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Return to 1781, 1783, Years, Ludwig van Beethoven, Classical Music, 1700s - 18th Century

Beethoven 250 Day 1, Next: Beethoven 250 Day 2

In 1770, Bach had been dead for 20 years, Handel for 11 years, and Vivaldi for 29 years.

Haydn turned 38 years old in 1770 and Mozart turned 14.

The Boston Massacre occurred in 1770, and Marie Antoinette married Louis-Auguste, the future Louis XVI.

Revolutions were coming.

Ludwig van Beethoven, baptized 17 December 1770, was born in Bonn into a family of musicians. He began learning harpsichord and violin at an early age, and enjoyed playing the organ. Beethoven’s first significant teacher was Christian Gottlob Neefe, starting when Beethoven was about 10.

Variations on a March by Dressler (WoO 63), 1782

Beethoven's first published composition was this set of piano variations. The cover of the music said he was “agé de dix ans” (10 years old) but he was actually 11.

Variations on a March by Dressler (WoO 63), 1782

The march at the beginning is by Ernst Christoph Dressler (1734–1779), a now obscure musician and composer who is today most famous for Beethoven’s set of variations.

Variations on a March by Dressler (WoO 63), 1782

Optimally, a set of variations should have a dramatic arc. In the simplest case, the variations should build in complexity and virtuosity.

The young Ludwig gets it.

Variations on a March by Dressler (WoO 63), 1782

Might we suspect that there exists a piano teacher or music school in Thailand that encourages their young students to learn Beethoven’s first composition?

Variations on a March by Dressler (WoO 63), 1782

Here’s another performance by the young man we started with. He appears to be little older, but not by much.

Variations on a March by Dressler (WoO 63), 1782

To young dedicated men and women like these we owe the preservation of this music not as something old and moribund, but as a living vital fresh experience.

Fair Use Sources:

• https://completebeethoven.com/day001.html