Ludwig van Beethoven (English IPA: /ˈlʊdvɪg væn ˈbeɪtoʊvən/; German IPA: [ˈluːtvɪç fan ˈbeːthoːfn], December 16, 1770^[1] – March 26, 1827) was a German composer and virtuoso pianist. Joseph Karl Stieler ( November 1, 1781 — April 9, 1858) was a German painter. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 1770 ( MDCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Friday Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A virtuoso (from Italian virtuoso, late Latin virtuosus, Latin virtus meaning skill manliness excellence is an individual A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra He was a crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most respected and influential composers of all time. The dates of the Classical period in Western music are generally accepted as 1750 to 1810 Romantic Music is a Musicological term referring to a particular period theory compositional practice and canon in European music history from about 1815 to 1910 Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music

Born in Bonn, then in the Electorate of Cologne (now in modern-day Germany), he moved to Vienna, Austria, in his early twenties and settled there, studying with Joseph Haydn and quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located about 20 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia The Electorate of Cologne (Kurfürstentum Köln or Kurköln) was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire and existed from the 10th to the early 19th Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Beethoven's hearing gradually deteriorated beginning in his twenties, yet he continued to compose masterpieces, and to conduct and perform, even after he was completely deaf. Conducting is the act of directing a Musical performance by way of visible gestures Profound hearing loss is defined as a hearing threshold greater than 90 decibels (dB — meaning that an individual with profound hearing loss can only

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life and talent 1.2 The move to Vienna 1.3 Loss of hearing 2 Character 2.1 Romantic difficulties 2.2 Custody struggle 2.3 Illness and death 2.4 Beliefs and their musical influence 3 Music 3.1 Overview 3.2 The three periods 4 Media 4.1 Piano solo 4.2 Orchestral 4.3 Chamber 4.4 Other 5 Cinematic depictions 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links 9.1 General reference 9.1.1 Specific topics 9.2 Lists of works 9.3 Scores 9.4 Recordings

Biography

Further information: Life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven

Early life and talent

Beethoven's parents were Johann van Beethoven (1740 in Bonn–1792) and Maria Magdalena Keverich (1744 in Ehrenbreitstein–1787). This is a detailed account of the life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven. Johann van Beethoven (born 14 November 1740 in Bonn – 18 December 1792 in Bonn was the father of the famous composer Ludwig Festung Ehrenbreitstein is a Fortress on the same-named mountain on the right side of the Rhine opposite to the town of Koblenz in the German Magdalena's father Johann Heinrich Keverich had been Chef at the court of the Archbishopric of Trier at Festung Ehrenbreitstein fortress opposite to Koblenz. A chef is a person who cooks professionally In a professional kitchen setting the term is used only for the one person in charge of everyone else in the kitchen the executive The Archbishopric of Trier (Erzbistum Trier was a Roman Catholic Diocese in Germany, that existed from Carolingian times until the end of the Koblenz (also Coblenz in pre-1926 German Spellings French Coblence) is a city situated on both banks of the Rhine ^[2] Beethoven was, like their first child Ludwig Maria, named after his grandfather Ludwig (1712–1773), a musician of Roman Catholic Flemish ancestry who was at one time Kapellmeister at the court of Clemens August of Bavaria, the Prince-Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, and who married Beethoven's grandmother Maria Josepha Ball (1714–1775) in 1733. Flanders (Vlaanderen Flandre Flandern is a geographical region located in parts of present day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. Kapellmeister (kəˈpɛlˌmaɪstər is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making Clemens August of Bavaria ( 17 August 1700 &ndash 6 February 1761) was a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria The Prince-Electors (or simply Electors) of the Holy Roman Empire ( German: Kurfürst ( pl

Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770. Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located about 20 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Of the seven children born to Johann Beethoven, himself the only survivor of three, only second-born Ludwig and two younger brothers survived infancy. Beethoven was baptized on December 17, 1770. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1770 ( MDCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Friday ^[3][4] Although his birth date is not known for certain, his family celebrated his birthday on December 16. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion

