AGE 30 THROUGH AGE 31 - [1801]

TRANSITION TO HEROIC YEARS

[1800 - 1802]

 

WORKS CREATED

op 14:#1 Sonata in E

 
op 19: Piano part: 2nd piano concerto (written out for 1st time in April, and sent to Hoffmister in Leipzig for publication -- see 1800)
op 23: Violin Sonata (completed early)
op 24: Violin Sonata "Spring" (early)
op 25: Serenade in D (comp. in Vienna)
op 26: Piano Sonata (Apr - June)
op 27#1: Piano Sonata Eb New use of moive in left hand. The allegro demonstrates high spirits. Dance music is without introspection
op 27#2: Piano Sonata c (Moonlight) Ded: Giulietta Guicciardi. Sketched 2 months before B. met giulietta. He initially intended to dedicate the Rondo in G - op51#2 (1802) to her, but it was instead dedicated to Princess Josepha von Liechtenstein); op27#2 was dedicated to Giulietta as a substitute [per Man of His Word p18].
op 28: Piano Sonata in D - Pastoral Statement to friend, Krumpholz: "I am only a little satisfied w/ my previous works. From today on I will take a new path." [B. Impr. by Contemp.p31). There is a new use of dyamics to create a psychological effect.
op 29: String quintet (completed/pub'ed) (Masterpiece in this genre) [Wegeler/Ries p182, ref#48]
op 30#1: Violin Sonata #6 in A (begun)
op 30#2: Violin Sonata #7 in c (begun)
op 30#3: Violin Sonata #8 in G (begun) (Completed #1-3 in 1802)
op 36: 2'd symphony (in process) being written
op 40: Violin Romance  
op 43: Creatures of Promethius Opening section allegro non troppo is 1st sketch of "storm" section of 6th sym. Closing dance: earliest use of Eroica finale theme. (Very successful w/ repeat perf. x23)
op 48: 6 Gellert Lieder #1 "Bitten," #2 "Die Liebe des Nachsten," #3 "Vom Tode," #4 "Die Ehre Gotter aus der Natur," #5 "Gott er nacht und Vorschung," #6 "BuBlied" #1 expresses pious resignation; considered a distinguished piece as is #3
WoO 46: variations for cello & piano in Eb on Mozart's Magic flute, "Bei Mannern, welche Liebe Fuhlen"  
WoO 100: Lob auf den Dicken: Musikalischer Scherz (late)
Hess 34: St.quartet in F (arranged from piano Hess 38: St.quartet arr. of Bach's Fugue in Bb from Book 1 of the "48"
Hess 90: Piano arrangement of op 43: "Die Geschofpe des Prometheus"  

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

DATE
LIFE NOTES
OTHER NOTES
Jan B. commissioned to write the music score for Vigano's ballet 'Die Geschopfe des Prometheus (Premiered March 28th)

