Beethoven 1798

AGE 27 - 28 [1798]

Compiled by Gary D. Evans

Last Updated: March 25, 2019 7:00 PM

THE EARLY PERIOD

VIENNA1797 (Age 27-28)

He continued to be supported by several patrons, principally Prince Joseph Franz Lobkowitz, Prince Karl Lichnowsky and Baron Gottfried van Swieten. Beethoven's fame grew exponentially, and increasing numbers of his compositions were regularly published.

Now at the age of 27 years, Beethoven continued performances - being widely known as a remarkable musician. Some of his unorthodox methods were criticized by some and revered by many. Beethoven was seen to have mastered the formal and tonal procedures of the classical era. He was becoming widely known not only as a master pianist but as a major composer. There were many publishers interested in working with him and income increased.

During the summer of the preceding year Beethoven experienced a significant illness - possibly the beginning of his lifelong ailments, including his associated hearing loss.

image from 1801

WORKS CREATED

Op 9: Trios #1, 2, 3	Completed early in the year under publication contract for March 16th.
Op 10#3: Piano Sonata #7 in D [grand]	Composed early in the year. "The pictured soul-state of a melancholy being" [L.Dec pg125]. Ded to Countess Browne.
Op 11: Trio for clarinet, cello and piano
Op 12: 3 Violin Sonatas: Violin Sonata#1 in D, Violin Sonata#2 in A, Violin Sonata#3 in E
Op 13: Piano Sonata #8 in c "Pathetique"	(1st pub.12/1799) (Beethoven instructed Ries to add a few notes to Rondo before publication; this was unusual for him [Wegeler/Ries p94])
Op 14#1: Piano Sonata #9 in E	(less dramatic) (4-7 w/ 1st sketches 1795)
Op 15: Piano Concerto #1 in C	Piano Concerto #2 was actually written 1st. (1st sketches1795.) (pub 1801)
Op 18: Writing of 6 st. quartets	[large project] Begun in August with most of the work done over the next 2 years (1799-1800). (This group of 6 was patterned after Haydn demonstrating his competency in emulation.) (Writing order: 3,1,2,5,4,6 w/ last 3 more expansive & inventive) (#1 Adagio: Burial vault scene: R.& Juliet)
Op 19: 2nd concerto revised,	written out Sept-Oct. (B. felt this was not his best work in a letter to his publisher referring to op15 & op19)
Op 20: Septet begun	(completed 1800). (Piano arr. of op38)
Op 51#2: Rondo in G
Op 129: Rondo a capriccio "Die wut uber den verlornen groschen"
WoO 29: March in Bb	(see Hess 107)
WoO 121: Song "Abschiedsgesang an Wiens Burger"
WoO 125: Song, "La tiranna"	(1st attempt @ English text)
WoO 127: Song, "Neue Liebe, neues Leben"
WoO 128: Song, "Plaisir d'aimer"
WoO 205a: "Baron, Baron, Baron"	(musical quip in letter to Zmeskall #29)
Hess 28: Second Trio to the Scherzo for String Trio op 9 #1
Hess 36: String Quartet arr. of the Fugue from overture to Handel's Solomon
Hess 66: Allegretto in C Minor	(Unheard Beethoven - mp3 link here)
Hess 87: Piano arr. of March in Bb (WoO 29) for 6 wind instruments
Hess 139: Song, "Minnesold von Burger, in Tonen an Amenda ausbezahlt	(lost)
Not Classified: Song, "Meine Lebenszeit Verstreicht" in g	(lost)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

DATE
Early	Compositions early in the year: Piano Sonatas op10 (completed), Trios op9 (under contract for pub. March 16), Trio op11; Violin Sonatas op12.
Feb 5	General Bernadotte, Emissary of the French Directoroire, arrived in Vienna.
Early	General Bernadotte along w/ several others, including violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer suggested to B. that he compose a "heroic" symphony to theme of General Bonaparte. [Kerman p23]
Spring	Kreutzer had been in Vienna in the spring of 1798 and was described in an 1804 Beethoven letter [Anderson#99] as "…a dear kind fellow who during his stay in Vienna gave me a great deal of pleasure." In that 1804 letter he continued that his 1803 Violin Sonata, Opus 47 was to be dedicated to Kreutzer.
Mar 29	Beethoven and Schuppanzigh performed a Violin Sonata (possibly from op12).
Apr 10	Lenz von Breuning died in Bonn at age 21.
Apr-July	Piano Sonata op14#1 composed
July 21	Publication announcement for Trios, op9
July-Aug	First use of sketchbooks rather than single leaves of paper.
Aug	Quartets op18 begun
Sept-Oct	2nd Piano Concerto revised with new score written.
Sept 22	Publication announcement for Cello Variations, op66
Sept 26	Publication announcement for Piano Sonatas, op10
?	1st reported humming, whistling sounds & fear of progressive hearing loss.
Oct 3	Publication announcement for Trios, op11 (First issue of Leipzig Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung with Rocklitz editor.)
Oct	Left for Prague-two successful concerts & a private recital (Piano concertos 1 and 2 performed).
Oct 27	B. performed a piano concerto in Vienna. (#1 and/or #2?)
Dec	Violin Sonatas, op12 published.
	Met and became friends with Karl Amenda. Amenda was first employed as a precentor by Princess Karoliine Lobkowitz, but soon became the private teacher of Mozart's children.
?	Several playful letters sent to Zmeskall - exact dates unknown - (Anderson#26), Anderson#27), Anderson#28), Anderson#29)
?	Another playful letter sent to Zmeskall regarding Zmeskall "moral outlook." Beethoven answered it with his own:: "Power is the moral principle of those who excel others, and it is also mine." (Anderson#30)