Beethoven in 19th Century

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Beethoven’s Middle and Late Periods are defined as much by social and political attitudes as by his musical and emotional development. Ludwig Van Beethoven lived during an era which was undergoing changes politically, socially and musically. He lived through the French Revolution, American Revolution, Age of the Enlightenment and saw the likes of great commanders like Napoleon Bonaparte. It was during his time that the Holy Roman Empire dissolved and this affected his compositions. Musicians no longer worked for the noble and composed at their free will. They were no longer bound by the church or the court. Beethoven himself went through phases in his personal life. He started going deaf and that played a very importantly role in his compositions. His emotions reflected clearly in his music. He is also said to have brought about the transition from Classicism to Romanticism in the field of music. The Middle Period The middle period began around 1800 and is said to have been Beethoven’s most productive period . He once said to his friend Krumpholz, "I am not very well satisfied with the work I have thus far done. From this day on I shall take a new way." It was in this period that he started to lean towards Romanticism. This period was also called his “ heroic“ period. He had started going deaf and that started affecting his compositions. His deafness played a huge role in the transition between his styles. He was sad and frustrated during this period and started searching for new ways to express his feelings. His sonatas have irregular order of movement. The orchestras were larger during this era and his harmonies and rhythms became more unstable. “In his letter to Wegeler , he wrote : 'I must confess that I lead a miserable life. For almost two years I have ceased to attend any social functions, just because I find it impossible to say to people: I am
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