Esther Sims wrote:

>How are the career paths of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven reflected in
>their music?

This is a big topic.  Actually, I think that discussion and research
on how career path is reflected in their works is much more complicated
and comprehensive than only several paragraphs.  We could not talk about
Beethoven and Mozart's career path without mentioning the background of
German philosophy development, social development such as French revolution
to Beethoven and the ownership system and control of nobles/feudal lord
to artists like Mozart, their health such as Beethoven's deaf and torture
of continuous diseases on Mozart, even their love affairs especially
Beethoven and many other issues.  I suggest you read biographies of these
two genius, I recommend Mozart biography wrritten by Michel Morly (sorry,
it is not with me at the moment, I will check it later) as a start on
Mozart and Three Titans by Ludwig and another Three Titans by Roman Rolan
(get to check the spelling also) as a start on Beethoven.  I gave a
shortcut summary as following but please do read more books for
comprehensive understanding:

I am not so sure about Haydn.  In Mozart's works in his whole life, the
harmony, beauty and purity didn't change fundamentally though his career
paths was not smooth.  From my point of view, his career and his life have
two turningpoints, one is his leaving Salzburg which gave him freedom and
liberation from the control of the archbishop, another is his joining
Masonary.  In his later works, you can feel that he became more mature,
especially after he joined Masonary.  This point was reflected obviously
in his 4o and 41 symphony and in his Die Zauberflute which was written
after he joined Masonary, you can also feel not only humor, harmony and
happiness as his early opera, but the paradox of human nature.

In Beethoven's early works such as symphony No.1, you can feel the style
of Mozart and other classic style composers both on forms and expression.
Generally, 1789 French revolution is regarded as a great influence to
Beethoven.  From then on, fight, universal love, paradox, hero, revolution
and strenghforce can be felt in all Beethoven's works.  Another turning
point of Beethoven is the Heiligenstadt Testament in 1802.  He survived
on his spirit from the pain of love affair failure and torture of deaf.
You can definitely find such liberation, freedom, love to nature and life
in his Eroica, No.  5 and 6th symphonies, No.5 piano concerto and D major
violin concerto, etc.  in his works then.

Amy Liu <[log in to unmask]>