Late Beethoven

Module description

Since Wagner’s essay for his centenary in 1870, Beethoven’s late works epitomised the ideas of“absolute music” and “aesthetic autonomy” in music. However, over the last thirty years many music historians have rejected those ideas in favour of studying the production and reception of music in its social contexts. Focused on the late Beethoven oeuvre, this module intends to clarify the indispensable relevance of aesthetic and analytical terminology in conjunction with contextual studies. We shall discusscanonical and non-canonical works from Beethoven’s late period, such as his string quartets, the Missasolemnis and the Ninth Symphony, but also his incidental music for nationalist festivities, the Bagatelles and folk-song arrangements. The investigation of Beethoven’s biography (commissions, incomes, honours,conversation books) forms part of this module as well as life in Vienna after the fall of Napoleon. Authors to be studied include Adorno, Kerman, Rosen, Solomon, Dahlhaus, Chua, Cook, Taruskin, Clarke, and Mathew.

Assessment details

4000 word essay

Educational aims & objectives

Since Wagner's essay for his centenary in 1870, Beethoven's late works epitomised the ideas of "absolute music" and "aesthetic autonomy" in music. However, over the last thirty years many music historians have rejected those ideas in favour of studying the production and reception of music in its social contexts. Focussed on the late Beethoven oeuvre, this module intends to clarify the indispensable relevance of aesthetic and analytical terminology in conjunction with contextual studies.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable and practical skills appropriate to a Level 7 module and in particular will demonstrate:

• familiarity with the canonical and non-canonical works of Beethoven's last period and related secondary literature
• insight into two central methods of music historiography, one which assumes music's aesthetic autonomy and one which focuses on its social contexts
• an ability to find common ground between the two approaches in their module essay

Module description disclaimer

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