evious works; from here on I shall follow a new path" (cited in Wallace, 1986, p. 50).
The political and philosophical background of Beethoven's music is also important because it influenced both his choice of thematic material and the ways in which he developed those themes. Beethoven's deep commitment to the high ideals of political liberty and religious tolerance embodied in the French Enlightenment had a direct influence on his work. He believed strongly that, "through his work, the creative artist had the duty to uplift [and] to enable [others] . . . to improve mankind, to inspire other human beings to strive for ever greater achievements" (Kirby, 1970, p. 200).
One of Beethoven's greatest contributions to the music world was his ideas for developing a symphony. He had the ability to take a motif--the smallest unit of an idea, consisting of sometimes less than four notes--and repeat them
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