-
Period: to
James Cook lands on Australia and New Zealand
Captian James Cook, after being instructed to chart Venus's movement across the face of the sun, left England from Plymouth Harbour. He sailed south on his ship, the Endeavour, and charted New Zealand. He then proceeded to sail west, where he came across Australia, which he named New South Wales. He sailed on the coastline, and even saw some aboriginal Australians. After three years one this voyage, he finally returned to England (Swallow). This is significant because the rest of the world was -
Beethoven is born
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany (Kaufmann 9) to Johann and Magdalena Van Beethoven (Jacobs 18). They lived in an upstairs apartment, #934 Rheingasse, in Bonn (Jacobs 12). By the time he turned four, his father had started teaching Beethoven violin and piano (Kaufmann 8). His father wanted him to be a child prodigy like Mozart, so whenever he made a mistake, he hit his knuckles with a cane (Kaufmann 8). This stress on music eventually influenced him to pursue composing as a career. -
Beethoven is born continued
This is important because these measures taken by his father to try and make him a child prodigy lead to him becoming a world famous composer. He continues to be known around the world. -
James Cook continued
made aware of the existance of Australia and of New Zealand. -
American revolutionary war begins
After years of growing tension between the American Colonists and the English, the colonists decided they had had enough. The first battle in the war, the Battle of Lexington on April19, 1775, was considered the first shots of the revolution. Other famous battles fought during this time were the Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill and the battle at Fort Ticonderoga. At the battle of Saratoga, things began to play in America's favor. On Sept. 3, 1783, the U.S. was independent from Britian (American). -
The Revolutionary War continued
This is significant because it allowed the United states to officially gain their independence from Europe. They were now an independent nation, and were recognized around the world as a strong power because of their victory in the war. -
Began studying with Christian Gottlob Neefe
Beethoven began studying with Neefe, an organist, at the age of 11 (Ewen 290). Neefe helped him improve in piano playing, leading to Beethoven becoming Neefe's assistant at 14, and taking his job at 15 (Ewen 290). It also allowed him to get the job as the cembalist at the Opera (Kaufmann 8). Studying with Neefe is significant because it helped Beethoven improve not only as a piano player but as a musician. -
Played for Mozart
In 1787, at the age of 17, Beethoven played for Mozart, one of his major influences (Ewen 290). Mozart was very impressed, and said of him, "Watch that young man, someday he will make a noise in the world." (Kaufmann 8). After playing for Mozart, there was a high demand for lessons from him, so he was employed in a court (Ewen 290) This was important to Beethoven's life becuase he was able to play for Mozart, the reason his father forced him to learn piano in the first place. Also, it added to -
Played for Mozart continued
his growing popularity; Mozart, a world famous musician, spoke highly of him, so other people also began to take notice. -
Moved to Vienna, Austria continued
(Kaufmann 8). -
Moved to Vienna, Austria
Beethoven moved to Vienna at the age of 22 in order to study with another one of his inspirations, Hadyn (Kaufmann 8). Working with Haydn didn't work out for Beethoven because of a personality clash between the two. Later, he studied with both Albrechtsberger and Salieri (Ewen 290). His first few years in Vienna were important because he wrote many pieces; people living there loved his music, and paid a lot for him to compose works for them. These years in Vienna started his career as a composer -
First public appearance in Vienna
March 20, 1795 was the first time Beethoven had played for Vienna. At the performance, he played his piece for piano and orchestra called conceirto No. 2 in B-flat major (Ewen 291). This gained him some much needed publicity that caused patrons of Vienna to desire his pieces for their orchestras and string quartets, and to pay a lot for them (Kaufmann, 8). After this performance, Beethoven went on tour, going to Prague, Dresden, Leipzig, Berlin, and Budapest (Prevot). This is significant bec -
First public appearance continued
ause it began to get his name out there. Now people had not only heard of him through Mozart, but they now were able to hear his music themselves. -
Debut as a composer in Vienna
April 20, 1800 was Beethoven’s first public performance as a composer (Ewen 290). This was where he presented the first Symphony for orchestra (Kaufmann 9). Though his music is now considered similar to other songs from that time period, many people then believed that the symphony was risqué. Young Beethoven “was already pushing the established boundaries of music,” (Prevot). This is important because now people knew that he could write music as well as play. After this event, "publishers where -
Debut as a composer continued
vying for his work" and many music groups wanted to perform his music (Kaufmann 9). -
Beethoven begins to lose his hearing
At the age of 31, Beethoven noticed he was slowly growing deaf, a composers worst nightmare. He tried cure-alls and panaceas, but nothing helped. After 1804, his hearing progressively worsened until he was 50 (Kaufmann 9). During the first years, he remained removed from his family and friends, later releasing a document "Heiligenstadt Testamnet" in 1802 explaining his mental state during this. He became irritable and demanding after becoming deaf, but he composed countless pieces (Ewen 291). -
Beethoven begins to lose his hearing continued
This is important to Beethoven's life because it is a composers worst nightmare to find out that they are deaf. He would now have to write music without being able to hear what he was composing. -
Thomas Jefferson becomes U.S. President
On February 17, 1801 Thomas Jefferson was elected U.S. president. Jefferson helped not only to draft the Declaration of Independence, but served in two Continental Congresses and acted as the vice president for both George Washington and John Adams. He and Aaron Burr ran against John Adams, Charles Pinckney, and John Jay.(Thomas) This is important because he marked the change in government power from the Federalists to the Democratic Republicans. Also, it was the first joint election. -
Lewis and Clark expedition crosses North America to Pacific Ocean
On January 18, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson secretely asked congress to fund an expedition to the west coast of the United States. Meriwether trained as the expeditions leader, later drafting other men, including William Clark. The men travel to the west coast and back, mapping the Louisiana Purchase as they went. They also got help from a Native American women, Sacagawea. After two and a half years, they returned to St. Louis and were considered heros. (National) This is important because -
Louis and Clark Expedition continued
they had now began the movement of settlers into land west of the Mississippi river. It also caused the creation of maps of that territory and a better understanding of the geography of the rest of the country. -
Edgar Allan Poe is born
Edgar Allan Poe was born January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother died when he was two, and his mother had left his father long before. He was then adopted by John and Rosalie Allan, who were wealthy enough to send him to good schools. (Giordano) This is significant because he grew up to be a world famous author. Additionally, the death of his mother is thought to have inspired many of his stories. -
Wrote Fur Elise
One of Beethoven's most widely known pieces is Fur Elise. Written in 1810, he originally wrote the piece for his piano student at the time, Therese Halfatti. The song is thought to have been originally named Fur Therese, but for copyright and publication purposes renamed. It is a very popular song among new piano students (Ewen). This is important because it continues to be one of his most famous pieces and one of his most played pieces. -
Greek revolt against Ottoman rule continued
centuries of being under Ottoman rule. -
Greek revolt against Ottoman rule
The Greek revolt began in March, 1821 when a Greek leader Alexandros Ypsilantis was defeated by Turks after crossing the Prut River. This was followed by many other revolts, including ones in Peloponnese, on Greece's coast, and on surrounding islands. After help from European powers, the Greeks fought their way to freedom. In July 1832, the Treaty of Constantinople was signed officially stating their freedom. (War) This is important because the Greeks were able to gain their independence after -
Beethoven writes Symphony No. 9 in D major
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D major was one of his most important musical pieces. Not only was it the first time he had used human voices in a symphony, it was also the song he played at his last public performance. It contains the song "Ode to Joy" as well (Ewen 334). Beethoven dedicated the song to the king of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm III. Its total performance time was ranging from 60-70 minutes, depending in how fast or slow it was played (Prevot). This is significant because it is the -
Beethoven writes Symphony No. 9 continued
last symphony Beethoven wrote before his death. It was also played at his final public appearance (Kaufmann 9). -
Last public appearance
At Beethoven's last public appearance, he performed his Ninth symphony and Solemn Mass. At the end of the performance, his audience gave him a standing ovation, and everyone was applauding, except he couldn't hear it. His back remained to the audience until one of the singers turned him around to face the audience. When he realized how much people loved his music, he began to cry (Kaufmann 9). This is important because this was the last time Beethoven was able to witness the population's love -
Last public appearance continued
of his music. It was also the last time people would hear him play in public before his death. -
Beethoven dies
In December 1826, Beethoven came down with pnemonia after driving his nephew from his brothers home back to Vienna in an open carriage (Kaufmann 9). This developed into dropsy and jaundice. On March 23, 1827, he signed his will and on March 26, he died from cirrhosis of the liver (Ewen 291). On the day of his death, all Vienna schools were closed. The funeral procession was packed with thousands of people; his family and friends couldn't even fit in the church for his service (Jacobc 137). This -
Beethoven dies continued
is significant because his fame has outlived him. Even though he was famous at the time, his fame has grown, and he continues to be a classical music icon.
