Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good website where I could find the life story of Beethoven.

There was a really interesting version of it on Classic FM a while ago.
I've always been mad on Beethoven but now I'm hooked !

If anyone can help...

thanks in advance

Fiona

This page has the Grove Concise entry on Beethoven on it (reproduced with permission) and has a reasonably brief biography, it's informative but not written to be exciting to read. Google is good to use for this (no I don't work for them, I just seem to recommend them a lot!) just type in Beethoven and click on the links that look interesting (it's possible to spend hours doing this!). Also have you seen Immortal Beloved the film? I recorded it off the TV at least a year ago but still haven't got around to watching it yet so I can't tell you much about it, but it is about Beethoven's life (specifically his immortal beloved).

Thanks AP.

No I haven't seen the film but heard about it.
I will be doin a search on that next !

Thanks for the reply. I shall take a look.

Fiona

just search google or yahoo.... or look up books in the library

www.classicalarchives.com should have a bio

Dave

Hi Fiona,
Glad to hear that you're interested in Beethoven. He had a very interesting, intriguing and dramatic life. I saw a documentary on him once. It was amazing.
See if this site is of any use to you.Beethoven-biography
Rupayan.

Thanks for your replies. The web sites look good.

It's the interesting and dramatic life I'm looking for with Beethoven. Also details about his women.

I'm really interested about the women who influenced his music.

Fiona

QUOTE (Fiona @ Oct 15 2004, 05:58 PM)

I'm really interested about the women who influenced his music. Fiona

Well, Mrs Beethoven hangs out on this forum - I'm sure she'll be able to help!

QUOTE (carys @ Oct 15 2004, 06:20 PM)

QUOTE (Fiona @ Oct 15 2004, 05:58 PM) I'm really interested about the women who influenced his music. Fiona Well, Mrs Beethoven hangs out on this forum - I'm sure she'll be able to help!

lol

QUOTE (milkykitten @ Oct 15 2004, 06:22 PM)

QUOTE (carys @ Oct 15 2004, 06:20 PM) QUOTE (Fiona @ Oct 15 2004, 05:58 PM) I'm really interested about the women who influenced his music. Fiona Well, Mrs Beethoven hangs out on this forum - I'm sure she'll be able to help! lol

I like that one !!!

You might also like to read a book called "Love lives of the Great Composers" by Basil Hewitt, published by Sound and Vision, ISBN 0-920151-18=3. It's very interesting reading. Enjoy your Beethoven.

Someone on this forum a while back recommended John Suchet's fictional biography of Beethoven in three volumes: The Last Master vol 1 Passion and Anger, vol2 Passion and Pain and vol 3 Passion and Glory. I managed to get them used and fairly cheaply from Amazon. Suchet keeps to the known facts, but adds conversation and embellishment to them. A really good read - thanks to whoever mentioned them in the first place.

QUOTE (andante_in_c @ Oct 15 2004, 09:45 PM)

Someone on this forum a while back recommended John Suchet's fictional biography of Beethoven in three volumes: The Last Master vol 1 Passion and Anger, vol2 Passion and Pain and vol 3 Passion and Glory. I managed to get them used and fairly cheaply from Amazon. Suchet keeps to the known facts, but adds conversation and embellishment to them. A really good read - thanks to whoever mentioned them in the first place.

I was going to recommend these! They're really good books- all music lovers should read them! They're wonderful!

That sounds great. I shall have a look for that - now !

Fiona

QUOTE

I'm really interested about the women who influenced his music.

How about the women who were influenced BY his music? Ie. women composers of the time. Now there's a topic that never gets a look in.... Why do women have to be reduced to just being a 'muse'?

As for books on Beethoven: there is an awful lot of hagiographic c**p out there. And an awful lot of stuff that, frankly, is made up and based on 19th century myths. I haven't read Suchet but just the titles make me suspect the worst. And as for 'Immortal Beloved' - arggghhhh!!! Try and get a bit of a wider and more critical perspective. Highly recommended: 'Beethoven and the Construction of Genius' by Tia De Nora.

Quite right too Claire.

There must have been a lot of female composers influenced by Beethoven.

I know if I was one of them, I'd be heavily influenced - I'm just not a composer.

From all the music I play, I always come back to his music. There is just something about it.

Thanks for the recommendation of the book. I shall take a look.

Fiona

I believe some of Beethoven's Piano Concerto's was based on the women who he loved, especially the one beloved. The film, Immortal Beloved is a must see for this.

Does anyone else listen to Beethoven's 5th (Allegro con brio) and feel as if it describes the man he is? He starts off angry but tries to keep it all in. It keeps returning, softly at first but it continues to build and he can't contain it no longer, finally he explodes.

That is the most important thing i like about Beethoven's music, it seems to describe his whole life. Its as if the music is his Biography.

Apologies if this has been posted already, this website is about a lock of Beethoven's Hair and the DNA tests they did on it.

http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/beethoven/hair/hair.html

All the best,
Craig

QUOTE

From all the music I play, I always come back to his music. There is just something about it.

