BEGINNING LATE PERIOD

VIENNA - 1815 (Age 44 years)

Therewas a significant drop in Beethoven's work between 1815 and 1817 duringwhich time he suffered from prolonged illnesses and from the emotionalburden of failed romances and from caring for his ill brother CasperCarl, who finally died November 15, 1815 of tuberculosis. Given Beethoven'sbelief that Carl's wife Johanna was an unfit mother to her nine-year-oldson and Beethoven's nephew, Karl. Before his death, Casper Carl hadestablished his wish to have Beethoven and Johanna share guardianshipof the boy boy; Beethoven fought this vigorously in court. This battleextended through 1820 and caused a great deal of financially and emotionalstress to all parties involved. The many court appearances eventuallyled to the determination (December 18, 1818) that Beethoven was, infact, a commoner - leading to further stress for him. Through thoseyears, Beethoven was quite severe with Karl, and the boy became increasinglyunhappy - eventually leading to a suicide attempt 7/31/1826. Karl survivedand eventually joined the army - escaping the traumatic life surroundingthe custody battles and Beethoven's demands on him.

Beethoven's poor health over 1815-1818 intermittently improved and allowed resurgences of compositional effort. A new, complex style was evolving during this time -- less dramatic, more introspective - described as the beginning of his Third Period Style. Style elements identified in this period include: counterpoint (especially in canon and fugue), the use of trills for nonornimental purposes, syncopation, anticipation for expressive purposes, instrumental recitative with new intensity, contrasting and combinations of extremes of pitch, bold harmonic progressions by means of side-slipping rather than conventional modulation, new form of variations with new significance, and a new style similar to those found in Mozart's last works, e.g. Mozart's finale of K516 and K595). [paraphrased from: L. Decade pg133]

Beethoven's hearing had continually declined, now requiring the daily use of conversation books and requiring help with running his household

1814 Copper Engraving by Hofel

Viennese popular taste ran toward non-serious, dance music. The Viennese, owing to recent military defeats & monetary devaluation were caught in debilitating cycles of anxiety and reprieve. In the words of one observer of the times: supported a fatalistic attitude in many and a popular stage theme of tragedy in which "a desperate man's curse makes Providence the instrument of vengeance, hatred and even blunt stupidity." [L.Dec. p16]

"...the Austrian crown-lands in 1815 were in a state very nearly bordering on collapse. [L.Dec p17]

Between 1815 & 1848 strict literary censorship in place instituted by Metternich and administered by Count Sedlnitzky [L.Dec p101]

"Never outwardly show people the contempt they deserve, because one cannot know when one may need them." [Tagebuch#34]

"Always study from half-past five until Breakfast" [Tagebuch#48]

"But now Fate catches me! Let me not sink into the dust unresisting & inglorious, But first accomplish great things, of which future generations too shall hear!" [Tagebuch#49] (from the Iliad Book 22 pg356)

"Spare even the closest friend your secrets; How can you ask fidelity of him, when you deny it to yourself?" [Tagebuch#59] (from Herder)

"Though often darkly led to evil by passion, I returned through penance and purification to the pure fountain -- to God and to your art" [Diary Entry] [L. Decade pg270 Footnote #1]

      Invitation to Beethoven by Countess Erdody (using the familiar Du form):
		-------------------------------------------------------------------------
		Apollo's foremost son!
		You greatest of great spirits,
		Music's first master,
		Now known to Europe,
		to whom Apollo himself yields,
		And from the Muses' throne
		Rewards with his crown:
		Hear and grant our entreaty,
		Remain today in our midst -
		Great man Beethoven
		Give fiat to our hopes.
		* * *
		The old Marie,
		The young Marie,
		The unique Fritzi
		August ditto
		Magister ipse
		The Accursed Violoncello
		Old Baron of the Empire
		Chief Bailiff
		* * *
		To the laurel-crowned Magesty
		of the noble art of music
		Ludwig v. Beethoven
		a most ardent entreaty
		from the Jedlersee muses
		that their beloved Apollo
		may pass this day
		in their
		midst.
		-------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Man of His Word pg145-6 ref.7 = Brief von Beethoven an Marie Grafai Erdody geb. grafin Nisky, ed: Alfred Schone pg26-27]

		
      From an autograph note of Beethoven's: 


      "on the Kahlenberg 1815 end of September
      in the woods -- 
      I am blissfully
      happy in the
      woods every
      tree speaks
      through you
      Oh God what
      splendor
      in such a 
      wooded place
      on high
      is peace --
      peace to 
      serve him --"