Was Beethoven progressive?

[Milk Sheikh]

I do not know much about his political views. I heard he was a fan of French revolution and believed in equality and liberty. ALso his ode to joy is supposed to be a celebration of humanity and universal brotherhood.

Are all these true? Was he really progressive?

[Apoi_Viitor]

http://www.politicalcompass.org/composers

[Thirsty Crow]

I do not know much about his political views. I heard he was a fan of French revolution and believed in equality and liberty. ALso his ode to joy is supposed to be a celebration of humanity and universal brotherhood.

Are all these true? Was he really progressive?
Keep in mind the historical situation. Political fragmentation of German territories, extremely reactionary aristocracy, raging feudal relations...all of which make Beethoven's personal ideology quite revolutionary, in terms of a bourgeois revolution which hadn't yet happened in Germany. What strikes me is that he dedicated one oh his symphonies to Napoleon (Eroica I think, though I could be wrong), but then retracted this dedication once Napoleon became the emperor for it infuriated Beethoven and presumably signaled that Napoleon is abandoning the gains and the principles of the Revolution.

[ChrisK]

Mark Steel on the issue:

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[S.Artesian]

Yeah, but what is revolutionary is Beethoven's music.

"After Beethoven, nothing can be the same."

His politics and his personal life? Yecch.

He later wrote a piece dedicated to Wellington's victory over Napoleon [horrible music], and he sure didn't treat his sister-in-law with even a shred of decency.

[B0LSHEVIK]

I dont know if he was progressive. I have read how initially, in the early days before Napoleon became a monarch, he anticipated his reign as the last days of the European aristocracies. He thought Napoleon's thirst for conquest was driven by a desire to spread the ideals of the French Revolution beyond Frances border, and in a way, that is what Napoleon did; intentionally or unintentionally. He however despised Napoleon after his declaration of a monarchy, Beethoven subsequently feeling that Napoleon had betrayed the very revolution he came to personify. Thats about all I know. Lol.