Beethoven "Egmont": history, video, content, interesting facts, listen

Ludwig van Beethoven "Egmont"

Beethoven's symphonic works are a huge world in which you can find answers to questions posed to yourself, and the music for the Egmont drama is no exception. After all, it embodies so characteristic of the composer's desire to win, the desire to go through all the trials and build their own path leading to a happy free life. Beethoven's "Egmont" is a true philosophy in music, the meaning of which is revealed in every measure. Each intonation of the work as if conveys important information about overcoming difficult life moments.

Learn all the secrets of creation, enjoy interesting facts and comprehend the content of the work, you can on our page.

History of creation

In 1809, Beethoven received an interesting proposal from the Directorate of the Vienna Court Theater to create music for Goethe’s drama Egmont. The composer happily agreed to the execution of the order, refusing to make a profit as a sign of respect for the writer's work.

The rehearsals of the performance were going along with the composition of the music. For the performance of Klserhen, Antonia Adamberger was chosen, having a fairly good education and a sharp mind. When Beethoven approached the actress, and the first thing he asked if she knew how to sing. With a casual smile, Antonia replied that she did not know how. Ludwig was completely bewildered, he asked how then she would be able to play this game. To which Adamberger replied that she would sing, how to make it, and if he didn’t like it, she would somehow survive it. Then she sat down at the piano, took out the notes of the famous aria at that time and quietly sang the composition. The composer was confused, he said nothing, except: "I see, you can still perform songs, I will go and write these songs."

The composition of the music for the play took almost a year. As a result, Beethoven began working on the overture just before the premiere. The author did not have time to date the first production, and only at the fourth performance did music sound. Fortunately, this fact could not become a barrier to the popularity of the overture. And today "Egmont" is one of the most famous works of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Interesting Facts:

• During the first weeks of Napoleon’s attack on Austria, it was decided to put Goethe’s Egmont drama on theatrical stages. As a composer, the choice fell on Beethoven. In order to express his own respect for Goethe’s work, the composer refused the promised fee, and as a result, the management of the theater very quickly agreed to Ludwig’s generosity and did not pay him a cent. Subsequently, Beethoven complained to his friend that the management, as always, neglected his music, never even appearing at the performance.
• The main character of the work of Goethe actually existed. Unlike a literary character, a real person was not capable of performing feats related to the defense of the Motherland, so the real Egmont easily sided with the Spanish king. He went to the side of the enemy, leaving his wife with eleven children. Punishment overtook him at the most inopportune moment, he was executed on Spanish Square.
• The moment of writing the essay accounted for the war between Austria and France. Then the army of Napoleon led active hostilities. All relatives and relatives of Ludwig had the good fortune to leave the country, replacing it with more secure ones. Beethoven, who had little material resources, was forced to remain in militant Vienna. It is worth noting that the previously admired personality of Napoleon (before that, the composer dedicated the “Heroic” symphony to him), Ludwig was not very pleased with the ongoing actions. The offer of his friend from France to move to Paris, where he would be accepted properly and presented to the emperor as masters of musical craft, was not impressed by Beethoven, and he stayed in his small house in Vienna.

• Goethe respected Beethoven and they knew each other personally. When the writer was asked about the attitude to the composer, Goethe replied that he had never met a more expressive and creative creator immersed in music, but unfortunately this man has too much of a temper.
• Beethoven was a highly educated man, was fond of modern literature, and therefore knew Goethe's work very well. So, long before writing music for this performance, he composed the famous songs "Groundhog", "Song of the Flea" and "Song of Minions" in the words of the great writer.
• The overture's popularity was so huge that the work was published in print editions, arranged for a wide variety of orchestra compositions or instruments: from piano claviers to scores of large-scale orchestral military groups.
• Overture was composed last. By the premiere of Beethoven did not have time to finish the work, so she went without musical accompaniment. Only at the fourth show of theatrical performance did the music sound in full force.
• Today, the Egmont overture is a separately performed symphonic work, but in the time of Beethoven she opened the play of the same name. It is noteworthy that the author also composed several other lesser-known works for the performance, namely, four intermissions for the orchestra, Klerchen songs, episodes related to the tragic death of the main characters, as well as the “Victory Symphony”. A total of ten numbers were written, including an overture.
• The work on the work was complicated by many factors related to the hostilities carried out in Austria. For example, due to constant explosions, the composer had to constantly cover his ears with pillows. In those days, he had already begun to lose his hearing and the pain of exploding ammunition was unbearable.
• The first production took place in 1810. This time was significant in terms of the history of Austria. Capture by the army of Napoleon of Vienna, the plight of the Austrian people, humiliating peace - all these factors could not be reflected in art. So, all viewers viewed a theatrical performance not from an artistic point of view, but from a political perspective.