Ah, but have you played much music by the women who were influenced by him though?

Try Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel or Clara Wieck-Schumann. Both highly recommended

QUOTE

I believe some of Beethoven's Piano Concerto's was based on the women who he loved,

Er, I think it's important to add 'ALLEGEDLY' there...

QUOTE

Does anyone else listen to Beethoven's 5th (Allegro con brio) and feel as if it describes the man he is? He starts off angry but tries to keep it all in. It keeps returning, softly at first but it continues to build and he can't contain it no longer, finally he explodes. That is the most important thing i like about Beethoven's music, it seems to describe his whole life. Its as if the music is his Biography.

Yeah, but Craig, there is a huge question about whether Beethoven was *trying* to express his emotions in that way, or whether he was just writing some music. The whole idea about trying to express your emotions in music came about a lot later, during the 19th century. In Beethoven's time, it was much more likely that you were just writing some notes because someone had asked you to.

You can hear it that way if you like, but don't fall into the trap of believing that it was what Beethoven himself was trying to express!

-

QUOTE

I believe some of Beethoven's Piano Concerto's was based on the women who he loved,

QUOTE

Er, I think it's important to add 'ALLEGEDLY' there...

Yes, he maybe reading!!

I think You can tell the difference between notes that were written because someone had asked you to and a piece of music that comes from the Composer expressing his feelings. I disagree that expressing your emotions in music came during the 19th century.

Its all about Opinions though, you and I have different thoughts and opinions and thats why these boards are created. I respect your opinion.

Best Regards,
Craig

"I have never thought of writing for reputation and honor. What I have in my heart must come out; that is the reason why I compose - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)

DNA tests taken from strands of Beethoven's Hair prove that he didn't have any STD. They did find High Lead concentrations, evidence that Beethoven probably had Plumbism which may have caused his life long illnesses (including his deafness.)

Regards,
Craig

QUOTE (Claire21 @ Oct 18 2004, 12:25 PM)

QUOTE From all the music I play, I always come back to his music. There is just something about it.   Ah, but have you played much music by the women who were influenced by him though? Try Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel or Clara Wieck-Schumann. Both highly recommended

Hi Claire,

I shall look up some pieces by the above named.

Are there pieces for piano or violin do you know ?

Fiona

QUOTE (Fiona @ Oct 18 2004, 10:52 PM)

Are there pieces for piano or violin do you know ?

Some of Fanny's "Songs without words" were published under Felix's name. He wasn't being greedy. In those days, compositions by women were not given fair treatment by the critics, and for a woman to compose may even have been considered inappropriate by her family.

QUOTE (sutty_73 @ Oct 18 2004, 10:58 AM)

http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/beethoven/hair/hair.html

Craig,

Thanks for recommending this interesting website.

Czaire

QUOTE (kenm @ Oct 18 2004, 11:33 PM)

Some of Fanny's "Songs without words" were published under Felix's name.

Well there you go then !

I love that piece.

I've played a piano version - assuming it is origionally for violin !

I'm just looking for the violin version.

Thanks,

Fiona

QUOTE (Fiona @ Oct 19 2004, 11:52 AM)

QUOTE (kenm @ Oct 18 2004, 11:33 PM) Some of Fanny's "Songs without words" were published under Felix's name. Well there you go then ! I love that piece.

Which piece?

QUOTE

I've played a piano version - assuming it is origionally for violin ! I'm just looking for the violin version. Thanks, Fiona

If you mean the Medndelssohn "Songs without Words" (a few by Fanny, most by Felix), there are dozens of them, all originally written for piano, and some of them would not arrange particularly well for violin and piano.

i love Medndelssohn's "songs without words"..... i love the melody

Hi Fiona,

There are lots of piano pieces by both of them - if you do a search on the web you'll come across lists. Not so sure about the violin, not being a violinist, but they both wrote rather nice piano trios, if you can find a cellist. Not all of their music is published, but a fair bit is (particularly by German and American publishers).

Only a few of Fanny's compositions were published under Felix's name - because her father disapproved of her publishing under her own name, it was not the 'done thing' for a woman from her social background at that time. But after her marriage to Hensel, she published more in her own name, as Mr. Hensel was more supportive.

Clara was a famous performer, though, so it was seen as okay for her to publish. Her early compositions are very virtuosic, written for herself to play, but the later ones are more in the Brahms / Robert Schumann vein.

Is this topic about plagiarism, Felix Mendelssohn and women's rights?
Please....Its about Ludvig van Beethoven.

Now Fiona, have you tried the Britannica Encyclopaedia CD? You'll get all the information you'll ever need. Trust me. I know.
Lets end with a quote shall we....

"Do you think I care for your wretched fiddle when the spirit speaks in me?"
L. van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Hi Rupayan,

No I haven't tried the Britannica Encyclopedia.
Looks as if I have a lot of reading to do !

Thanks for everyone's comments and suggestions.


Fiona

BEETHOVEN ROCKS THIS BOAT!!1

I couldn't agree more

lol