Ludvig van Beethoven The German composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn 250 years ago. He is one of the most famous composers of all time and was also a brilliant pianist. His early music is very “classical” in style, following on from Haydn and Mozart. He was a complicated character and his late works are very profound and extraordinary. He was deaf for the last few years of his life and many people at the time couldn’t make sense of it. They thought he wrote such strange music because he couldn’t hear what he was writing. Portrait of Beethoven by Joseph Karl Stieler, painted in 1820
Bonn in around 1790
Ludvig van Beethoven Here is a movement, Tempo di Menuetto, for you to listen to from his Septet Opus 20, one of his relatively early compositions.
https://youtu.be/Ibfo7xgsQWg
The opening 8 bars of the Menuetto
QUIZ • What do you think Septet might mean?
• How many of the instruments can you identify?
• What is a Menuetto?
• What year was Beethoven born in?
• Can you name any other pieces by Beethoven?
TASKS • Make up a dance while you listen to the Minuet.
• Write down three words to describe how the music makes you feel.
• Think about why the players move around so much while they are playing.
• Find another piece by Beethoven, listen to it and write down what it is and what you think about it.