Beethoven's first music teacher was his father, who was a tenor in the service of the Electoral court at Bonn. The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice The Prince-Electors (or simply Electors) of the Holy Roman Empire ( German: Kurfürst ( pl He was reportedly a harsh instructor. Johann later engaged a friend, Tobias Pfeiffer, to preside over his son's musical training, and it is said Johann and his friend would at times come home late from a night of drinking to pull young Ludwig out of bed to practice until morning. Beethoven's talent was recognized at a very early age, and by 1778 he was studying the organ and viola in addition to the piano. The organ (from Greek όργανον – organon "organ instrument tool" is a Keyboard instrument of one or more divisions each The viola is a bowed String instrument. It is the middle voice of the Violin family, His most important teacher in Bonn was Christian Gottlob Neefe,^[5] who was the Court's Organist. Christian Gottlob Neefe ( 5 February 1748 &ndash 28 January, 1798) was a German Opera Composer and conductor Neefe helped Beethoven publish his first composition: a set of keyboard variations.

In 1787, the young Beethoven traveled to Vienna for the first time, in hopes of studying with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is not clear whether he succeeded in meeting Mozart, or if he did whether Mozart was willing to accept him as a pupil; see Mozart and Beethoven. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had a powerful influence on the work of Ludwig van Beethoven. In any event, the declining health of Beethoven's mother, dying of tuberculosis, forced him to return home after only about two weeks in Vienna. Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common Beethoven's mother died on July 17, 1787, when Beethoven was 16. Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 1787 ( MDCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[6]

Due to his father's worsening alcohol addiction, Beethoven became responsible for raising his two younger brothers. Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions

The move to Vienna

In 1792, Beethoven moved to Vienna, where he studied for a time with Joseph Haydn: his hopes of studying with Mozart had been shattered by Mozart's death the previous year. Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria. Beethoven received additional instruction from Johann Georg Albrechtsberger (Vienna's pre-eminent counterpoint instructor) and Antonio Salieri. Johann Georg Albrechtsberger ( February 3, 1736 - March 7, 1809) was an Austrian musician who was born at Klosterneuburg, In Music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and Rhythm, and interdependent in Harmony Antonio Salieri ( 18 August 1750 &ndash 7 May 1825) was an Italian Composer and conductor. By 1793, Beethoven established a reputation in Vienna as a piano virtuoso. ^[7] His first works with opus numbers, a set of three piano trios, appeared in 1795. He settled into the career pattern he would follow for the remainder of his life: rather than working for the church or a noble court (as most composers before him had done), he supported himself through a combination of annual stipends or single gifts from members of the aristocracy; income from subscription concerts, concerts, and lessons; and proceeds from sales of his works.

Beethoven’s patrons loved his music but were not quick to support him. He eventually came to rely more on patrons such as Count Franz Joseph Kinsky, (d. 1811), Prince Joseph Franz Maximilian Lobkowitz (1772–1816) and Karl Alois Johann-Nepomuk Vinzenz, Fürst Lichnowsky, and as these patrons died or reneged on their pledges, Beethoven fell into debt. HSH Karl Alois Prince Lichnowsky ( German: Karl Alois Johann-Nepomuk Vinzenz Fürst Lichnowsky, also known as Carl Alois Fürst In 1807, Prince Lobkowitz advised Beethoven to apply for the position of composer of the Imperial Theatres, but the nobility who had newly been placed in charge of the post did not respond. Beethoven considered leaving Vienna: in the fall of 1808, he was offered a position as chapel maestro at the court of Jerome Bonaparte, the king of Westphalia, which he accepted. To persuade him to stay in Vienna, the Archduke Rudolf, Count Kinsky and Prince Lobkowitz, after receiving representations from the composer’s friends, pledged to pay Beethoven a pension of 4000 florins a year. Only Archduke Rudolf paid his share of the pension on the agreed date. Kinsky, immediately called to duty as an officer, did not contribute and soon died after falling from his horse. Lobkowitz stopped paying in September 1811. No successors came forward to continue the patronage, and Beethoven relied mostly on selling composition rights and a smaller pension after 1815.

