Beethoven 1784

AGE 13 - 14 [1784]

Compiled by Gary D. Evans

Last Updated: March 25, 2019 6:53 PM

Preteen Years: 1784 (age 13-14)

Beethoven was offered lessons by the Bonn Court's Organist, Christian Gottlob Neefe. One year later (1781), Beethoven became an unpaid assistant organist. He was provided with a salary this year having applied for that position arguing that his father was no longer able to support his family, (given his chronic alcoholism).

"A new sense of his inner worth... Fischer reported that Beethoven 'now believed himself to be the equal of his father in music.' " [Beethoven, 1779 - Solomon, ppg 25-26]

The year before, 1783, Neefe helped Beethoven write his first published work, Variations on a March by Dressler, WoO 63. In addition, his first three piano sonatas were published that year - dedicated to the Elector Maximilian Friedrich (1708-1784), who, noting Beethoven's talent, encouraged and supported his musical education. Maximilian Frederich was succeeded by Maximilian Francis, who extended support for the arts and for education as an adherent of Enlightenment philosophy, under which Beethoven thrived.

1787 image

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

DATE
?	Bad Review of composition
?	Publication of WoO 49 and WoO 180
Apr 15	Elector Max Friedrich died & succeeded by Maximilian Franz (art loving brother of Habsburg Emperor Joseph II, son of Empress Maria-Theresa, and friends w/ Count Waldstein who was great B. supporter and kept the Elector informed as to his progress and needs).
June	Official appt as deputy court organist (Electoral chapel of Max Franz) w/ support of Neefe, at salary of 150 Florins. (Neefe continued as principal organist; his salary was simultaneously reduced.) [Note - Wegeler states this occurred in 1785?]
?	Won bet w/ tenor Heller that he could throw him off key during court chapel service by playing a complex accompaniment while taping out correct note and cadence with little finger of right hand. (Received gentle reprimand from bemused Elector.)