After you have read the text

2. Answer the following questions about the text.

l. Why do we remember Ludwig van Beethoven?

2. When did Beethoven live and create?

3. What music genres did he prefer?

4. How many symphonies did Beethoven write?

5. What was Beethoven's contribution to the development of the symphony as a genre?

6. What features of the first Beethoven's symphonies make the critics estimate them higher than those of Haydn and Mozart?

7. What is the name of Beethoven's Third Symphony?

8. To whom did Beethoven want to dedicate it at first?

9. Why did he change the title of this Symphony?

10. In what way was the original dedication of the Symphony realized?

11. What is the last movement of the Symphony based on?

12. Where does the nickname of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony come from?

13. How do critics interpret the main idea of “Fate Symphony”?

14. What is the most remarkable aspect of this Symphony?

15. Why is Beethoven's Symphony no.5 also called “Victory Symphony”?

16. How many movements does Beethoven's “Pastoral Symphony” consist of?

17. How can you interpret Beethoven's remark about the “Pastoral Symphony”: “Expression of feelings rather than tone-painting”?

18. What event was reflected in Beethoven's Symphony “Wellington's Victory”?

19. Why does this Symphony contain many English melodies?

20. How do musicologists estimate the last Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven – his “Choral Symphony”?

1. Learn the following information.

– adagio, adopted from Italian ad agio, i.e., at ease: a slow tempo, between andante and largo.

– allegro (It., cheerful): indication for fast tempo.

– allegro assai: very fast.

– coda (It., tail): a concluding passage or section, falling outside the basic structure of a composition, and added in order to obtain or to heighten the impression of finality. Most compositions, even short ones, have a coda. In the fully developed examples of sonata form (first movements of sonatas, symphonies, etc., by Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner) the coda often attains considerable proportions and importance, representing the final climax.

– crescendo, decrescendo (It., growing, diminishing): the terms for increasing or decreasing loudness.

– scherzo (It., joke, humor): a movement, usually the third one, of sonatas, symphonies, string quartets, or other compositions written in the form of the sonata (except the concerto, in which the scherzo is usually missing). It was introduced by Haydn, particularly in his string quartets and definitely adopted by Beethoven to replace the minuet, from which it differs mainly in its faster tempo, varying from allegretto to a full presto, always in triple meter. Other characteristic traits are a vigorous rhythmic element, strongly marked accents, often a certain abruptness of thought involving elements of surprise, and a capricious character ranging from the playful to the sinister. The great masters of the true scherzo are Beethoven, Schubert, and Bruckner.

3. Choose the correct word.

1. “Adelaide” is a (fate, homage, nickname) of a famous song by Beethoven. 2. The song cycle bу Beethoven “An die ferne Geliebte” (“To the Distant Beloved”) (celebrates, assumes, unfolds) love. 3. Opus 93 by Beethoven has an (introduction, annotator, inscription): “Dedicated to Archduke Rudolph”. 4. The term “classical” is often (expanded, applied, dedicated) to Palestrina. 7. “Emperor Concerto” by Beethoven received its name as a sign of (homage, memory, vitality) of its greatness. 6. The lullaby is called to keep away (cheerful, victorious, adverse) forces. 7. The report contains a (theme, variation, recapitulation) of the author's meditation. 8. Unfinished works (establish, commemorate, introduce) the tragic destiny of the composer. 9. Beethoven (expanded, changed, resigned) the final theme of the ballet “Creatures of Prometheus” in his later works. 10. The (collective, elaborate, initial) theme for “Diabelli Variations” by Beethoven – a waltz – was sent to him by Antonio Diabelli, a Viennese publisher, in order to contribute one variation to a collective work. 11. The first movement opens with an unusual improvisatory (introduction, instruction, abduction) played by the pianist. 12. The (intolerant, uneven, concise) form of expression does credit to the young misician. 13. Beethoven's “Farewell Sonata” was (assumed, represented, inspired) by the departure of the Archduke Rudolph from Vienna. 14. The last movement of the cantata sounds like a (thunderstorm, memory, style). 15. Beethoven's “Grosse Fuge” (“Great Fugue”) was composed in 1825 as the last movement of his “String Quartet”, but later published as a (preferable, ominous, separate) composition.

4. Select the correct meaning of the words.

.

1) shepherd a) брать назад, отзывать

2) withdraw b) похороны

3) thus c) только что

4) ominous d) таким образом

5) funeral e) прославлять

6) advanced f) судьба, рок

7) assume g) слава

8) unfold h) посвящать

9) just i) рисовать вместе

10) fate k) краткое посвящение

11) dedicate l) принимать на себя

12) inscription m) буря

n) пастух

o) развертываться

p) расширенный

q) развитый, передовой

r) зловещий, угрожающий

5. Annotate text A in written form.

6. Describe your attitude to Ludwig van Beethoven.

7. Read and retell text B.