chapter 51 beethoven's late music

Chapter 51

After the Congress of

Vienna: Beethoven’s

Late Music

Events in Beethoven’s Life During the Late Period

• 1814–15 Congress of Vienna brings international

attention to Beethoven.

• 1815–20 distraction from legal proceedings over the guardianship of nephew Karl.

• 1818 deafness requires the use of conversation books.

• 1819 Archduke Rudolph appointed archbishop; Beethoven’s begins Missa solemnis.

• 1822 Prince Nicolas Galitzin commissions the first of the late quartets.

• 1824 premiere of Ninth Symphony and movements from the Missa solemnis .

• 1827 Beethoven dies on March 26.

Beethoven’s Principal Music of his Late Period (1814–1826)

• Piano Sonatas: Nos. 28–32 (also the Diabelli Variations for piano)

• Symphony: No. 9 (with chorus and solo voices)

• String Quartets: Nos. 12–16 (also the Great Fugue for string quartet)

• Cello Sonatas: Nos. 4–5

• Choral: Missa solemnis

• Song cycle: An die ferne Geliebte (To the Distant Beloved)

Portrait of Beethoven in 1823

This portrait of the aging composer was made in 1823 by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, one of Vienna’s most famous painters at this time.

It was commissioned and paid for by the music publisher Breitkopf and Härtel.

With the Ninth Symphony and Missa solemnis in his head, Beethoven was apparently impatient for the painter to complete his work, which may be the cause of the composer’s scowl.

The painting was destroyed during World War II, and it is known now only by a photograph.

Beethoven, String Quartet in Bb Major, Op. 130, 1826, movement 5

(“Cavatina”)

Rounded Binary form

Beethoven, Missa solemnis, 1823, Kyrie

Rounded Binary form