DA Diary
Beethoven
Deaf and suffered from asthma
When only four years old, Beethoven showed decided love for music, and his father began to instruct him on the piano and violin. In 1787 Beethoven visited Vienna, at a time when Gluck, Haydn, and Mozart were living there. On that occasion the boy's masterly improvisation elicited those prophetic words from Mozart: "Keep your eyes on him; some day he will make a stir in the world."
Beethoven began his public career with an appearance in one of Haydn's concerts with his own concerto for piano and orchestra in C, in the double role of virtuoso and composer, and in October his opus 1, three trios for piano, violin, and cello, appeared in print. In the Prussian capital he played at court, and King Frederick William II was so impressed that he tried to induce the young master to settle in Berlin.
From about 1798 his hearing had begun to fail, and in 1819 he became totally deaf. He still continued to compose, however, and during this time wrote some of his greatest works, which he was unable to hear performed.
In 1845, a Beethoven monument was errected in Bonn to commemorate him.
In his will he wrote... “O ye men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly do ye wrong me, you do not know the secret causes of my seeming, from childhood my heart and mind were disposed to the gentle feelings of good will, I was even ever eager to accomplish great deeds... Ah how could I possibly admit such an infirmity in the one sense which should have been more perfect in me than in others, a sense which I once possessed in highest perfection, a perfection such as few surely in my profession enjoy or have enjoyed.
Forced already in my 28th year to become a philosopher, O it is not easy, less easy for the artist than for anyone else - Divine One thou lookest into my inmost soul, thou knowest it, thou knowest that love of man and desire to do good live therein... “
When only four years old, Beethoven showed decided love for music, and his father began to instruct him on the piano and violin. In 1787 Beethoven visited Vienna, at a time when Gluck, Haydn, and Mozart were living there. On that occasion the boy's masterly improvisation elicited those prophetic words from Mozart: "Keep your eyes on him; some day he will make a stir in the world."
Beethoven began his public career with an appearance in one of Haydn's concerts with his own concerto for piano and orchestra in C, in the double role of virtuoso and composer, and in October his opus 1, three trios for piano, violin, and cello, appeared in print. In the Prussian capital he played at court, and King Frederick William II was so impressed that he tried to induce the young master to settle in Berlin.
From about 1798 his hearing had begun to fail, and in 1819 he became totally deaf. He still continued to compose, however, and during this time wrote some of his greatest works, which he was unable to hear performed.
In 1845, a Beethoven monument was errected in Bonn to commemorate him.
In his will he wrote... “O ye men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly do ye wrong me, you do not know the secret causes of my seeming, from childhood my heart and mind were disposed to the gentle feelings of good will, I was even ever eager to accomplish great deeds... Ah how could I possibly admit such an infirmity in the one sense which should have been more perfect in me than in others, a sense which I once possessed in highest perfection, a perfection such as few surely in my profession enjoy or have enjoyed.
Forced already in my 28th year to become a philosopher, O it is not easy, less easy for the artist than for anyone else - Divine One thou lookest into my inmost soul, thou knowest it, thou knowest that love of man and desire to do good live therein... “