 
Jan 15 Beethoven sent a letter to Franz Anton Hoffmeister (publisher in Leipzig) in reponse to an earlier letter received, offering several works for publication including septet op20, 1st Symphony op21, Piano Concerto #2 op19, Piano Sonata #11 op22 (described as "first rate"). He discusses the difficulty of working in the business world as an artist. [Anderson v1 letter #44]  
Jan 30 Beethoven and Stich performed the Horn Sonata, op17 at a charity concert in Vienna.  
Mar 21 Publication announcement for: 1st piano concerto op15, Quintet op16, Horn Sonata op17  
Mar 28 First performance of Prometheus at the Burgtheater with several subsequent performances..  
Spring Moved to 1275 Wasserkunstbastei (now Seilerstatte 15), Hambergsches Haus until May 1802 (12 months).  
Apr Piano portion of 2nd Piano Concerto op 19 written out and sent to Hoffmeister for publication  
Apr-June Piano Sonata op26 composed.  
June 21 Beethoven sent a letter to Franz Anton Hoffmeister (Leipzig publisher) regarding Septet op20, answering an apparent accusation or suggestion that Beethoven had sold the piece to another publisher as well as Hoffmeister. [Anderson v1 letter #50]  
June String quartets op18 (#1,2,3) published  
June - mid Stephan von Breuning moved to Vienna.  
June 29 Letter to Wegeler mentioning difficulty with hearing, his musical success and workload, etc.  
Summer Spent portion of the summer in Hetzendorf (in the country near Vienna) [Bicent.Bio]  
July 1 Letter to friend Carl Amenda admitting difficulty w/ hearing. In same letter, also states, "why, at the moment I feel equal to anything. Since your departure I have been composing all types of music, except operas and sacred music..."; referred to 2 friends as, "...merely ... instruments on which to play when I feel inclined...I value them merely for what they do for me." In this letter, B. asked that Amenda not lend the Quartet op18#1 to anyone as B. had just learned how to 'write quartets properly' and was writing a new version.  
? Foreign publishers began bidding - sense of international importance to his works.  
July 9 Letter to Zmskall (usually dated 1810) re: anxiety of unknown coming catastrophy, "Sometimes I feel that I shall soon go mad in consequence of my unmerited fame; fortune is seeking me out and for that very reason I almost dread some fresh calamity"  
July 26 Elector Max Franz died in Vienna. B. had planned to dedicate the 1st symphony to him, instead it was dedicated to van Swieten.  
Mid year New physician: Johann Adam Schmidt - inspired confidence and decreased anxiety.  
? Count Franz von Brunsvik became close friend (later received ded.of Appassionata).  
Oct 17yo Ries arrived in Vienna - stayed thru Autumn 1805 when returned to Bonn for military service. B. began giving piano lessons to Ferdinand Ries (continued for 4 years) and to Carl Czerny ??? 1802 ???
Oct 28 Publication announcement of quartets op18#4-6, along with Violin Sonatas op23 and op24.  
Nov 16 Letter to Wegeler in which he discusses his illness, his social condition and positive changes underway: dissatisfaction w/ tx's & attitude of his current physician, von Vering: "...In general I am thoroughly dissatisfied with him; he shows too little care and understanding of my illness. If I did not go to see him myself, which costs me a great deal of effort, I would never see him at all. - what do you think of Schmidt? I do not like changing, but it seems to me that Vering is too much of a practitioner to acquire many new ideas through reading. - Schmidt seems to be quite a different sort of man in this respect and might possibly not be quite so negligent." He also wrote of his difficulties dealing with worsening deafness and simultaneously with recent improvement in his social condition: "I live now somewhat more pleasantly again, getting out among people more. You can hardly believe how desolate, how sad my life has been since these last two years. My weak hearing haunted me everywhere like a spectre and I fled from people, making myself appear a misanthrope, though I am far from that. - This change was wrought by a dear, enchanting girl who loves me and whom I love. After two years there are now some blissful moments again; this is the first time that I feel marriage might bring me happiness. Unfortunately she is not of my class - and now - I could not, of course, marry. - I must struggle along bravely." [This undoubtedly refers to Countess Guicciardi then age 16 who was far too young to take B. seriously and boasted of his attachment to her.] ... "...Oh, I would embrace the entire world if I were free from this miserable disease. Yes, I really do feel as if my youth were just beginning: was I not always a sickly person? More than ever before my physical strength has been increasing for some time now, my mental powers as well. Each day I get closer to the goal which I can feel but cannot describe. Only in this way can your Beethoven thrive. - Do not speak of rest!" ... "I shall take Fate by the throat; it shall not subdue me entirely. - Oh, it is so beautiful to live life a thousand times! A quiet life - No, I feel I am no longer meant for that -- ..." "Fondest and kindest regards to Lorchen - also to mama - also to Christoph. You do love me a little, don't you. Be assured of this (my love) as well as the friendship of your Beethoven.  
Nov   Thomas Jefferson became 3rd US President.
???? SPECULATION (Romantic relationship with Countess Erdody]: :Count Peter Erdody separated from the Countess - never subsequently returning. If she annuled the marriage, based on laws before 1812, she would have risked loosing his inheritance for the children. However, after 1812 although she had full financial control, his family could have taken her children away if she had married Beethoven [Man of His Word p164-5].  
Dec 2nd Piano Concerto op19, and 1st Symphony op21 published.