Loss of hearing

Around 1796, Beethoven began to lose his hearing. ^[8] He suffered a severe form of tinnitus, a "ringing" in his ears that made it hard for him to perceive and appreciate music; he also avoided conversation. Tinnitus (tɪˈnaɪtəs or /ˈtɪnɪtəs/ from the Latin word for " Ringing " is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding He lived for a time in the small Austrian town of Heiligenstadt, just outside Vienna. ---- Heiligenstadt is a part of the Vienna district Döbling. Here he wrote his Heiligenstadt Testament, which records his resolution to continue living for and through his art. The Heiligenstadt Testament is a letter written by Ludwig van Beethoven to his brothers Carl and Johann at Heiligenstadt (today part of Vienna) on Over time, his hearing loss became profound: there is a well-attested story that, at the end of the premiere of his Ninth Symphony, he had to be turned around to see the tumultuous applause of the audience; hearing nothing, he began to weep. The Symphony No 9 in D minor Op 125 "Choral" is the last complete Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. ^[9] Beethoven's hearing loss did not prevent his composing music, but it made concerts—lucrative sources of income—increasingly difficult.

Beethoven used a special rod attached to the soundboard on a piano that he could bite—the vibrations would then transfer from the piano to his jaw to increase his perception of the sound. A large collection of his hearing aids such as special ear horns can be viewed at the Beethoven House Museum in Bonn, Germany. By 1814 Beethoven was totally deaf, and when visitors saw him play a loud arpeggio or thundering bass notes at his piano remarking, "Ist es nicht schön?" (Isn't that beautiful?), they felt deep sympathy, and saw his courage and sense of humor. ^[10]

As a result of Beethoven's hearing loss, a unique historical record has been preserved: his conversation books. Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller ( 15 January 1793 in Vienna, † 23 August 1865 in Hinterbrühl, Austria) was His friends wrote in the book so that he could know what they were saying, and he then responded either verbally or in the book. The books contain discussions about music and other issues, and give insights into his thinking; they are a source for investigation into how he felt his music should be performed, and also his perception of his relationship to art. Unfortunately, 264 out of a total of 400 conversation books were destroyed (and others were altered) after Beethoven's death by Anton Schindler, in his attempt to paint an idealized picture of the composer. Anton Felix Schindler ( June 13 1795 &ndash January 16 1864) was an associate and early biographer of Ludwig van Beethoven. ^[11][12]

Character

Beethoven's personal life was troubled. His encroaching deafness led him to contemplate suicide (documented in his Heiligenstadt Testament). Post-lingual hearing impairment is a Hearing impairment where hearing loss is adventitious and develops due to Disease or trauma after the acquisition of Beethoven was often irascible, and may have suffered from bipolar disorder,^[13] and irritability brought on by chronic abdominal pain beginning in his 20s which has been attributed to his lead poisoning. ^[14] He nevertheless had a close and devoted circle of friends all his life, thought to have been attracted by his reputed strength of personality. Towards the end of his life, Beethoven's friends competed in their efforts to help him cope with his incapacities. ^[15]

Sources show Beethoven's disdain for authority, and for social rank. He stopped performing at the piano if the audience chatted among themselves, or afforded him less than their full attention. At soirées, he refused to perform if suddenly called upon to do so. Eventually, after many confrontations, the Archduke Rudolph decreed that the usual rules of court etiquette did not apply to Beethoven. ^[16]

Romantic difficulties

The women who attracted Beethoven were unattainable because they were either married or aristocratic. Beethoven never married, although he was engaged to Giulietta Guiccardi. Her father was the main obstacle to their marriage. Giulietta's marriage to a nobleman was unhappy, and when it ended in 1822, she attempted unsuccessfully to return to Beethoven. His only other documented love affair with an identified woman began in 1805 with Josephine von Brunswick, young widow of the Graf von Deym. It is believed the relationship ended by 1807 because of Beethoven's indecisiveness and the disapproval of Josephine's aristocratic family. ^[17]

