Beethoven Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Beethoven - Essay Example Beethoven spent his teenage and young adult years studying music and composing many of his own works. In 1790, he met the famous musician of the time, Franz Joseph Haydn. In 1792, when he was twenty-two, Beethoven moved to Vienna to study music under Haydn. The age difference between the two men caused difficulties; Haydn, being sixty at the time, was more old-fashioned in both his music and his teaching, while Beethoven was more rebellious with his music. He did not like conforming to the limitations set down by musicians of the classical era, and Haydn was not as willing to let him experiment. After some time, Beethoven was accepted into the palace of Prince Lichnowsky, where he had more musical freedom; indeed, there were times when Beethoven did not even feel like playing. The prince allowed him these moments, eventually giving Beethoven his own quarters in the palace so that he could have the utmost independence. In the early years, Beethoven focused on writing only keyboard and chamber music pieces. As he continued to age and grow in his music, he began to experiment with other genres. Between the years of 1792 and 1802, Beethoven had his first performances and compositions of keyboard and chamber works. Between 1802 and 1812, Beethoven wrote six symphonies, four concertos, five string quartets, a opera, several orchestral overtures and numerous piano sonatas, as well as more chamber pieces (Yudkin, pg. 199). Beethoven also established his own personal music style, one that people would be in awe of for centuries to come. Unfortunately, aside from various music styles, Beethoven discovered something else in 1802: he was gradually going deaf. The majority of his best works took place as his hearing became increasingly worse. Unlike many other people, Beethoven refused to let this simple little flaw get in the way of what he loved the