Tag: Ludwig van Beethoven

Classical Music Timeline: 1820s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1820
December – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Quartettsatz (Movement for String Quartet) in C minor, D. 703

1821
March 7 – Erlkönig, op. 1, D. 328 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

October 16 – Franz Doppler (1821-1883) was born in Lviv, Ukraine

1822
December 10 – César Franck (1822-1890) was born in Liège, Belgium

1823
January 27 – Édouard Lalo (1823-1892) was born in Lille, France

1824
March 2 – Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) was born in Litomyšl, Czech Republic

March 14 – String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D. 804, op. 29, “Rosamunde” by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

September 4 – Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) was born in Ansfelden, Austria

1825
April – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Ave Maria, op. 52, no. 6 (D. 839)

October 25 – Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) was born in Vienna, Austria

1826
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed String Quartet No. 14 in C♯ minor, op. 131

June 5 – Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) died in London, England

August 26 – Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream in E major, op. 21 by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was first performed in Berlin, Germany

October – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed String Quartet No. 16 in F major, op. 135

1827
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Four Impromptus, op. 90 (D. 899)

March 26 – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) died in Vienna, Austria

November – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Piano Trio in E♭ major, D. 929

1828
March 23 – String Quartet No. 16 in F major, op. 135 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

May – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Three Piano Pieces, D. 946

November 19 – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) died in Vienna, Austria

December 14 – Symphony No. 6 in C major, D. 589 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

1829
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Étude in C major, op. 10, no. 1, “Waterfall”

August 3 – William Tell, final opera by Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) was first performed in Paris, France

October 4 – Mass No. 6 in E♭ major, D. 950 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

←1810s

1830s→

Classical Music Timeline: 1810s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1810
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 26 in E♭ major, op. 81a, “Les Adieux”

March 1 – Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) was born in Żelazowa Wola, Poland

June 8 – Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was born in Zwickau, Saxony, Germany

1811
January 13 – Piano Concerto No. 5 in E♭ major, op. 73 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

October 22 – Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was born in Raiding, Austria

1812
January 14 – Symphony No. 1 in C major, op. 19 (J. 50) by Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

1813
May 22 – Richard Wagner (1813-1883) was born in Leipzig, Germany

October 9 – Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was born in Le Roncole, Italy

October 28 – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Symphony No. 1 in D major, D. 82

December 8 – Symphony No. 7 in A major, op. 92 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

1814
February 27 – Symphony No. 8 in F major, op. 93 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

August 16 – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, op. 90

1815
July 19 – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200

1819
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 “Trout”

September 13 – Clara Wieck [later Schumann] (1819-1896) was born in Leipzig, Germany

←1800s

1820s→

Classical Music Timeline: 1800s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1800
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 11 in B♭ major, op. 22

March 28 – Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major, Hob. VIIe/1 by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

April 2 – Symphony No. 1 in C major, op. 21 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

1801
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed the Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, op. 24

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 13 in E♭ major, op. 27, no. 1

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor, op. 27, no. 2 “Moonlight”

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Romance No. 1 in G major for violin and orchestra, op. 40

1802
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Violin Sonata No. 8 in G major, op. 30, no. 3

February 20 – Charles Auguste de Bériot (1802-1870) was born in Leuven, Belgium

1803
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) left uncompleted his last composition, the String Quartet No. 68 in D minor, op. 103, Hob. III:83

April 5 – Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 36 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

April 5 – Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, op. 37 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

May 24 – Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, op. 47 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

December 11 – Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) was born in La Côte-Saint-André, France

1804
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, op. 53 “Waldstein”

May 31 – Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) was born in Paris, France

June 1 – Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857) was born in Novospasskoye, Russia

1805
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, op. 57 “Appassionata”

April 7 – Symphony No. 3 in E♭ major, op. 55 “Eroica” by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

May 28 – Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) died in Madrid, Spain

1806
March 29 – Leonore Overture No. 3 in C major, from the opera Fidelio, op. 72, by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

December 23 – Violin Concerto in D major, op. 61 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

1807
January 28 – Symphony No. 2 in C major, J. 51 by Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) was first performed in Pokój, Poland

1808
April 13 – Symphony No. 4 in B♭ major, op. 60 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

May 10 – Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C major, op. 56, “Triple Concerto” by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

December 22 – Symphony No. 5 in C minor, op. 67 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

1809
February 3 – Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was born in Hamburg, Germany

May 31 – Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) died in Vienna, Austria

←1790s

1810s→

Classical Music Timeline: 1790s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1791
March 11 – Symphony No. 96 in D major, Hob. I:96 “Miracle” by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

April or early May – Symphony No. 95 in C minor, Hob. I:95 by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

June 23 – Ave verum corpus, motet in D major, K. 618, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was first performed in Baden bei Wien, Austria

September 30 – The Magic Flute, K. 620, opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

October 16 – Concerto in A major for Basset-Clarinet and Orchestra, K. 622 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was first performed in Prague, Czech Republic

December 5 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) died in Vienna, Austria

1792
February 29 – Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) was born in Pesaro, Italy

March 2 – Symphony No. 98 in B♭ major, Hob. I:98 by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

