Mu123 27 April 2011 Joe Jewell

BEETHOVEN AND THE METRONOME

OUTLINE
Background Tempo controversies in Beethovens music Examples

Symphony

No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 67

Conclusion Bibliography

ROLE OF TEMPO IN MUSIC

Tempo is the heartbeat of the music Sense of rhythmic speed is not limited to tempo; composers can simply write more notes at a slower tempo. Tempo is inextricably linked to melody (according to Schuller)

TEMPO MARKINGS

Grave slow and solemn Largo very slow Adagio slow and stately (literally, "at ease") Andante at a walking pace Moderato moderately Allegro moderato moderately quick Allegro fast, quickly and bright Vivace lively and fast Presto very fast Prestissimo extremely fast

JOHANN NEPOMUK MAELZEL

1772 (Regensburg) 1838 (at sea, S. America) Active in Vienna during Beethovens time there Mechanic (engineer), inventor, pianist 1815 invented and marketed the metronome

MAELZEL METRONOME (1815)

TEMPO MARKINGS (METRONOME)

Grave 20-40 bpm Largo 4060 bpm Adagio 6676 bpm Andante 76108 bpm Moderato 101-110 bpm Allegro moderato 112124 bpm Allegro 120139 bpm Vivace 140 - 160 bpm Presto 168200 bpm Prestissimo more than 200 bpm

BEETHOVEN AND MAELZEL

BEETHOVEN AND THE METRONOME

I have thought for a long time of giving up these nonsensical terms allegro, andante, adagio, presto, and Malzels metronome gives us the best opportunity to do so (Letter to von Mosel, 1817) Very specific with tempo indications: e.g. Andante con moto assai vivace quasi allegretto ma non troppo for the Kyrie in the C minor Mass. Took the time to add metronome markings to previously published pieces.

TEMPO CONTROVERSIES
John Rockwell (1987): As a rule, Beethovens metronome markings indicate quicker speedsthan we hear today. Symphony halls (and symphonies) are larger articulation issues Some claim that indicated fast tempos are unplayable (though this has been demonstrated false) John Rockwell (1987): A steady entropy of tempoWestern classical music has slowed down.

ARTURO TOSCANINI
1867-1957 Beethoven symphony tempi: Generally right on Beethovens mark

LEONARD BERNSTEIN
1918-1990 Beethoven symphony tempi: Usually quite a bit slower than marked

HERBERT VON KARAJAN

1908-1989 Beethoven symphony tempi: Vary, usually close to the mark. 1963 cycle slower; 1977 and 1984 cycles faster.

Beethoven: 108 bpm Toscanini (NBC): 104 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 5, MVT. 1: ALLEGRO CON BRIO

Beethoven: 108 bpm Bernstein (NY Phil): 82 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 5, MVT. 1: ALLEGRO CON BRIO

Beethoven: 96 bpm Karajan 1977 (Berlin Phil): 96 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 5, MVT. 3: SCHERZO. ALLEGRO.

Beethoven: 96 bpm Karajan 1977 (Berlin Phil): 96 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 5, MVT. 3: SCHERZO. ALLEGRO.

Beethoven: 96 bpm Bernstein (Bavarian Radio): 76 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 5, MVT. 3: SCHERZO. ALLEGRO.

Beethoven: 69 bpm Karajan 1984 (Berlin Phil): 72 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 7 MVT. 1: POCO SOSTENUTO.

Beethoven: 69 bpm Furtwangler (Vienna Phil): 54 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 7 MVT. 1: POCO SOSTENUTO.

Beethoven: 69 bpm Gross 2009 (Oxy-Caltech): 69 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 7 MVT. 1: POCO SOSTENUTO.

Beethoven: 84 bpm Toscanini (BBC): 84 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 7 MVT. 3: ASSAI MENO PRESTO (TRIO)

Beethoven: 84 bpm Toscanini (BBC): 84 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 7 MVT. 3: ASSAI MENO PRESTO (TRIO)

Beethoven: 84 bpm Bernstein(Vienna Phil): 58 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 7 MVT. 3: ASSAI MENO PRESTO (TRIO)

Beethoven: 84 bpm Gross 2009 (Oxy-Caltech): 76 bpm

SYMPHONY NO. 7 MVT. 3: ASSAI MENO PRESTO (TRIO)

CONCLUSIONS
When one of his pieces was performed, Beethovens first question was always: How were the tempi? Everything else seemed of secondary importance to him. Schindler, Life of Beethoven (1840) Beethoven personally added metronome markings to his pieces Beethovens personal metronome still exists and has been tested; it is accurate.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schuller, Gunther (1997) The Compleat Conductor (Oxford) Lockwood, Lewis (2003) Beethoven: The Music and the Life (Norton) Brown, Clive (1991) Metronome Marks and Tempo in Beethovens Symphonies, Early Music Vol. 19 No. 2. Kolisch, Rudolf and Mendel, Arthur (1943) Tempo and Character in Beethovens MusicPart I, The Musical Quarterly Vol. 29, No. 2. Kolisch, Rudolf and Mendel, Arthur (1943) Tempo and Character in Beethovens MusicPart II, The Musical Quarterly Vol. 29, No. 3. Rockwell, John (1987) Pondering Beethovens Metronome , New York Times, February 19, 1987. Beethoven Haus website: http://www.beethoven-haus-bonn.de