Use of music in movies

The concept of "overcoming", clearly expressed in this composition, could not leave indifferent modern directors, so the music can be heard in the following films:

• Late Flower (2016)
• In search of the perfect sound (2016)
• Whole Beethoven (2015)
• Space Cadets (2014)
• Lincoln (2012)
• A Taste of Sunlight (1999)

Content of "Egmont"

The content side of the composition is fully consistent with Goethe's drama. The action takes the viewer to the XVI century, at a time when the Netherlands was under the yoke of Catholic Spain. Tired of the constant inquisitions and violence against their own people, the Dutch decide to rebel against the Spaniards. Egmont is the main instigator who wants to liberate the country. He is young and in love with a wonderful girl named Klerchen, who also wants to fight for the future of her own country. Together they raise the people, they put Egmont in jail and then executed. Klerhen will not survive this event and decides to commit suicide. The people endure all the onslaught and conquer the Spaniards.

Overture "Egmont" vividly demonstrates the path from suffering to joy. This idea is named as the concept of overcoming, and is characteristic of Beethoven's symphonic works (especially the work echoes the symphony number 5which was completed two years ago). The path is formed throughout the clearly expressed three sections of the overture:

1. Slow entry (Sostenuto ma non troppo) is characterized by two contrasting themes: the Spaniards and the Dutch. The theme of the Spaniards is a melody in the rhythm of the saraband in the timbre of low strings; it is permeated with the intonations of suffering. The theme of the Dutch, on the contrary, is a moving melody in the timbre of wood-wind instruments.
2. The sonata allegro continues the development of the themes sounded in the introduction. The theme of the Netherlands has become more robust and resonant in dynamics. Already in the secondary party, a collision of two worlds will again occur, which will lead to a tragic climax that expressed the hero’s death.
3. Coda (allegro con brio) means the triumph of the Dutch over the Spaniards, the universal rejoicing of the people.

Everyone knows the Beethoven Egmont overture, but few give the real meaning to other musical numbers that are no less professional. So a great role in the play Beethoven gave precisely intermissions between actions. He wanted to create a certain psychological connection between the sections, and the composer managed to achieve a similar effect, Beethoven made an intermission from several musical sections, usually the first section included material from the previous act, and the second section created the mood for the next action. The parts are contrasted with each other: the first section was most often filled with lyrical intonations, and the second included a warlike march. Thus, each intermission carried its own function in creating an atmosphere of stage action:

• Entracte number 1. Love Brackenburg and Klerchen amid raging popular unrest.
• Entracte number 2. Exposition of the greatness of power.
• Entracte number 3. The tragic denouement of unequal struggle.
• Entracte number 4. The march of supreme majesty is interwoven with Klerchen's prayer for the salvation of Egmont.

Intermission No. 1 - listen

Entr'acte number 4 - listen

The decoration of the performance was two Klerchen songs, each of which has its own character:

• Song "The drums are rattling is an example of a declamatory tune, underlined by the presence of the march. The change in the character of the music is achieved by alternating minor and major keys. The composition is a pass-through number in Act I.
• Song "Joy and sorrow"keeps in itself a constant change of character, brightness of contrasts. The heroine is torn between dreams and gusts, so the melody rises, then drops sharply down.

"Drumming Thunder" - listen

No less colorful numbers associated with the final monologues of the main characters. Orchestral episode "Death Klerhen"does not have a bright emotional outburst, rather resembles the slow extinction of a person."Victory Symphony"became an anthem that effectively completed the performance. In this episode, the composer managed to embody not only patriotic pride, but also a sweet feeling of victory over the oppressor.

"Victory Symphony" - listen

At the moment, music is an independent work, not related to the Goethe drama, which is rarely set today.

"Egmont" - This is music that tells about two major historical events. On the one hand, the victory of the Netherlands over the oppression of Spain, on the other hand, the humiliating peace of France and Austria. Beethoven's skill was that with the help of musical means he managed not only to completely reflect Goethe’s drama, but also to make the work truly relevant. The triumph of justice, freedom of spirit and the will to win - this is what makes Beethoven's Egmont Overture an immortal and eternal composition.

We are pleased to offer you a symphony orchestra for the performance of the Egmont Overture at your event.