Beethoven compositional innovations
Beethoven compositional innovations
Beethoven compositional innovations all of which we will observe in his symphony no.5 are arrayed around a single Centro Beethovenian article of faith the music is that its essence a form itself expression. Beethoven attitude might have appeared too many of his contemporaries with the hindsight of the history can see at the time was right for the development of such an entirely egocentric attitude towards music, combine in equal parts one the enlightenment emphasis on the individual and the right of the individual to pursue happiness. Two the French revolution and the spirit of accelerated change it provoked and three the social political and economic upheavals engendered by napoleon and then soon or later and artist or group of artist was going to say something along the line of “my art is for me no for your idle amusement you might entertain to appealing pleasure. I will express what I feel what I see what I hear take it or leave it”.
These five compositional innovations are five.
• One contextual use of form:
Beethoven will use the classical era forms only to the point that they serve his expressive needs beyond that he will do whatever he darn pleases. For Beethoven expressive content will determine the degree to which he had heard or doesn’t hear to pre-existing forms.
• Two pervasive motivic development:
The manipulation, combination and metamorphosis of motives lies at the heart of Beethoven s musical language.
• Three ongoing dramatic narrative:
Beethoven conceived of the individual movements within a composition not as self-standing units related only by key but rather as interrelated chapters and a single large scale story.
• Four the use of rhythm as a narrative element divorced from pitch:
• Fifth the ongoing pursuit of originality:
Later in his life Beethoven said “Art demands that we never stand still”. Beethoven placed premium on continual artistic growth and development.
The
Beethoven compositional innovations all of which we will observe in his symphony no.5 are arrayed around a single Centro Beethovenian article of faith the music is that its essence a form itself expression. Beethoven attitude might have appeared too many of his contemporaries with the hindsight of the history can see at the time was right for the development of such an entirely egocentric attitude towards music, combine in equal parts one the enlightenment emphasis on the individual and the right of the individual to pursue happiness. Two the French revolution and the spirit of accelerated change it provoked and three the social political and economic upheavals engendered by napoleon and then soon or later and artist or group of artist was going to say something along the line of “my art is for me no for your idle amusement you might entertain to appealing pleasure. I will express what I feel what I see what I hear take it or leave it”.
These five compositional innovations are five.
• One contextual use of form:
Beethoven will use the classical era forms only to the point that they serve his expressive needs beyond that he will do whatever he darn pleases. For Beethoven expressive content will determine the degree to which he had heard or doesn’t hear to pre-existing forms.
• Two pervasive motivic development:
The manipulation, combination and metamorphosis of motives lies at the heart of Beethoven s musical language.
• Three ongoing dramatic narrative:
Beethoven conceived of the individual movements within a composition not as self-standing units related only by key but rather as interrelated chapters and a single large scale story.
• Four the use of rhythm as a narrative element divorced from pitch:
• Fifth the ongoing pursuit of originality:
Later in his life Beethoven said “Art demands that we never stand still”. Beethoven placed premium on continual artistic growth and development.
The