In 1812, Beethoven wrote a long love letter to a woman he identified only as "Immortal Beloved". Several candidates have been suggested, including Antonie Brentano, but the identity of the woman to whom the letter was written has never been proven. Antonie von Birkenstock Brentano ( April 28, 1780, Vienna &ndash April 12, 1869, Frankfurt am Main) is notable as

Custody struggle

^[18] On 15 November 1815 Beethoven's brother Karl van Beethoven died of tuberculosis leaving a son Karl, Beethoven's nephew. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1815 ( MDCCCXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common Although Beethoven had shown little interest in the boy up to this point, he now became totally obsessed with the possession of this nine year old child. The fight for custody of his nephew brought out the very worst aspects of Beethoven's character. ^[19] In the lengthy court cases Beethoven stopped at nothing to ensure that he achieved this goal. At this time Beethoven stopped composing for long periods.

The Austrian court system had one court for the nobility, The R&I Landrechte, and another for commoners, The Civil Court of the Magistrate. Beethoven disguised the fact that the Dutch "van" in his name did not denote nobility as does the Germanic "von",^[20] and his case was tried in the Landrechte. Due to his influence with the court, he felt assured of a favorable outcome. Beethoven was awarded sole guardianship. Karl's mother, Johanna, a commoner and a widow with little money, was not only refused access to her son, except under exceptional circumstances, but Beethoven insisted that she pay for her son's education out of her inadequate pension. While giving evidence to the Landrechte, however, Beethoven inadvertently^[21] admitted that he was not nobly born. The case was transferred to the Magistracy on 18 December 1818, where he lost sole guardianship. Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Year 1818 ( MDCCCXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common

Beethoven appealed, and regained custody of Karl. Johanna's appeal for justice and human rights to the Emperor was not successful: the Emperor "washed his hands of the matter". Beethoven stopped at nothing to blacken both their characters, as can be read in surviving court papers. When Karl could stand his tyrannical uncle no longer, he attempted suicide on 31 July 1826 by shooting himself in the head. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently For the game see 1826 (board game. Year 1826 ( MDCCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display He survived, and later asked to be taken to his mother's house. This desperate action finally freed Karl from the bonds of Beethoven.

Illness and death

After Beethoven lost custody of his nephew, he went into a decline that led to his death on Monday March 26, 1827^[22] during a thunderstorm. Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common ^[23]

This was Romain Rolland's description of Beethoven’s final day:

"That day was tragic. Romain Rolland ( 29 January 1866 – 30 December 1944) was a French Dramatist, Essayist, Art historian There were heavy clouds in the sky… around 4 or 5 in the afternoon the murky clouds cast darkness in the entire room. Suddenly a terrible storm started, with blizzard and snow… thunder made the room shudder, illuminating it with the cursed reflection of lightning on snow. Beethoven opened his eyes and with a threatening gesture raised his right arm towards the sky with his fist clenched. The expression of his face was horrifying. His hand fell to the ground. His eyes closed. Beethoven was no more. "

A Viennese pathologist and forensic expert Christian Reiter (head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Vienna Medical University) claimed that Beethoven's physician, Andreas Wawruch, inadvertently hastened Beethoven's death. Pathology (from Greek grc πάθος pathos, "fate harm" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study and A physician, medical practitioner or medical doctor who practices Medicine, and is concerned with maintaining or restoring human Health According to Reiter, Wawruch worsened Beethoven's already lead poisoned condition with lead poultices applied after repeated surgical draining of his bloated abdomen. Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly Various theories attempt to explain how Beethoven's lead poisoning first developed, and he was very sick years before his death in 1827 at the age of 56. ^[14] Reiter's hypothesis however is at odds with Wawruch's written instruction "that the wound was kept dry all the time". Furthermore human hair is a very bad biomarker for lead contamination and Reiter's hypothesis must be considered dubious, because of the lack of proper scholarly documentation in his article. ^[24]

