Christus am Oelberge composed and 3rd Piano Concerto was completed. |
March
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As opera was then a road to fame and wealth w/ local writing poor, B. enthusiastically accepted an invitation to write an opera for Schikaneder's Theater (Theater on der Wien). Revolutionary, Parisian opera was then doing well. [Kerman p35] Plan was abandoned in December in favor of Leonore. |
Apr 5
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A benefit concert was held at Theater an der Wien: 1st perf. Oratorio (op85): Cristus om Oelberge (Christ on the Mt. of Olives), 1st perf. of op37: 3rd Piano Conc. along w/ 1st symp in C & 2nd symp. in D. The 3rd Piano Concerto was rehearsed for the first time the am of the perf. (Rehearsal began 8am w/ exhaustion and poor results by 2:30 pm. Prince Lichnowsky (to whom 2nd sym. Dedicated) ordered out for wine and great baskets of cold meat, bread and butter. He asked everyone to join in, enlivening the performers. After this, Lichnowsky asked for one more rehearsal of the oratorio. The performance was at 6pm. [Wegeler pg. 66] ; B. performed it from memory w/ a few notes. (Beethoven received a total of ~1800 Gulden) |
April
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Moved to Th.: 26 An der Wien, Laimgrube |
April
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[Date per Pollini CD] George Bridgetower, virtuoso violinist, arrived in Vienna. Lichnowsky intro. to B. & B. suggested he premier the new Violin Sonata. (set for 5/24). (Both men seeking same woman - rift ensued. Title changed from the Bridgetower Sonata to Kreutzer (Napoleon's princ. violinist) as B. was considering Paris move. (Kreutzer never played it, stated"unintelligible monstrosity" |
April
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op 31 #1 & #2 Sonatas and op34 variations published |
May - Oct
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Moved to Baden (?addr.) then to Vienna, Oberdobling: 4 Hofzeile, a single story house until the 1840's when a second story was added, (now Doblinger HauptstraBe 92) until May 1804. Time there was devoted to the first draft of the Eroica Symphony. See House Image |
May
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B. arranged series of piano perf's by Ries for Count Browne then in Baden. Ries played from music & memory. "One day", Ries wrote, "tired of playing by heart, I played a march which I made up as I went along without giving it any further thought." As the music was believed to be B's - it was met w/ enthusiastic approval, esp. from an old countess who adored B. "As luck would have it, B. himself came to Baden the next day. He had hardly entered the room at Count Browne's when the old lady began rattling on about the exceptionally magnificent march which bore the stamp of genius. Imagine my embarrassment! Knowing full well that B. could not stand the old countess, I quickly pulled him aside and whispered to him how I had only wanted to make fun of her foolishness." B. was amused by all of this. Ries then was asked to repeat the perf. w/ B. standing beside him! It did not go as well as the night before but everyone offered "the most extravagant praise." B. listened to all this "in utter confusion and anger, until at last he dissolved into roaring laughter." B. later told Ries, "There you see, my dear Ries! These are the connoisseurs who aspire to judge all music so correctly and astutely. Just give them the name of their darling; more than that they do not need." Ct. Brown then immed. com'd 3 marches (for 4 hands) op45. |
May 24
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Bridgetower recital performance of Violin Sonata - op 47 (w/ Beethoven) (Initially scheduled for 2 days earlier, May 22nd -- why the delay?) |
May 28
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Publication announcement of Violin Sonata op30 and Bagatelles op33 |
June
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Beethoven and Schikaneder began plans for new opera, Vestas Feuer |
June-Oct
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Eroica Symphony composed. |
July 20
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First correspondence received from Scottish publisher George Thompson regarding composition of a set of Scottish songs. Beethoven's replied 2 and 1/2 months later - Oct 5th. |
Aug 4
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Second performance of "Christmus am Oelberge" op 85 |
Aug 6
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Paris piano maker Sebastian Erard sends B. new piano w/ high c"" newly extended. |
Aug
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Gellert lieder op48 published |
Aug
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Eroica variations op33 published |
Aug
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3 marches for piano duet op45 composed |
Sept
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B. sold op39-44 to publisher Hoffmeister & Kuhnel for 50 ducats -- they were formally published 3 months later - December 1803 - January 1804 |
Sept
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Letter to Hoffmeister: "Please remember that all my acquaintances hold appointments & know exactly what they have to live on...." Complaining that he does not have appointment w/ steady $$. |
Nov
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Shortly after receiving ded of Moonlight, C. Giulietta Guicciardi, then age 18½ yo married Count von Gallenberg, a 19yo prolific ballet music composer & severed close relations w/ B. - then in love w/ her |
?
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1st perf. of 2nd sym. in D - criticized |
?
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B. went friend C. Marie Erody - took refuge. [while there could not be found - days later found in remote garden, w/o food for days - a possible suicide attempt. |
?
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[?1803] Close to Baroness von Ertmann who helped B. with concerts. She and her husband lost their child and B. played the piano for her - soothing her grief. [per Man of His Word pg21] |
Nov-Dec
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Waldstein Sonata composed using WoO 57 as the 2nd movement. |
Winter
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B. (age 32-33) 1st met Archduke Rudolf (age 15-16) in the Winter of 1803-1804, most likely at one of the aristocratic concerts at which B. performed. By that time Rudolph was an accomplished pianist and performing as well. He began collecting music in 1801 and contained several volumes including one dedicated to B's work alone. Rudolph was the youngest of 16 children & had a familial seizure disorder. His father was Leopold, Grand Duke of Tuscany; his mother was Princes Maria Ludovica. Leopold was the brother of the reigning Austrian Emperor Joseph II who succeeded to the throne in 1790 ruling for 2 years only until his death. The throne then went to his eldest son, 24yo Franz. {B.Newsletter v7#3 Winter 1792] |
Dec
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Abandoned plans to write an opera, Vestas Feuer, with Schikaneder in favor of the opera - Leonore [Pollini CD] |