Beethoven on postage stamps

Beethoven's Native Town Bonn, a Cultural City

When Beethoven was born, Bonn was a small rural town in Rhineland. Elector Max Franz (Reign: 1784-1794), an enlightened monarch, enthusiastic for supporting youth, assisted Beethoven for his two visits to Vienna. He established Bonn University, and thus Bonn, a cultural city, became a symbol of German Enlightenment.

Born into a Musical Family (1770)

Beethoven was born at Bonngasse 20, Bonn on 16th or 17th December, 1770. His grandfather Ludwig (1712-73) was a bass singer and music director at the electoral court. His father Johann (1740-92) was a court tenor and music teacher. His mother Maria Magdalena (1746-1787) was a daughter of kitchen overseer of Ehrenbreitstein palace. Beethoven received his first musical training from his father.

Beethoven-Haus survived as a Museum and Archive

Beethoven's small birth house in the old town of Bonn has survived, thanks to the efforts of a group of twelve citizens of the city. In 1889 they founded the "Beethoven-Haus Society" and bought the house and established it as a place of memorial. Today, as a museum and a research centre with a huge collection, it enjoys a world-wide reputation as the centre of excellence concerning Beethoven.

Encounter with Mozart, Prodigy of Salzburg (1787, 16 years old)

Beethoven's father dreamt of bringing his son up like the prodigy of Salzburg (Mozart). In 1787 16-year-old Beethoven visited Vienna to learn from Mozart, remaining there about two months. It is said that Beethoven played an improvised music in the presence of Mozart. If ever he met Mozart, this was the only occasion that two geniuses could meet each other.

French Revolution (1789, 18 years old), Sympathizing with "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity"

On 14th July 1789, the year when Beethoven enrolled at Bonn University, the storming of Bastille took place setting the stage for French Revolution. Beethoven, a sensitive youth, felt deep sympathy with French Revolution and its slogan "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity". Later this experience gave a profound impact on his works.

Meeting Joseph Haydn in Bonn (1792, 21 years old)

In July 1792 Beethoven met Haydn at Redoute in Bonn during his return journey from London to Vienna. By showing his own compositions Beethoven was accepted by Haydn as his pupil. In November Beethoven left Bonn for Vienna with his patron Waldsteln's famous farewell words "With the help of assiduous labor you shall receive Mozart's spirit from Haydn's hands."

Vienna, a Dream City (1792, 21 years old)

In November 1792 he arrived in Vienna bearing introductions from Count Waldstein and the Invitation to study with Haydn. Through these connections he gained access to the houses of hereditary nobility. His first decade in Vienna was an unbroken series of triumphs. The expected stay in Vienna was one year, but he never saw his hometown again.

Beethoven's Mentors (1793-1802, 22 to 31 years old)

Beethoven's lessons with Haydn began in early 1793. However Haydn devoted little time to them as he was preoccupied with his next trip. When Haydn left for London again in January, 1794, Beethoven turned to Johann Georg Albrechtsberger for tuition in counterpoint, fugue and canon. From around 1800 to 1802, Beethoven learned Italian vocal and opera style from Antonio Salieri.

Grand Tour (1796, 25 years old)

In 1796 Beethoven made a half-a-year trip to Prague, Dresden, Leipzig and Berlin. In Prague he spent about two months with aristocrats and music lovers including the Duscheks and gave a concert. In Dresden, he performed in the presence of the Elector of Saxony, Frederick Augustus Ill. In Berlin he played for Friedrich Willhelm II and performed at Singakademie presided by C. F. Fasch & C. F. Zelter.

Moonlight Sonata (1801, 30 years old) and Heiligenstadt Testament (1802)

Beethoven composed "Sonata quasi una fantasia" (op.27 No.2) and dedicated it to Countess Giulietta Guicdardi with whom he was mutually in love. This piano sonata was later dubbed "Moonlight Sonata" as Swiss poet Rellstab compared the stillness of its first movement to a small boat floating on moonlight-shone ripples of the Lake Luzem.