March 23 – Symphony No. 94 in G major, Hob. I:94 “Surprise” by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

May 4 – Symphony No. 97 in C major, Hob. I:97 by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

1793
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed Piano Sonata “Un piccolo divertimento” (Variations) in F minor, Hob XVII: 6

1795
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) wrote Rondo a Capriccio in G major, now known as “Rage Over a Lost Penny”, op. 129

February 2 – Symphony No. 102 in B♭ major, Hob. I:102 by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

March 2 – Symphony No. 103 in E♭ major, Hob. I:103 “Drumroll” by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

May 4 – Symphony No. 104 in D major, Hob. I:104 by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

1796
Franz Berwald (1796-1868) was born in Stockholm, Sweden

1797
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed String Quartet in G major, op. 76, no. 1, Hob. III:75

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed String Quartet in C major, op. 76, no. 3, Hob. III:77 “Emperor”

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed String Quartet in B♭ major, op. 76, no. 4, Hob. III:78 “Sunrise”

January 31 – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was born in Vienna, Austria

1798
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Romance No. 2 in F major for violin and orchestra, op. 50

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, op. 13 “Pathétique”

1799
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed String Quartet No. 3 in D major, op. 18, no. 3

←1780s

1800s→

Classical Music Timeline: 1770s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1770
December 16 – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Bonn, Germany

1771
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed Symphony No. 42 in D major, Hob. I:42

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) completed Divertimento in E flat, K. 113

1772
Giovanni Battista Sammartini (1700?-1775) almost certainly completed Symphony in F Major (J-C 36) by this year, probably much earlier

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed Symphony No. 52 in C minor, Hob. I:52 in this or the previous year

Autumn – Symphony No. 45 in F♯ minor, Hob. I:45 “Farewell” by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in Fertőd, Hungary

1773
Sinfonia in E♭ major, op. 9, no. 2, by Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782) was completed by this date

April 16 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) completed Symphony No. 27 in G major, K. 199/161b

October 5 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) completed Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 183/173dB

1775
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) completed Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219

January 15 – Giovanni Battista Sammartini (1700?-1775) died in Milan, Italy

September 12 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) completed Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216

1777
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed Symphony No. 53 in D major, Hob. I:53 “L’Impériale”

1778
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed Symphony No. 65 in A major, Hob. I:65 by this date or earlier

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed Piano Sonata in E minor, Hob. 16:34

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) completed Violin Sonata No. 21 in E minor, K. 304 (300c)

1779
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) completed Sinfonia Concertante in E♭ major for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra, K. 364 (320d)

←Before 1770

1780s→

Sibelius Violin Concerto

The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) aspired to be a virtuoso violinist, but abandoned that career because he felt that he had begun his “training for the exacting career of a virtuoso too late.” But it must have been some consolation that his violin concerto of 1904/1905—his only concerto—is one of the most inspired works of that genre in the repertoire.

There are many fine recordings of the Sibelius Violin Concerto, but one I am especially fond of is a 1951 recording with Isaac Stern and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham.

Here’s the conclusion of the work, nicely illustrating the passion and energy of this performance by Stern and Beecham’s Royal Philharmonic despite the primitive recording technology available at the time. Just goes to show that there were some remarkable recordings made more than 70 years ago!

Conclusion of the 1951 recording of Isaac Stern playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham, conducting

While we’re on the topic of violin concertos, here are the best I’ve heard, in chronological order of their composition. Seek them out and enjoy!

Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043 – Johann Sebastian Bach (c. 1730)

Violin Concerto in D major, op. 61 – Ludwig van Beethoven (1806)

Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 64 – Felix Mendelssohn (1844)

Violin Concerto No. 8 in D major, op. 99 – Charles-Auguste de Bériot (c. 1845)

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, op. 26 – Max Bruch (1867)

Violin Concerto in D major, op. 77 – Johannes Brahms (1878)

Violin Concerto in D major, op. 35 – Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1878)

Violin Concerto in A minor, op. 53 – Antonín Dvořák (1879)

Violin Concerto in D minor, op. 47 – Jean Sibelius (1905)

Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, op. 19 – Sergei Prokofiev (1917)

Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, op. 63 – Sergei Prokofiev (1935)

Violin Concerto, op. 14 – Samuel Barber (1939)

Violin Concerto in D minor – Aram Khachaturian (1940)

Violin Concerto in D major, op. 35 – Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1945)

Violin Concerto in C major, op. 48 – Dmitry Kabalevsky (1948)

And, outstanding violin concerto movements:

Intermezzo (Poco adagio) [2nd & final movement] from Violin Concerto, op. 33 – Carl Nielsen (1911)

Sicilienne (Andantino) [2nd movement] from Concierto de estío, for violin and orchestra – Joaquín Rodrigo (1943)

Curious as to why so many violin concertos are written in the key of D major? I was.

“D major is well-suited to violin music because of the structure of the instrument, which is tuned G D A E. The open strings resonate sympathetically with the D string, producing a sound that is especially brilliant. This is also the case with all other orchestral strings.” – Wikipedia entry for D major