Allowing the viewer to rediscover the majesty of the long-forgotten concept of heroic art that originated from the era of antiquity, Beethoven’s music created a breakthrough in the realm of music and art. Inspired by the art of Ancient Greece, Beethoven’s music incorporates elements that render the notions of heroism, tragedy, and triumph, simultaneously attributing them to an individual. Thus, heroism and individualism are closely intertwined in Beethoven’s music, which can be observed in the use of SHMRG elements.
Specifically, the use of single harmony allows the composer to center on the main protagonist of the musical narrative, therefore, highlighting the role of individualism in it. In turn, the sound of Beethoven’s music, namely, its intensity and volume, contributes to the experience of a grandiose event, thus, outlining the concept of heroism as an unprecedented feat of courage (Kinderman, 2018). In turn, the melodic experimentation often observed in Beethoven’s pieces allows the composer to affect the listener on an emotional level (Yue, 2020). Specifically, the frequent repositioning of melodies, which can be observed in pieces such as Symphony No.6, helps reinforce certain themes, increasing the staying power of the melody and, therefore, its emotional impact.
Remarkably, Beethoven sacrifices rhythm to reinforce the melodic richness of his compositions. The specified approach might seem limited at first since it ostensibly deprives a composition of one of its crucial components. However, on the second observation, one will notice that the meandering rhythm of Beethoven’s work creates opportunities for harmony and melody to blossom (Elnashar, 2020). As a result, the growth of Beethoven’s compositions represents a complex and intricate process. A similar approach to structuring a composition can be found in the pieces by Mozart, Bach, and Haydn (Krebs, 2018). The non-linear nature that these musical narratives share with Beethoven’s ones creates a dreamlike, almost magical impression, allowing the audience to view it as a unique experience.
By introducing ideas that were innovative at the time to the SHMRG elements, Beethoven managed to create compositions that incorporated heroism and individualism, appealing to the listener’s emotions. Thus, each of the pieces was expressively personal, while also glorifying heroic feats. Beethoven’s legacy continues to produce a tremendous effect on music across centuries, proving the author’s genius.
References
Elnashar, E. A. (2020). Beethoven Music harmony in design weaving fabric between harness and matrix drafting theories. International Journal of Applied Science and Research, 3, 21.
Kinderman, W. (2021). The performance of Beethoven’s “Diabelli Variations”: Continuity, discontinuity, cyclic integration, irony. Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie [Journal of the German-speaking Society of Music Theory], 18(Sonderausgabe [Special Issue]), 209-228.
Krebs, M. L. (2018). The compositional influence of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on Ludwig van Beethoven’s early period works.
Yue, T. (2020). Flowing music – Rhythm, melody and emotional interaction. Abstracting/Indexing, 9(7), pp. 232-248.