In early 1800s Beethoven came out with big pieces like Symphonies Nos.1 and 2. But an extreme hardship was waiting for him. That was deafness, something fatal to a musician. In 1802 he wrote "Heiligenstadt Testament'', which was fournd after his death. This was a voice full of anguish of a 1man who was pushed into an abyss of despair. But this was not of a man going to die but of a man solemnly vowing rebirth by enduring hardship.

"Eroica" Symphony (1804, 33 years old) and "Appassionata" (1805)

Deeply sympathized with republican phllosophies, Beethoven looked up to Napoleon as an evangelist preaching gospel of French Revolution and was preparing to dedicate a symphony to him. But at the news of his enthronement, enraged Beethoven erased the title and caused a hole in the paper, changed It from "Bonaparte#" to "Sinfonia Eroica" and dedicated it to Prince Lobkowitz.

"Appassionata" is one of the most dynamic piano sonatas of Beethoven, and is a hallmark of his works. The title comes from a publisher's memo on Its scores, and is a perfect match for Its passionate style of the music. In 1806 Marie Bigot played then unpublished "Appassionata" Sonata at sight from Beethoven's autograph score, which was later given to her.

Beethoven's Patrons

Soon after arrival in Vienna, Beethoven established close relationship with quite a few noblemen who became his patrons. The patronage was manifested either in specific commitments for works for financial return or in a more general way, such as the giving of gratuitous financial support. In 1809 Ignaz Gleichenstein successfully negotiated an annuity agreement with three aristocrats, probably arranged by Countess Erdody, so that Beethoven would get lifelong annual salary of 4000 Florin and stay in Vienna.

Theoretical Background

At an early age Beethoven studied Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, and later learnt counterpoint from Haydn's exercises derived from Fux's "Gradus ad Parnassum". After Albrechtsberger and Salleri Beethoven took no more private lessons in composition, but he continued self-teaching throughout his life by studying theoretical writings such as Rameau's theory of chords and harmonics, and D'Alembert's "Elements of Music".

"Choral Fantasia" and Symphony No.5 (1808, 38 years old)

On 22nd December 1808, Beethoven gave his long-awaited benefit concert at the Theater an der Wien. The program included premiere of Symphony No. 5, No. 6 and "Choral Fantasia" (op. 80). Moritz von Schwind, the famous Austrian painter, being inspired by Beethoven's "Choral Fantasia", painted "A Symphony" in four part scenes corresponding to its four movements in 1852.

Music Publishers

Breitkopf & Hartel was one of the leading music publishers with whom Beethoven was frequently in contact. From 1809 onward, Breltkopf & Hartel publlshed first edition of Beethoven's major works (op. 67 to op. 86) Including Symphonies No. 5 and No. 6. Schott's Sons in Mainz approached Beethoven in 1824 and published the first edition of op. 122 - 128 including the 9th Symphony and Missa Solemnis. A Zurich publisher, Nägeli, published Beethoven's Three Sonatas (op. 31) from 1802 to 1804.

The Ruins of Athens (1811, 40 years old)

The Ruins of Athens, Opus 113, a set of incidental music, was composed in 1811. The music was written to accompany the play of the same name by August von Kotzebue, for the dedication of a new theatre at Pest. The best-known piece from this music is the Turkish March, which was written in Orientalist fashion popular in Europe at that time Imitating aspects of Turkish culture.

Egmont (1809, 38 years old)

"Egmont" is the stage music for Goethe's tragedy on a story of national liberation in 16th century Flanders. When in 1809 the Burgtheater asked Beethoven, a great admirer of Goethe, to compose incidental music for the play, he accepted with enthusiasm. In the music Beethoven expressed his own political concerns through the exaltation of the heroic sacrifice of a man condemned to death for having taken a valiant stand against oppression. Goethe himself declared that Beethoven had expressed his Intentions with "a remarkable genius".

