I'm doing an analysis on the piece. I have to figure out how the socio-economic and geographical situation during his time affected his work, specifically the Sonata Pathetique.
I did my homework, but I couldn't find any thing extremely useful. Please tell me anything you can about the topic.
I know that Beethoven at first idolized Napoleon, but then grew to hate him. I don't know why exactly.I know that Napoleon beheaded some prisoners because he claimed he couldn't feed them, and that the British spoilt his plans of taking the Mediterranean seaport of St. Jean d'Arca, and that he gave up Akko in Israel and Jaffa in Palestine to Jews and Turks, respectively. These were all before Beethoven published his Sonata Pathetique.
2006-10-09 01:03:56 · 2 answers · asked by walrus carpenter 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Only thing I know about for sure is that he seems to have greatly admired the French revolution, and in particular First Consul Bonaparte. It is said that he intended to decate his 3rd ("Heroic") symphony to him, but that upon learning that he had crowned himself emperor, started hating the character and tore up the projected dedication.
2006-10-09 01:24:36 · answer #1 · answered by Svartalf 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, we have no evidence about what was in his mind during composition of the Pathetique. We do know of at least two other musical works from which he drew inspiration for the Pathetique. Perhaps there is nothing psychological to discuss, although people to love to speculate and sometimes these wild imaginings even make it into print. The Pathetique is from his early period, so blindness was not a factor.
2006-10-09 10:23:10 · answer #2 · answered by Ever Learn 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