Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most influential composers in the history of

classical music. Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770. He was born into a family

that had a strong musical background. His father tried to make Beethoven into the next

Mozart. By age fourteen Beethoven could already play the piano, organ and violin and had

received a professional appointment as an organist. As a child Beethoven was raised in an

abusive family. His father was an alcoholic and his mother died when he was only

seventeen. His mother’s death and his father’s constant abuse led to his leaving the house

in 1790 to go to Vienna to study music. Under the teaching of Franz Joseph Haydn,

Beethoven learned more about the technical side of music. While in Vienna Beethoven had

the chance to play with Mozart and by age twenty-five he made his first public

appearance. After his appearance with Mozart, Mozart was convinced that some day

Beethoven would be the one of the best musicians the world had ever seen. Beethoven’s

major works are his 9 symphonies, 7 concertos (5 for piano), 17 string quartets, 32 piano

sonatas, 10 sonatas for violin and piano, 5 sonatas for cello and piano, an opera, 2 masses,

and several overtures. He is most famous in the music world for bringing the romantic

movement into music. In the beginning of the 1800’s, when Beethoven was most famous,

he began to lose his hearing. This made Beethoven very depressed and because of this he

cut off communication with the outside world. By 1820 Beethoven was completely deaf

and seven years later he died. Ludwig van Beethoven’s life as a composer and musician

changed music forever. His influence on music will go on throughout history and continue

to shape current forms of composition.

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