Meeting Goethe (1812, 41 years old)

Bettina Brentano (later married von Arnim), a friend of Goethe, met Beethoven in Vienna in 1810. While talking to Goethe about their meeting she prepared the ground for the later get-together of both. They met each other for the first time in Teplitz on 19th July 1812 and Beethoven visited Goethe again in Karlsbad later this year. In a letter to Zelter, Goethe admired Beethoven's talent while sympathizing with him of his hearing disorder.

Life Mask by Franz Klein (1812, 41 years old)

In 1812 Streicher,a piano maker, successfully persuaded Beethoven to allow Franz Klein to make his life mask, from which a bust could be created. On the first attempt Beethoven suddenly panicked with the fear of suffocation, but the second try was successful. Klein produced a bust based on this mask later.

Portrait by August Kloeber (1818, 47 years old)

August Kloeber was in Vienna to pursue his studies in art when he painted a portrait of Beethoven. He said "Beethoven looked very serious, his extremely lively eyes usually glowed with a somewhat dark, up-ward looking expression, which I have tried to reproduce in the picture; his lips were closed, but the lines round his mouth were not unfriendly!"

Portrait by Ferdinand Schimon (1819, 48 years old)

The portrait was painted by a young Austro-Hungarian student, Ferdinand Schimon. Schindler told, that he set up his easel in a room adjoining Beethoven's workroom, as the composer refused a sitting because he was too busy on the Mass. Beethoven's close but not always reliable friend, meant further "The majestic forehead, the firmly shut mouth and the chin shaped like a shell i.s truer than any other".

Portraits by Joseph Karl Stieler (1820) and Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller (1823)

Stieler came to Vienna to paint Emperor's portrait, and was given four sittings by Beethoven. Schindler, Beethoven's close friend, said "it reproduces Beethoven's characteristic expression faithfully". Among all of Beethoven's portraits this one was painted by the most well-known painter Waldmüller in 1823. On the day of first sitting Beethoven was in a bad mood, and refused to sit anymore. Waldmüller finished the portrait from his Imagination. Schindler said that the portrait was ufurther from the truth than any other".

The Ninth Premiered in Vienna {1824, 53 years old)

The Symphony, premiered on May 7, 1824 in Vienna, had a choral part in the final movement incorporating Schiller's poem "An die Freude". The premiere was a great success. The whole audience acclaimed him through standing ovations five times so that Beethoven, who could not hear the applause, could at least see the ovation gestures. In June 1985 the last movement was chosen by the European Council as the anthem of European Union. In December 1989 Leonard Bernstein led historical performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony in East Berlin celebrating fall of the Berlin Wall substituting the word "Freedom" for "Joy".

Death Bed and Magnificent Funeral (1827, 56 years old)

On 26th March 1827 Beethoven passed away in the so-called "Black Spaniards' House• surrounded by his friends. Joseph Danhauser sketched Beethoven on his deathbed and took his death mask. The funeral on 29th March was one of the most attended in Vienna's history. Grillparzer's moving eulogy was delivered at the burial service.

Beethoven Statue Unveiled in Bonn (1845)

Beethoven's statue was unveiled in Bonn on 12th August, 1845 attended by the first Beethoven Festival in Bonn. Franz Liszt took leadership in pushing through this long planned project. In addition to his personal donation, he organized concerts to raise fund for the statue. Many dignitaries and celebrities were invited to the unveiling ceremony. Included were Queen Victoria and Prince Consort Albert, Spohr, Rellstab, Alexander Humboldt and so forth.

German POW in Bando Premiered the Ninth in Japan (1918)

World War I (WWI) carried Beethoven's music to the Far East. On 1st June 1918 an orchestra organized by German POW captured in China during WWI performed (Conductor: Richard Hansen) Beethoven's Symphony No.9 in the prison camp located in Sando, Tokushima. This is the known first performance of the "Choral" Symphony in Japan.

