Session 8: Understand how the composer’s life influenced the music

Many times, there is an inextricable link between the composer and his/her music creation, as the music is usually the medium to express emotions, thoughts and memories. Many classical music composers suffered a lot in their lives, mainly as a result of their health problems. Beethoven was experiencing deafness and depression and many of his works, such as his ‘Symphony 5’ and ‘Piano concerto no 3’, bear the mark of the composer’s struggle against these conditions. Similarly, Schubert suffered a lot during the last year before his early death from syphilis; his music during that period reflects his anguish, tension and fears and becomes even more important and powerful to us as live proof of his martyrdom. Other composers were inspired by their family, friends and loved ones to create their music. So, in his ‘Piano concerto no 2’, Shostakovich hided family memories and jokes that only his son would understand, as this was a birthday present for him. Similarly, in his ‘Enigma variations’, Elgar portrays in each piece of his music collection a different friend who stood beside him during the first difficult days of his career. And Schumann composed his ‘Piano quintet op 44’ as a commemoration for the painful 4.5 years during which he and the woman of his life, Clara, were forbidden by her father to marry. In the following pieces, we explore both the music and the composer’s life as source of the musical inspiration.

"Between light and dark"
(Piano Concerto No 23 or K. 488 / Movements 1 and 2)