Ludwig Van Beethoven

What effect did Beethoven's deafness have on his music?

• It made his works difficult for audiences to enjoy

• His struggle with it inspired him to write dramatic, emotional music

• It led to major musical mistakes in his later symphonies

• It eventually caused him to stop composing and conducting entirely

How did Beethoven's Ninth Symphony differ from previous symphonies?

• It featured parts for saxophones and acoustic guitars

• It instructed musicians to improvise in certain sections

• It was based on the 12-tone scale, instead of the standard seven-tone scale

• The last movement contained vocal parts, to be sung by a chorus

The Classical style of music is known for its:

• Harmonics, dissonance, and slowness

• Simplicity, balance, and proportion

• Expression and emotion

• Complexity and ornamentation

Which of the following statements is an opinion about Beethoven?

• His later works are identified with the Romantic period of European music

• His later works were far more interesting than his earlier ones

• His fifth symphony is a very well-known piece

• Although he was born in Bonn, Germany, he eventually lived and worked in Vienna, Austria

Place the following events in sequence:

• Beethoven begins going deaf

• He composes his 9th Symphony

• He composes "Moonlight Sonata"

Beethoven's 5th Symphony is based around a four-note motif. What is a motif?

• A theme or pattern

• A musical scale

• A musical chord

• A type of violin with four strings

Which of the following best describes Beethoven's life?

• Turbulent, yet inspiring

• Long and uneventful

• Filled with joy and happiness

• Short and poverty-stricken

How did Beethoven's later works differ from his earlier works?

• They were more lighthearted and optimistic

• They were more balanced and proportional

• They expressed Beethoven's furious anger over his deafness

• They contained more intensity and personal expression

How did Beethoven make money?

• He was sponsored by the Catholic Church

• He was sponsored by wealthy patrons

• He inherited his money from his father

• He was forced to work a part-time job in Vienna customs office

What was the most likely reason that Beethoven had trouble finding a wife?

• He rarely went outside, so he had trouble meeting women

• His music was unpopular, and he was quite poor

• He had a difficult personality and struggled with depression

• He did not believe in marriage