Quotations from Beethoven

On Nature:
"O God! What glory in woodland! On the heights is peace, peace to serve Him"
"O, the sweet stillness of the woods!"
"If you wander through fir forests, think that Beethoven often poetized, or, as I said composed here."
(Beethoven loved walking in the woods in suburban Vienna and often got inspiration of his works)
"Woods, trees and rocks send back the echo that man desires."
(1881 fancy cancel of leaf)

On Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
"I could not compose operas like "Don Juan" and "Figaro"; toward them I feel too great a repugnance. They are too frivolous" "The Magic Flute will always remain Mozart's greatest works, for in it he for the first time showed himself a German musician." (Engraver autographed die proof)

On Fatherland:
"The happiest experience of my life will be to see my fatherland and greet our Father Rhine." (Beethoven left Bonn in 1792 at the age of twenty one and never returned again. During Napoleonic Wars Bonn was occupied by the French Army in 1794 and this made Beethoven's relocation to Vienna permanent.) (Stationery)

On Johann Sebastian Bach:
"His name ought not to be Bach (brook), but ocean, because of his infinite and inexhaustible wealth of tonal combinations and harmonies. Bach is an ideal of an organist." (Registered first day cover)

Quotations on Beethoven

Robert Schumann:
"Italy has Naples, France has the Revolution, and England has the Fleet. So Germany has Beethoven's Symphonies." (Local stamp)

Hector Berlioz:
"Beethoven opened before me a new world of music, as Shakespeare had revealed a new universe of poetry."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:
"I have never before seen a more comprehensive, energetic or intense artist. I understand very well how strange he must appear to the outside world." "His talent amazed me; unfortunately he is utterly untamed personality, not altogether in the wrong in holding the world detestable, but who does not make it any more enjoyable either for himself or others by his attitude."

Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowsky:
"I bow before the greatness of some of his works-but I do not love Beethoven. My attitude toward him reminds me of what I experienced in childhood toward God Jehovah. I had toward him... a feeling of wonder, but at same time also of fear."

Richard Wagner:
"I believe in God, Mozart and Beethoven, and likewise their disciples and apostles." (Stationery)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
"Keep eyes on that young man. Some day he will give the world something to talk about." (Stationery)

Tribute

Through the process of preparing this exhibit, I have formed following Impressions on Beethoven's characteristics.

1) A great philosopher who was keenly alert to political, economic and social changes of his era.

2) Not only a genius but also a man of diligence who emerged as a top musician by winning fierce competitions.

3) A self-reliant person, and a tactful negotiator in earning his own livings.

4) A man of strong will overcoming problems associated with hearing disorder.

5) Above all he was a distinguished artist who created music of universal value with unparalleled originality.

His music, though it is two centuries old, remains fresh and gives us Joy and strength to live on. The more I know about Beethoven, the more I am fascinated with his profound human quallties. I will be more than happy if this exhibit can be of any help for viewers to understand Beethoven's personal magnetism.

QUIZ: Which country are they from?

It is estimated that up to now about 60 countries all over the world honored Beethoven by issuing about 240 kinds of postage stamps directly relating to him. Here are some of the stamps waiting for you to tell the name of issuing country.

How many of those can you identify?

1. Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates at the Persian Gulf
2. China
3. Dahomey, old name of Benin, a state in Africa
4. El Salvador, state in Central America
5. Greece
6. Bulgaria
7. Mexico
8. Cuba, island state in the Caribbean
9. Gibraltar, area belonging to Great Britain, south from Spain
10. Maldives, island state in the Indian Ocean
11. Ireland
12. Colombia, state in the northern part of South America
13. Liechtenstein, principality of Liechtenstein, very small state in Central Europe, only 36000 inhabitants
14. Venda, former "homeland" in South Africa
15. Cameroon, state in Central Africa
16. Guyana, state in South America
17. Albania
18. India
19. North Korea
20. Gabon, state in Central Africa

Legal notice

Publisher:
Beethoven-Haus Bonn
Bonngasse 24-26
D-53111 Bonn
Germany


Contents of the exhibition:
Yukio Onuma
Dr. Nicole Kämpken


This temporary exhibition was shown from 09.03.2012 to 24.06.2012 in the Beethoven-Haus.