Beliefs and their musical influence

Beethoven was attracted to the ideals of the Enlightenment and by the growing Romanticism in Europe. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century Romanticism is a complex artistic literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Western Europe, and gained strength during the He initially dedicated his third symphony, the Eroica (Italian for "heroic"), to Napoleon, believing that the general intended to sustain the democratic and republican ideals of the French Revolution. The Symphony No 3 in E flat major ( Op 55 by Ludwig van Beethoven (known as the Eroica which is Italian for "heroic" Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system Republicanism is the Ideology of governing a nation as a Republic, with an emphasis on Liberty, Rule of law, Popular sovereignty The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an But in 1804, when Napoleon's imperial ambitions became clear, Beethoven took hold of the title-page and scratched the name Bonaparte out so violently that he made a hole in the paper. He later changed the work's title to "Sinfonia Eroica, composta per festeggiare il sovvenire d'un grand'uom" ("Heroic Symphony, composed to celebrate the memory of a great man"), and he rededicated it to his patron, Prince Joseph Franz von Lobkowitz, at whose palace it was first performed.

The fourth movement of his Ninth Symphony features an elaborate choral setting of Schiller's Ode An die Freude ("Ode to Joy"), an optimistic hymn championing the brotherhood of humanity. The Symphony No 9 in D minor Op 125 "Choral" is the last complete Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller krɪstɔf friːtʁɪç fɔn ʃɪləʁ/ʃɪlɐ (10 November 1759 9 May 1805 was a German Poet, Philosopher " To Joy " ( An die Freude in German, in English often familiarly called the Ode to Joy) is an Ode written in Since 1972, an orchestral version of this part of the fourth movement, arranged by the conductor Herbert von Karajan, has been the European anthem as announced by the Council of Europe. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Herbert von Karajan ( April 5 The Council of Europe (Conseil de l'Europe is the oldest International organisation working towards European integration, being founded in 1949 In 1985 it was adopted as the anthem of the European Community / European Union. The European Community (EC is one of the Three pillars of the European Union (EU created under the Maastricht Treaty (1992 The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in

Scholars disagree about Beethoven's religious beliefs, and about the role they played in his work: see Ludwig van Beethoven's religious beliefs. The role of religious belief in the work of the celebrated composer Ludwig van Beethoven is a matter of disagreement among scholars It has been asserted, but not proven, that Beethoven was a Freemason. ^[25]

Like the earlier composer Handel, Beethoven worked freelance—arranging subscription concerts, selling his compositions to publishers, and gaining financial support from a number of wealthy patrons—rather than seeking out permanent employment by the church or by an aristocratic court. A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer Aristocracy is a form of Government, where rule is established through an internal struggle over who has the most status and influence over society and internal relations

Music

Further information: Beethoven's musical style and innovations, Beethoven and C minor, and List of compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven is acknowledged as one of the giants of Western classical music; occasionally he is referred to as one of the "three Bs" (along with Bach and Brahms) who epitomize that tradition. Beethoven and music architecture Above all his works distinguish themselves from those of any prior composer through his creation of large extended Architectonic structures In the compositions of Ludwig van Beethoven, C minor is commonly regarded as a special key works by Beethoven in this key are felt to be powerful and emotionally The Musical works of Ludwig van Beethoven ( 1770 – 1827) are known by various designations including by the Opus numbers assigned by Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music "The Three B s" is an English-language Phrase derived from a similar phrase in German, coined by Hans von Bülow. WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section.2 This article is written in British English including maximised use of "-ise" Johannes Brahms ( pronounced ˈbʁaːms (May 7 1833 &ndash April 3 1897 was a German Composer He was also a pivotal figure in the transition from 18th century musical classicism to 19th century romanticism, and his influence on subsequent generations of composers was profound. The dates of the Classical period in Western music are generally accepted as 1750 to 1810 Romantic Music is a Musicological term referring to a particular period theory compositional practice and canon in European music history from about 1815 to 1910 ^[26]

