Johann van Beethoven

Johann van Beethoven ( * November 14, 1740 probably in Bonn, † December 18, 1792 in Bonn) was the father of composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

Life

Johann van Beethoven was born on November 14, 1740, the son of Ludwig van Beethoven Elder. Born ( born January 5, 1712 Mechelen, † December 24, 1773 in Bonn), the grandfather of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, and his wife Maria Joseph Poll ( in Bonn * 1714, † September 30, 1775 ).

Rumor has it, Johann van Beethoven was not the physical, but only the adopted son of Ludwig van Beethoven Elder. been; as an indication of the absence of a baptismal certificate in Bonn and the surrounding area as well as the fact that Johann van Beethoven, contrary to the former tradition was not wearing a middle name apply. But there is clear evidence for or against this hypothesis is missing, this remains in the realm of speculation.

Johann van Beethoven had two siblings, but died young:

• Maria Ludovica Bernhardine van Beethoven ( baptized August 28, 1734 in Bonn, † October 17, 1735 in Bonn)
• Mark Joseph van Beethoven ( baptized April 25, 1736 in Bonn, † unknown)

Johann van Beethoven received from his father singing, piano and violin lessons. After visiting an elementary school, he spent a year or two in the Jesuit College.

In 1752, Johann van Beethoven unpaid soprano in the electoral court orchestra. In 1756, he was court musician and moved into a salary was 100 florins in April 1764, which was later increased to 25 and by another 50 florins a year. In addition, Johann van Beethoven operated as a vocal and piano teacher.

On May 12, 1767, he married in Ehrenbreitstein the 19 - year-old Maria Magdalena Leym ( born December 19, 1746 Koblenz- Ehrenbreitstein; † July 17, 1787 in Bonn), a daughter of the late Trier Oberhof chef Johann Heinrich Keverich. Mary Magdalene Leym was the widow of 13 years older personal valet Johann Leym, whom she had married at the age of 16 years. Johann van Beethoven's father was against the marriage; in his opinion, Maria Magdalena Leym was not befitting as a wife. Since her father as a chef at the time, however, the same social rank had as a conductor, the Dutch musicologist January Caeyers rather believed that Ludwig van Beethoven Elder. feared for his own position in the family.

From the marriage of Johann and Maria Magdalena van Beethoven seven children were born:

• Maria Ludwig van Beethoven ( baptized on April 2, 1769, † April 8, 1769 )
• The composer Ludwig van Beethoven ( baptized 17 December 1770 in Bonn, Electorate of Cologne, † March 26 1827 in Vienna)
• Kaspar Anton Karl van Beethoven ( baptized on 8 April 1774 † November 15, 1815 in Alservorstadt )
• Nikolaus Johann van Beethoven ( baptized on 2 October 1776 † January 12, 1848 in Wieden )
• Anna Maria Franziska van Beethoven ( baptized on 23 February 1779 † February 27, 1779 )
• Franz Georg van Beethoven ( baptized on 17 January 1781 † August 16, 1783 )
• Maria Josepha Margarete van Beethoven ( baptized on 5 May 1786 † November 26, 1787 )

Shortly before the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann van Beethoven applied for the post in the Lambert Liege Cathedral, where his father had already worked as a singer, but failed the application on the resistance of the Elector Maximilian Franz of Austria. At this time intensified Johann van Beethoven's dependence on alcohol, which affected his voice; only the influence of the First Minister Caspar Anton von Belderbusch preserved Johann van Beethoven facing serious professional difficulties.

After the unsuccessful bid, the Beethoven family moved into the baker fishermen belonging Estate in Bonngasse No. 515 (now No. 20), the birthplace of the composer. Other addresses where the family lived, were the Rhine alley that Neugasse and Wenzelgasse No. 476, corner Gudenaugasse, the last residence of Mary Magdalene Beethoven.

Johann van Beethoven fact that in 1774, as said many times, I applied after the death of his father to his position as Kapellmeister Jan Caeyers considers unlikely, since he neither music director was Kapellmeister in contrast to its competitors Cajetan Mattioli and Andrea Lucchesi.

In 1787, Johann van Beethoven lost after the death of his wife Mary Magdalene and her daughter Mary Margaret Josepha control of his life and succumbed to alcoholism. Son Louis got the care for his younger siblings and got transferred in this context, the half of his father's salary paid; a disciplinary transfer of his father he could just stop in the fall of 1789 through petitions to the elector.

Johann van Beethoven died on 18 December 1792. Elector Maximilian Franz of Austria to have remarked laconically, Johann van Beethoven's death would lead to a drop of the wine tax revenue.

Reception

Master baker Fischer describes in his memoirs the appearance of Johann van Beethoven as follows: " Mr Johann van Beethoven his Stattur. Mittle largest, gelänktes face, broad forehead, round wet, broad in the shoulder, änßhafte eyes what Narfen in the face, a thin Hahrzöppen hairstyle. " The fabricated by Benedict Beckenkamp painting was, as has now been proven erroneous attribution of the spouses Johann and Maria Magdalena van Beethoven.

Johann van Beethoven is often described in the sense that he was addicted to alcohol and has drilled his son during music lessons. He is said to have awakened frequently at night after his return from the pub the four-year Ludwig to teach him piano, and is said to have recoiled in his classes not before rabia direct methods.

But there are also voices that acquit the father of the composer does not exist, its image in the story but perspective.

So represents musicologist Joseph Schmidt- Görg, which is also indicative of the detailed studies of Ludwig Schiedermair in connection with this subject, which considers Johann van Beethoven's wine consumption would have been in the context of what was common in the Rhineland.

Furthermore, Ludwig van Beethoven would have kept a custom built by his father copy of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's cantata morning singing at the day of creation and noted by hand on the copy, " written by my dear father ," is also to Beethoven, then, expressed in January Caeyers never disparagingly about his father have and have even reacted with anger to any bad words about his father. Same time, Jan Caeyers admits it would have to Johann van Beethoven " taking credit that he has given to the education of his gifted son very quickly out of hand ."

January Caeyers leads Johann van Beethoven's character in part to the fact back that Johann van Beethoven had acquired his position not through their own achievements, but through his father financially and still can not stand on its own feet, and on the other to the omnipresence of the Father, not only continue living a few houses, but also in vocational Johann van Beethoven was superior.