Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven was perhaps the most influential figure in the history of Western music. In this course we will explore Beethoven’s life and work in the context of European political, social, and musical currents in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Through intensive listening, reading, and discussion, we will pursue three related goals: the development of critical listening skills; an examination of the relationship between an artist’s biography and creative work; and the critique of how and whether social and political events shape the development of music and vice versa. No previous musical experience is required.