Beethoven: Work, Biography, and Afterlife

By the 20th century latest, Ludwig van Beethoven became the greatest icon in music history. His presence extends beyond the realm of classical music into history, politics and popular culture, which celebrates him as the embodiment of the humanistic artist figure. This course examines Beethoven in a field of tension between biography, work and contemporary history. The musical work always in focus, it traces his development from a young piano virtuoso writing for his own performances to the creator of late, highly abstract spiritual works that completely leave the realm of "performance music". Alongside a study of his highly dramatic life and spheres of influence, we will examine his early works and trace the development of his musical language within the different Genres.