Beethoven: The Man, The Myth, the Music

Class Description

For many the music of Ludwig van Beethoven represents some of the finest and most sublime music in the Western tradition. What was it about Beethoven's music that is "great" and that set it apart from his contemporaries? This lecture series will cover several of the composer's most important works, and ones that helped redefine musical genres. We will begin with an examination of the intimate solo piano works ("Moonlight" and "Pathetique" sonatas), followed by the ever-popular symphonies nos. 3 and 5 and the composer's masterful late string quartets. We will conclude with an exploration of the monumental Symphony No 9 ("Ode to Joy") along with a discussion of Bernard Rose's 1994 film Immortal Beloved. Our focus will be on how Beethoven challenged musical conventions and consequently forged a new path in music – one that would greatly impact composers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Participants are encouraged (but not required) to listen to musical selections prior to class and to watch the film Immortal Beloved before the last day of class.

Dr. Thomas M. Cimarusti is a Professor of Musicology at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL where he teaches courses on Music History and World Music. He has presented his research in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. on topics ranging from Beethoven, Italian Opera, American Popular Music, and the Music of Intentional Communities.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

Materials List

Required

• Instructor-Distributed Materials

First Reading

• Reading: Heilegenstadt Testament
• Listening #1: Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata (performed by Daniel Barenboim)
• Listening #2: Beethoven, Pathetique Sonata (performed by Daniel Barenboim)

A Brief Syllabus

1. The Early Years (1770-1803)
2. The Middle Years (1803-1817)
3. The Late Years (1817-1827)
4. The Myth(s)

Cost and Registration

4 Sessions, $200 ($180 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($200), Community Supported ($190), and Sponsor ($210). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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