[jj890]

Well,
In the book Im reading about Beethoven Im done reading it,
But I can't really find any thoughts on what he thought about his music or his life time,
I found one but can't find anymore.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Clough]

Hi, jj890!

I can help you about Beethoven! What is it that you would like to know, please! I have been a music educator and professional musician in various ways for many years.

The information about what you would like to know could happen right on this thread rather than people providing links to other resources. This site could then become one of the resources since it gets excellent results when people do searches for information on the Internet.

What is the name of the book that you've just finished reading, please?

I look forward to your response!

Thanks!

[jj890]

Hi, jj890!

I can help you about Beethoven! What is it that you would like to know, please! I have been a music educator and professional musician in various ways for many years.

The information about what you would like to know could happen right on this thread rather than people providing links to other resources. This site could then become one of the resources since it gets excellent results when people do searches for information on the Internet.

What is the name of the book that you've just finished reading, please?

I look forward to your response!

Thanks!

The book I just finished reading was "Introducing Beethoven" and my question is, How were other people's reactions to him? I can't really find that in the book. And also, How did he take his hearing problem?

[Clough]

Hi, jj890!

I'm sorry that it took me so long to come back to your thread!

Beethoven, was of course a genius. He had some quirky habits though, like composing things on window shutters, sloppy and somewhat unorganized, rude, overly self-assured, being very temperamental, picky and quick with using harsh words to people with whom he was not pleased.

Those that understood his ways and appreciated his genius were generally tolerant with putting up with his idiosyncrasies. To others who really didn't understand him or appreciate his genius, he might be the target of some ridicule.

To further give you an idea as to how people felt about and treated him, what is quoted below is from the following site.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beethoven's personal life was troubled. His encroaching deafness led him to contemplate suicide (documented in his Heiligenstadt Testament). Beethoven was often irascible and may have suffered from bipolar disorder[13] and irritability brought on by chronic abdominal pain beginning in his 20s that has been attributed to his lead poisoning.[14] Nevertheless, he had a close and devoted circle of friends all his life, thought to have been attracted by his reputed strength of personality. Towards the end of his life, Beethoven's friends competed in their efforts to help him cope with his incapacities.[4]

Sources show Beethoven's disdain for authority, and for social rank. He stopped performing at the piano if the audience chatted among themselves, or afforded him less than their full attention. At soirées, he refused to perform if suddenly called upon to do so. Eventually, after many confrontations, the Archduke Rudolph decreed that the usual rules of court etiquette did not apply to Beethoven.[4]

[Clough]

A really excellent source as to how Beethoven felt about his hearing loss was in a letter that he composed to his brothers Carl and Johann, concerning Beethovens' disdain over his increasing deafness and other concerns. It's called the "Heiligenstadt Testament". The complete text of it in English is quoted below and is from the following site.

Heiligenstadt Testament - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For my brothers Carl and [Johann] Beethoven

O you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly do you 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, but reflect now that for six years I have been a hopeless case, aggravated by senseless physicians, cheated year after year in the hope of improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a lasting malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be impossible), born with an ardent and lively temperament, even susceptible to the diversions of society, I was compelled early to isolate myself, to live in loneliness, when I at times tried to forget all this, O how harshly was I repulsed by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing, and yet it was impossible for me to say to men speak louder, shout, for I am deaf. 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 - O I cannot do it, therefore forgive me when you see me draw back when I would gladly mingle with you, my misfortune is doubly painful because it must lead to my being misunderstood, for me there can be no recreations in society of my fellows, refined intercourse, mutual exchange of thought, only just as little as the greatest needs command disposition, although I sometimes ran counter to it yielding to my inclination for society, but what a humiliation when one stood beside me and heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone heard the shepherd singing and again I heard nothing, such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life - only art it was that withheld me, ah it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence - truly wretched, an excitable body which a sudden change can throw from the best into the worst state - Patience - it is said that I must now choose for my guide, I have done so, I hope my determination will remain firm to endure until it please the inexorable parcae to break the thread, perhaps I shall get better, perhaps not, I am prepared. 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. O men, when some day you read these words, reflect that you did me wrong and let the unfortunate one comfort himself and find one of his kind who despite all obstacles of nature yet did all that was in his power to be accepted among worthy artists and men. You my brothers Carl and [Johann] as soon as I am dead if Dr. Schmid is still alive ask him in my name to describe my malady and attach this document to the history of my illness so that so far as possible at least the world may become reconciled with me after my death. At the same time I declare you two to be the heirs to my small fortune (if so it can be called), divide it fairly, bear with and help each other, what injury you have done me you know was long ago forgiven. To you brother Carl I give special thanks for the attachment you have displayed towards me of late. It is my wish that your lives be better and freer from care than I have had, recommend virtue to your children, it alone can give happiness, not money, I speak from experience, it was virtue that upheld me in misery, to it next to my art I owe the fact that I did not end my life with suicide. - Farewell and love each other - I thank all my friends, particularly Prince Lichnowsky and Professor Schmid - I desire that the instruments from Prince L. be preserved by one of you but let no quarrel result from this, so soon as they can serve you better purpose sell them, how glad will I be if I can still be helpful to you in my grave - with joy I hasten towards death - if it comes before I shall have had an opportunity to show all my artistic capacities it will still come too early for me despite my hard fate and I shall probably wish it had come later - but even then I am satisfied, will it not free me from my state of endless suffering? Come when thou will I shall meet thee bravely. - Farewell and do not wholly forget me when I am dead, I deserve this of you in having often in life thought of you how to make you happy, be so -

Heiligenstadt October 6,1802 Ludwig van Beethoven

For my brothers Carl and [Johann] to be read and executed after my death.

Heiligenstadt, October 10, 1802, thus do I take my farewell of thee - and indeed sadly - yes that beloved hope - which I brought with me when I came here to be cured at least in a degree - I must wholly abandon, as the leaves of autumn fall and are withered so hope has been blighted, almost as I came - I go away - even the high courage - which often inspired me in the beautiful days of summer - has disappeared - O Providence - grant me at least but one day of pure joy - it is so long since real joy echoed in my heart - O when - O when, O Divine One - shall I find it again in the temple of nature and of men - Never? No - O that would be too hard.

[Clough]

Comments on this post
jj890 agrees: Thanks a bunch ^^ Helped out a lot.

Cool! I'm glad that it did! Thanks! :)

[Clough]

jj890, do you play a musical instrument, and if so, what kind, please?

[jj890]

jj890, do you play a musical instrument, and if so, what kind, please?

Um, I use to play the Piano but I quit.

[Clough]

Hi again, jj890!

Why the questions about Beethoven then, please? Also, why did you quit the piano?

The reason that I ask these things is that I try to find the members here who are involved in the arts of any kind and then invite them to join with the rest of us here on our little corner of this site that is about the arts of various kinds.

Thanks!

[jj890]

Hi again, jj890!

Why the questions about Beethoven then, please? Also, why did you quit the piano?

The reason that I ask these things is that I try to find the members here who are involved in the arts of any kind and then invite them to join with the rest of us here on our little corner of this site that is about the arts of various kinds.

Thanks!

Hmm because, we had to choose someone to do a bigograpy on and I chose Beethoven because he was a famous artist/composer, and even with his death of earing he still composed really great music, and he kept on following his dream instead of giving up just because of his hearing. And I quit the piano because I never had time to practice it, and I didn't have time for lessons.