Ludwig van Beethoven

Research Paper # 103303

Music Studies > Classical and Baroque
Music Studies > History

An analysis of the tragic life and musical development of Ludwig van Beethoven.

1,538 words () | 8 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the life of musician, Ludwig van Beethoven. It discusses his family background, his childhood and his development as a musician. It describes where he studied music and his relationships with his family and his teachers. The paper specifically focuses on the aspects of Beethoven's tragic life and the torment of losing his hearing.

From the Paper:

"At the end of the premiere of his Ninth Symphony, he had to be turned around to see the monstrous applause, hearing nothing. Realizing the extent of his hearing problem, he began to cry. Beethoven made many attempts to heal his deafness. Seeking help from numerous doctors, he received many different treatments. Much of what the doctors told him would be considered nonsense today. Unable to cure his hearing, Ludwig had no choice but to adapt. He used a rod attached to the sound board of his piano which he bit to feel the vibrations of the instrument. By the year 1814, Beethoven was fully deaf, though in his last year he felt as though he could sometimes slightly hear things."

Sample of Sources Used:

"Beethoven's Deafness." Ludwig Van Beethoven;S Biography. 27 Sept. 2007 <http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyDeafness.html.
"Beethoven's Life." Ludwig Van Beethoven's Biography. 27 Sept. 2007 <http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyLudwig.html.
Kennedy, Michael. "Ludwig Van Beethoven." The Oxford Dictonary of Music. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1994.
"Ludwig Van Beethoven: Timeline." 18 Sept. 2007 <http://www.kingsbarn.freeserve.co.uk/timeline.htm.
"Ludwig Van Beethoven." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 27 Oct. 2007. 18 Sept. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven.