Opus numbers indicate the order in which Beethoven's works were published, which Beethoven
usually kept tight control over. They also usually indicate the order in which the works were
written, but there are numerous exceptions to this.
1795
Publication of the three Opus 1 piano trios. His seventh, and last, piano trio will be the
"Archduke," completed in 1811.
First public concert where he probably premiered his Piano Concerto No. 1 (rev. 1800, pub. 1801)
1796
Publication of the three Opus 2 Piano Sonatas. 29 more piano sonatas will follow with
the last being completed in 1822.
Publication of his first two cello sonatas, Opus 5. Four more will follow, the last two in 1815.
1797
Publication of his first string trio, Opus 3. Four more string trios follow before he turns to
writing string quartets, c. 1800.
1798
The first three violin sonatas, Opus 12, are published. He will compose seven more by 1810.
1799
Beethoven has his first very popular instrumental success with Septet in E♭ major, Opus. 20
Publication of Piano Sonata No. 8, Opus 13, "Pathétique" - also very popular.
1800
Premier of Symphony No. 1, Opus 21.
Composed Piano Concerto No. 3, Opus 37. Premiered 1803.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Early Period begins
1795
Publication of the three Opus 1 piano trios. His seventh, and last, piano trio will be the
"Archduke," completed in 1811.
First public concert where he probably premiered his Piano Concerto No. 1 (rev. 1800, pub. 1801)
1796
Publication of the three Opus 2 Piano Sonatas. 29 more piano sonatas will follow with
the last being completed in 1822.
Publication of his first two cello sonatas, Opus 5. Four more will follow, the last two in 1815.
1797
Publication of his first string trio, Opus 3. Four more string trios follow before he turns to
writing string quartets, c. 1800.
1798
The first three violin sonatas, Opus 12, are published. He will compose seven more by 1810.
1799
Publication of Piano Sonata No. 8, Opus 13, "Pathétique" - also very popular.
1800
Premier of Symphony No. 1, Opus 21.
Composed Piano Concerto No. 3, Opus 37. Premiered 1803.
1801
Publication of the six Opus 18 String Quartets.
Publication of piano sonatas 12 - 15 with No. 14, ("Moonlight") becoming vastly popular.
1802
Piano Sonatas Nos. 16, 17 "Tempest" and 18 "The Hunt" Opus 31.
Completes Symphony No. 2, Opus 36.
October, 1802 - The Heilegenstadt Testament - Beethoven's will in which he explains he has
Now Beethoven's production slows drastically. Ten years will pass between the 8th and the
Publication of the six Opus 18 String Quartets.
Publication of piano sonatas 12 - 15 with No. 14, ("Moonlight") becoming vastly popular.
1802
Piano Sonatas Nos. 16, 17 "Tempest" and 18 "The Hunt" Opus 31.
Completes Symphony No. 2, Opus 36.
October, 1802 - The Heilegenstadt Testament - Beethoven's will in which he explains he has
been going deaf for about 6 years and has thought of killing himself, but decides against it.
1803
Premier of Symphony No. 2, Opus, 36 on April 5.
Not only is Beethoven using the "Heroic" (Kampf und Seig) model for some of his works in
1803
Premier of Symphony No. 2, Opus, 36 on April 5.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Middle (Heroic) Period begins
Not only is Beethoven using the "Heroic" (Kampf und Seig) model for some of his works in
this period, most of his works are growing in scale, complexity, and density. The string quartets
and some of the piano sonatas are taking on a symphonic quality.
1803 - Premier of Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47, "Kreutzer." Beethoven's 9th (and next to last)
1803 - Premier of Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47, "Kreutzer." Beethoven's 9th (and next to last)
violin sonata.
1804
Composes Piano Sonata No. 21, Op. 53 "Waldstein" (Heroic)
1805
Premier of Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica' Opus 55, on April 7. (Heroic)
Premier of the opera Leonore on November 5, which by 1814 became Fidelio (Heroic).
Composed (1804-1806?) Piano Sonata No. 23, Opus 57 "Appassionata" (Tragic)
1806
Composed String Quartets No. 7 - 9, Opus 59 "Rasumovsky Quartets"
Completed Piano Concerto No. 4, Opus 58
Composed his one Violin Concerto, Opus 61
1807
Premier of Symphony No. 4, Opus 60 in March.
1808
Composes Fantasy for piano, vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra, Op. 80. "Choral Fantasy"
Composes Symphony No. 5, Opus 67, (Heroic) and Symphony No. 6, Opus 68. (not Heroic)
December 22 concert - Premier of Symphony No. 5, Symphony No. 6,
Piano Concerto No. 4. and the Choral Fantasy
Composes Cello Sonata No. 3, Opus 69.
1809
Composed String Quartet No. 10, Opus 74 "Harp" Quartet.
Composed his final Piano Concerto, No. 5, Opus 73 The "Emperor"
1810
Composed String Quartet No. 11, Opus 95 "Serioso"
Finishes composing Piano Sonata No. 26, Op. 81a "Les Adieux"
1811
Composed and performed Piano Trio No. 7?, Opus 97, "Archduke." The premier in 1814 is a
1804
Composes Piano Sonata No. 21, Op. 53 "Waldstein" (Heroic)
1805
Premier of Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica' Opus 55, on April 7. (Heroic)
Premier of the opera Leonore on November 5, which by 1814 became Fidelio (Heroic).
