A STUDY GUIDE BY KATE RAYNOR http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN-13-978-1-74295-039-6 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au ‘If we are to pick ten things that are great about humanity there would probably be several Beethoven works amongst them.’ ‘In a sense he’s defined what music means, what music is.’ n Search of Beethoven, acclaimed Grabsky is unrivalled in his ability to In Search of Beethoven examines the director Phil Grabsky’s feature- capture the power and essence of romantic myths that swirl around the Ilength biographical film about the life live performance. Alongside riveting titanic figure of Beethoven. We often and music of Ludwig van Beethoven, interviews with a host of historians and think of him as a heroic and tormented is quite simply – like the subject it musicians who have devoted their pro- man, cursed with a tragic fate – ren- chronicles – brilliant. Demonstrating an fessional lives to exploring Beethoven’s dered deaf when all his life was devot- astounding depth of research, coupled world and work, the filmmaker shot an ed to the creation of sound; passion- with a great feel for the music and a astounding fifty-five performances for ately devoted to his Immortal Beloved sense of how best to capture its spirit In Search of Beethoven. This is one and yet alone and loveless for most on film, Grabsky brings together the film definitely worth owning on DVD: of his days. Grabsky challenges the world’s leading performers and experts many performances that we see and popular idea of the genius composer on Beethoven to reveal new insights hear as extracts in the film appear as as a bitter and cantankerous figure in into this legendary composer. Fascinat- complete works in the DVD extras. (For a portrait that is detailed, authoritative, ing biographical information is united example, the Endellion String Quartet comprehensive and ultimately deeply with extracts from the composer’s let- gave Grabsky’s crew exclusive access moving. SCREEN EDUCATION ters and, of course, the music in a film to film a number of complete Beethoven that is never less than compelling. quartets.) 2 CURRICULUM LINKS This outstanding and inspiring film has particular relevance to middle and senior secondary Music Appreciation, Music Performance, History, SOSE/ HSIE and English. The main aim of this guide is to Background - City of Birmingham Symphony present a wide variety of teaching Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon and learning opportunities based on List of Performers and Rattle the film, ranging in sophistication and Interviewees - Orchestre de Paris conducted by complexity. Teachers are encouraged Christoph Eschenbach to pick and choose tasks that suit the particular interests and abilities Orchestras and Conductors - Orchestre National de France con- of their students and the timeframes - Mahler Chamber Orchestra, con- ducted by Kurt Masur within which they are operating – not ducted by Claudio Abbado in the to work through the guide systemati- production of Fidelio from I Teatri, Soloists and Chamber Artists cally. Reggio Emilia, directed by Chris - Violinists: Vadim Repin, Janine Most of the activities target literacy Kraus Jansen, Alexander Sitkovetsky, outcomes: speaking and listening, - Orchestra of the Eighteenth Cen- Urban Svensson reading and writing. tury conducted by Frans Brüggen - Pianists: Paul Lewis, Hélène There are also activities that address - Salzburg Camerata conducted by Grimaud, Ronald Brautigam, film/media analysis, ICT and creative thinking. The statements presented Sir Roger Norrington Jonathan Biss, Emanuel Ax, Lars in quotation marks are intended to be - Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra Vogt, Leif Ove Andsnes, Kristian thought provoking or controversial and conducted by Riccardo Chailly Bezuidenhout, Boris Berezovsky, can be used in a number of ways: as - Filarmonica della Scala conducted Julia Fedoseeva, Christoph Berner, a focus for discussion, debate or oral by Gianandrea Noseda Itamar Golan, Cecile Licad, Gerold presentations; and as a direction for further research, analysis or creative - Wiener Symphoniker conducted by Huber writing tasks. Fabio Luisi - Cellists: Alban Gerhardt, Richard Sections of the guide are labelled with - Swedish Chamber Orchestra con- Harwood, Roel Dieltiens, Mats the Key Learning Areas they most ducted by Thomas Dausgaard Rondin closely pertain to, although there - Norrköping Symphony Orchestra - Quartet: Endellion String Quartet is some overlap between different conducted by Andrew Parrott - Singers: Christian Gerhaher, Anja sections and activities can be readily - Orchestre National du Capitole Kampe, Albert Dohmen, Clifton modified to fit different curriculum areas. de Toulouse conducted by Tugan Forbis, Giorgio Surjan, Julia Kleiter Sokhiev - Dresden Staatskapelle with Historians and Commentators Vladimir Jurowski - Barry Cooper, Christine Köndgen, For a complete list of the perform- - Louis Langrée Bayan Northcott, Ilona Schmiel, ers and performances featured in In - Berliner Philharmoniker with Her- Cliff Eisen, Jonathan Del Mar, Search of Beethoven, see: <http:// bert von Karajan Giovanni Bietti, Hebe Jeffrey, Chris www.insearchofbeethoven.com/ SCREEN EDUCATION - Corydon Orchestra and Singers Kraus performers_and_interviewees.html>. conducted by Matthew Best 3 ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSION POINTS KEY LEARNING AREAS: History & English A Portrait of the Times L–R: GIANANDREA NOSEda; ??? ‘The uniqueness of Beethoven and the attempt of composers, writers, critics and listeners afterwards to come to grips with this uniqueness inevitably A BRIEF TIMELINE OF VIENNA DURING BEETHOVen’s LIFE gave rise to a re-evaluation of the past, 1769 Schönbrunn Palace is completed. the present and the future.’ – Cliff Eisen, historian 1770 The marriage of Habsburg princess Marie Antoinette to Louis XVI of France cements relations between Austria and France. As well as bringing students to a rich 1780 Maria Theresa dies, and her liberal son, Joseph II, ascends to power. and deep appreciation of Beethoven’s music, this film provides an excellent 1789 Revolution in France leads to the beheading of Marie Antoinette. opportunity to engage students in a 1805 and Armies of Napoleon twice occupy Vienna. study of eighteenth and nineteenth 1809 century Europe. Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770 and died in 1810 Napoleon marries Habsburg archduchess Marie-Louise. Vienna, Austria in 1827. Divide stu- 1811 Viennese treasury is bankrupted by military spending. dents into small groups to research topics on the historical context of 1814-15 Congress of Vienna rearranges the map of Europe following the defeat Beethoven’s life (religion, economics, of Napoleon. arts and culture, society, politics). 1832 First steamship company is organised to ply the Danube. Useful websites include: 1837 Austria’s first railway line is created. http://www.europecities.com/en/607/ (See <http://www.sacred-destinations.com/austria/vienna-timeline.htm>) austria/vienna/history/period3/ http://www.wien.gv.at/english/history/ overview/index.html Also see the Resources section at the about all sources consulted. http://www.planet-vienna.com/E/ end of this guide for further sugges- history.htm tions. • Locate Bonn and Vienna on a map Jeffrey Dane, ‘Tracing Beethoven In of Europe. and Around Vienna’: Have students present their research • How is the Bonn of Beethoven’s http://www.frugalfun.com/ and display it around the classroom for childhood described in the film? beethoven.html the duration of the unit. Encourage stu- (As a ‘rather cultivated place’. The Beethoven’s Vienna: dents to formulate questions to direct Elector, Maximilian Franz, believed SCREEN EDUCATION http://www.flonnet.com/fl2226/ and structure their research. Ensure in the ‘new philosophical ideas’ stories/20051230000106500.htm students accurately record information and was also extremely musical. 4 ‘He is not misanthropic or malevolent; he is wanting always to communicate beauty and warmth and love and hope’. – Jonathan Del Mar, Beethoven scholar and editor ‘He is not misanthropic or malevolent; he is wanting always to communicate beauty and warmth and love and hope.’ – Jonathan Del Mar, Beethoven scholar and editor L-R: GIANANDREA NOSEda; ‘I have two impressions of Beethoven: a large brain and an equally large heart. These two elements often fight ‘Bonn’s nobles took their lead against each other, but frequently they from this new Elector – who was love each other too. There is so much both their archbishop and prince. love, so much empathy and ability to Under his enlightened rule, musical endure suffering. All this comes from life flourished.’) What is Bonn like his heart.’ – Fabio Luisi, conductor today? How has it changed since Beethoven’s time? • Create a timeline showing the key • Plan a tour around Vienna to cel- events of Beethoven’s life. ebrate Beethoven’s significance to • Create a family tree for Beethoven. this city. Write up a monologue to • Compile a list of adjectives used deliver as if you were a tour guide. throughout the film to describe • In what ways was Beethoven a Beethoven’s character. (For ex- product of his times? In what ways ample: brusque, rude, forthright, did he challenge the conventions impatient, bad tempered, a dark and mores of the times? when Napoleon became a dictator character, profound, unlucky, • Of his arrival in Vienna in November and crowned himself, he was horri- somebody in constant struggle, 1792 at the age of twenty-one, the fied’.) Why is the Eroica Symphony serious, controlled, immensely film’s narration states: