A Genius Influence in 19th Century Music

Ludwig Van Beethoven has indeed a great influence to the development of the 19th century music. In fact, it can be said that much of his contributions in music were indeed monumental, and that his passionate intensity and brilliant design when it comes to music brought the art into an all new level (Mcgrath, 2008). 

    Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany on December 16, 1770. He was probably baptized the following day as a Roman Catholic, as it was customary during that era, most children were baptized the day after they were born. His first musical teacher was his own father, Johann van Beethoven. By the time that he was nine years of age, he had already outstripped his fathers knowledge in music. He was then transferred under the supervision of Christian Neefe who was then an organist in the Bonn Court. Neefe gave the young Ludwig conservative but thorough training in music (Classical Net, 2009, n.p.). Around that time, he was also already developing much of his musical career (Classical Net, 2009).

Then in 1792, he moved to Vienna, Austria wherein he had private musical lessons with Viennese master, Franz Joseph Haydn, who terminated him of the lesson because of his unorthodox way of making his music. His career is usually divided into three groups which encompass his early, middle, and late periods. The early period consists of his emulation of the masters that include Mozart and Haydn. However, he was also trying to expand what he can do with his skills and capabilities. It was also during the early period that his works on the first and second symphonies can be found, as well as the most famous compositions Pathtique and Moonlight. The middle period, which was during his late twenties, he was diagnosed to be deaf. This is the period where most of the large-scale compositions that express struggle, bravery, and heroism can be found. His great compositions of the classical period can be found in this time of his life. His great opera, the Fidelo, was also created at this time with seven piano sonatas, including the Waldstein, and Appassionata. His late period started at around 1816 until his death in 1827. During this time, his compositions were marked with great knowledge and wisdom of music. The people admired his great work in terms of the wide extent of the depth, intense and high personal expression and the experimentation with forms (Beethoven, Ludwig Von, n.d.). The Missa Solemnis was also created during this time (Beethoven, Ludwig Von, n.d.).

    With all of his great works, it can be inferred that he had a wide influence in the development of music throughout the 19th century. It is interesting to note as well that the 19th century was the start of the Industrial Revolution wherein the use of metals began to become prominent. Since then, even musical instruments has been transformed. The keys and the valves of the piano were significantly developed, and these improvements led to increased reliability and easiness in terms of playing the instrumentsthey became capable of making more grandiose and beautiful sounds that were restricted in the classical period. Hence, at the rise of the Industrial Revolution and the growth of its products, composers like Beethoven saw that the compositions that they can make will no longer be restricted (Wright, 1996). It can be likewise said that his musical styles aided in the innovations on the forms of music that preceded his time. Since Beethovens works or compositions started during the late classical era and the early Romantic era, he was then viewed as a transitional persona of that time. In fact, it was Beethoven that further developed the music of his great predecessors, Haydn and Mozart. He wrote the sonatas longer and gave them more ambitious movements. The symphonies that he composed was also radically altered and developed in his time and throughout the 19th century. Beethoven transformed it to a rigidly structured four-ordered-movements from the classical period to a more free flowing piece that could sustain scores of movements as needed be (Beethoven, Ludwig Von, n.d.).

    In conclusion, Ludwig van Beethoven was indeed a great influence to the development of the 19th century music. This arises from the fact that at such a young age, he manifested a great flair for music. He was mentored by the most notable names of his time and learned from them to such a great extent. When he was already on his own, he devised and composed many great works of music that transcended into the contemporary milieu. He was able to fully explore the music and went beyond the restrictions and limitations with the aid of the products of the Industrial Revolution. He saw that music should not be confined and should be explored so that it can be heard and appreciated by the people. Beyond doubt, this man was a genius of his time that not even deafness can hinder his magnificence in music.