Beethoven in 1804.
Beethoven was born on December 17, 1770. In honor of the composer, I will provide a survey of Beethoven’s piano concertos. Discounting an early unpublished piano concerto, the Piano Concerto No. 0 in E-flat major ,WoO 4 (1784), (an existing score of the piano part, with suggestions about orchestration is extant), Beethoven composed five piano concertos.
· Piano Concerto No.1, C, op.15 (1798)
· Piano Concerto No.2, B flat, op.19 (1795)
· Piano Concerto No.3, C minor, op.37 (c 1800)
· Piano Concerto No.4, G, op. 58 (1806)
· Piano Concerto No.5, ‘Emperor’, E flat, op.73 (1809)
It is customary to divide Beethoven's compositions as falling within three periods: Early (1776 - 1802), Middle (1803 - 1814), and Late (1815- 1827). Beethoven's first three piano concertos were composed during the early period, with the third concerto foreshadowing the middle period. Concertos four and five occupy the middle period. Beethoven composed no more piano concertos after the fifth, most likely a result of his increasing deafness, a condition that effectively ended his career as a public performer.
I will attempt to provide multiple performances, both to reflect interpretations, and as a protection against future dead links.(Wikipedia)
In his Early period, Beethoven's work was strongly influenced by his predecessors Haydn and Mozart. He also explored new directions and gradually expanded the scope and ambition of his work. Some important pieces from the Early period are the first and second symphonies, the set of six string quartets Opus 18, the first two piano concertos, and the first dozen or so piano sonatas, including the famous Pathétique sonata, Op. 13.
His Middle (Heroic) period began shortly after Beethoven's personal crisis brought on by his recognition of encroaching deafness. It includes large-scale works that express heroism and struggle. Middle-period works include six symphonies (Nos. 3 - 8 ), the last three piano concertos, the Triple Concerto and violin concerto, five string quartets (Nos. 7–11), several piano sonatas (including the Moonlight, Waldstein and Appassionata sonatas), the Kreutzer violin sonata and Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio.
Beethoven's Late period began around 1815. Works from this period are characterized by their intellectual depth, their formal innovations, and their intense, highly personal expression. The String Quartet, Op. 131 has seven linked movements, and the Ninth Symphony adds choral forces to the orchestra in the last movement. Other compositions from this period include the Missa Solemnis, the last five string quartets (including the massive Große Fuge) and the last five piano sonatas.
Resources
Beethoven, Wikipedia
IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library: Beethoven
See also
Mozart Celebration
Beethoven’s birthplace, Bonn. Now a museum.