Final answer:
Beethoven's thematic material is known for evolving from simple motifs into complex compositions, utilizing a technique that was emblematic of his genius during the Romantic era. This style was expressive of a wide range of human emotions, reflective of tumultuous times.
Step-by-step explanation:
Beethoven's thematic material often grows out of a variety of sources, but it is particularly known for its development from simple motifs. This compositional technique involves taking a small musical idea, or motif, and expanding it into a larger, more complex piece of music.
Ludwig van Beethoven excelled in this technique, creating vast musical structures from a few basic notes. His ninth symphony, for example, demonstrates how a simple theme can be transformed into a powerful and dramatic musical narrative.
Moreover, Beethoven's music is characteristic of the Romantic era, which expressed intense human emotions through powerful drama, passion, and also through poignant quiet passages that conveyed pleasure and joy.
It was a time when artists like Beethoven sought to reflect the profound changes and upheavals of their times through their art, pushing boundaries and challenging audiences with new, expressive forms and ideas.