Composed (1804-1806?) Piano Sonata No. 23, Opus 57 "Appassionata" (Tragic)
1806
Composed String Quartets No. 7 - 9, Opus 59 "Rasumovsky Quartets"
Completed Piano Concerto No. 4, Opus 58
Composed his one Violin Concerto, Opus 61
1807
Premier of Symphony No. 4, Opus 60 in March.
1808
Composes Fantasy for piano, vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra, Op. 80. "Choral Fantasy"
Composes Symphony No. 5, Opus 67, (Heroic) and Symphony No. 6, Opus 68. (not Heroic)
December 22 concert - Premier of Symphony No. 5, Symphony No. 6,
Piano Concerto No. 4. and the Choral Fantasy
Composes Cello Sonata No. 3, Opus 69.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Decline in Output begins
1809
Composed String Quartet No. 10, Opus 74 "Harp" Quartet.
Composed his final Piano Concerto, No. 5, Opus 73 The "Emperor"
1810
Composed String Quartet No. 11, Opus 95 "Serioso"
Finishes composing Piano Sonata No. 26, Op. 81a "Les Adieux"
1811
Composed and performed Piano Trio No. 7?, Opus 97, "Archduke." The premier in 1814 is a
disaster because Beethoven can't hear the violin and cello players. It was his last public piano
performance.
1812
Publication of Beethoven's first mass, the Mass in C major, which was five years in the making.
1813
Premier of Symphony No. 7, Opus 92 on December 8.
1814
Premier of Symphony No. 8, Opus 93 on February 27.
The final version of the opera Fidelio is premiered on May 23 nine years after its initial premier.
Completes Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90.
1812
Publication of Beethoven's first mass, the Mass in C major, which was five years in the making.
1813
Premier of Symphony No. 7, Opus 92 on December 8.
1814
Premier of Symphony No. 8, Opus 93 on February 27.
The final version of the opera Fidelio is premiered on May 23 nine years after its initial premier.
Completes Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90.
The Congress of Vienna meets 1814-1815 to stabilize Europe as the Napoleonic Wars end. The
population of Vienna doubles. Beethoven's Symphony No.7 and the final version of Fidelio are
great successes.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Middle Period ends - Transition to Late Period begins
Now Beethoven's production slows drastically. Ten years will pass between the 8th and the
9th symphonies. 27 of the 32 piano sonatas have been written, only two piano sonatas are
produced before 1820 and no new string quartets are written until 1823.
1815
Composes Cello Sonatas No. 4 & No. 5, Opus 102. His last cello sonatas.
1816
Wrote Piano Sonata No. 28, Opus 101, the first of the last five "late period" sonatas.
Wrote An die ferne Geliebte (To the distant Beloved), the first Liederkreis (song cycle) in
1815
Composes Cello Sonatas No. 4 & No. 5, Opus 102. His last cello sonatas.
1816
Wrote Piano Sonata No. 28, Opus 101, the first of the last five "late period" sonatas.
Wrote An die ferne Geliebte (To the distant Beloved), the first Liederkreis (song cycle) in
classical music.
1818
Completed Piano Sonata No. 29 in B♭ major, Opus 106. (The "Hammerklavier") (1818)
1820
Completed Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major , Opus 109
1821
Completed Piano Sonata No. 31 in A♭ major, Opus 110
1822
Completed Piano Sonata No. 32, Opus 111 (last piano sonata)
1823
Completed the Diabelli Variations, Opus 120.
1824
The second mass, Missa Solemnis, Opus 123, is premiered in St. Petersburg on April 7.
Premiere of Symphony No. 9, Opus 125, on April 7.
1825
Completed String Quartet No. 12, Opus 127.
Completed String Quartet No. 13, Opus 130. The final movement, the Grosse Fugue,
is replaced the following year and is published separately as Opus 133.
Completed String Quartet No. 15, Opus 132. It is premiered on Nov. 6.
1826
Completed String Quartet No. 14, Opus 131.
Completed String Quartet No. 16, Opus 135, his last full composition.
1818
Completed Piano Sonata No. 29 in B♭ major, Opus 106. (The "Hammerklavier") (1818)
1820
Completed Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major , Opus 109
1821
Completed Piano Sonata No. 31 in A♭ major, Opus 110
1822
Completed Piano Sonata No. 32, Opus 111 (last piano sonata)
1823
Completed the Diabelli Variations, Opus 120.
1824
The second mass, Missa Solemnis, Opus 123, is premiered in St. Petersburg on April 7.
Premiere of Symphony No. 9, Opus 125, on April 7.
1825
Completed String Quartet No. 12, Opus 127.
Completed String Quartet No. 13, Opus 130. The final movement, the Grosse Fugue,
is replaced the following year and is published separately as Opus 133.
Completed String Quartet No. 15, Opus 132. It is premiered on Nov. 6.
1826
Completed String Quartet No. 14, Opus 131.
Completed String Quartet No. 16, Opus 135, his last full composition.
No comments:
Post a Comment