Adventures with Beethoven

Overture

A child prodigy who grew up in the shadow of the most famous child prodigy in a generation. The third generation of his family to make their living as a musician. A talented performer who had to quit the concert stage because he couldn’t hear well enough anymore. A composer whose last great triumph came near the end of his life when he was profoundly deaf, and could only hear his music in his own imagination. This work changed the expectations of the capabilities of a symphony and has become one of the most well-known works ever. 

This year we celebrate the 250th birthday of one of the “Three Bs” of classical music. Along with Johannes Brahms and Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven is part of the shared cultural experience. Even if you have never stepped foot in a concert hall, you probably know some of Beethoven’s music; from Fate knocking at the door in Symphony No. 5, to a piano student working through Für Elise, to the triumphant emotion of “Ode to Joy.” Beethoven changed classical music forever by putting his own thoughts and emotions into each work. We can see his admiration for the egalitarian promise of the French Revolution and his dashed hopes when Napoleon turns out to be just another king. We hear the despair in his music as he struggles with profound hearing loss, family drama, and unrequited love. Although he was a genius, we relate to his music emotionally. He has written the soundtrack that encircles us in our despair, but also shares our elation. 

Over the course of our Adventures with Beethoven, you will learn about Beethoven, his family, his music, and his legacy. Read Scene One for an introduction to Beethoven and his life. Explore further and read the additional sections, if you want to learn more. There are listening and video links as well as activities at the end of each scene. However you choose to use this material, hopefully you will come away with a better understanding of Beethoven and why, 250 years later, he’s still relevant and why his music is still so loved.