Overview

He was one of the first composers to systematically and consistently use interlocking thematic devices, or "germ-motives", to achieve inter-movement unity in long compositions. Equally remarkable was his use of "source-motives", which recurred in many different compositions. He made innovations in almost every form of music he touched. For example, he diversified even the well-crystallized form of the rondo, making it more elastic and spacious, and also bringing it closer to sonata form. Rondo, and its French equivalent rondeau, is a word that has been used in Music in a number of ways most often in reference to a Musical form Sonata form is a Musical form that has been used widely since the early Classical period.

Beethoven composed in various genres, including symphonies, concerti, piano sonatas, other sonatas (including for violin), string quartets and other chamber music, masses, an opera, and Lieder. A symphony is a Musical composition, often extended and usually for Orchestra. The term Concerto (plural concertos or concerti) usually refers to a three part musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an Orchestra The Baroque keyboard sonata In the Baroque era the use of the term "sonata" generally referred to either the Sonata da chiesa ( Church sonata A violin sonata is a musical composition for solo Violin, which is nearly always accompanied by a Piano or other keyboard instrument or by Figured bass A string quartet is a Musical ensemble of four String instruments &mdash usually two Violins a Viola and Cello &mdash or a piece Chamber music is a form of Classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber For other uses see Mass (disambiguation The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto de Lied (plural de Lieder) (liːt plural) is a German word meaning literally " Song " among English speakers however the word He is viewed as one of the most important transitional figures between the Classical and Romantic eras of musical history. The dates of the Classical period in Western music are generally accepted as 1750 to 1810 Romantic Music is a Musicological term referring to a particular period theory compositional practice and canon in European music history from about 1815 to 1910

Beethoven adopted the principles of sonata form and motivic development that he inherited from Haydn and Mozart, and he greatly extended them, writing longer and more ambitious movements. In Music, a motif or motive is a perceivable or salient recurring fragment or succession of notes that may be used to construct the entirety or parts

The three periods

Beethoven's compositional career is usually divided into Early, Middle, and Late periods. ^[27] In this scheme, his early period is taken to last until about 1802, the middle period from about 1803 to about 1814, and the late period from about 1815. ^[28]

In his Early (Classical) period, he is seen as emulating his great predecessors Haydn and Mozart, while exploring new directions and gradually expanding the scope and ambition of his work. Some important pieces from the Early period are the first and second symphonies, the first six string quartets, the first three piano concertos, and the first twenty piano sonatas, including the famous "Pathétique" and "Moonlight" sonatas. Ludwig van Beethoven 's Symphony No 1 in C Major (Op 21 was written in 1799 – 1800. Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No 2 in D major (Op 36 was written between 1801 and 1802 and is dedicated to Prince Lichnowsky. Ludwig van Beethoven's opus 18 published in 1801 by T Mollo et Comp in Vienna, consisted of his first six String quartets They were composed The Musical works of Ludwig van Beethoven ( 1770 – 1827) are known by various designations including by the Opus numbers assigned by Ludwig van Beethoven 's Piano Sonata No 8 in C minor op 13 commonly known as Pathétique was published in 1799, though written the year before when The Piano Sonata No 14 in C-sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op

His Middle (Heroic) period began shortly after Beethoven's personal crisis brought on by his recognition of encroaching deafness. It is noted for large-scale works that express heroism and struggle, many of which have become very famous. A hero (from Greek grc ἥρως hērōs) in Greek mythology and Folklore, was originally a Demigod, the offspring of a mortal and Middle-period works include six symphonies (Nos. 3–8), the fourth and fifth piano concertos, the triple concerto and violin concerto, five string quartets (Nos. Ludwig van Beethoven 's Concerto for Violin Cello and Piano in C major Op Ludwig van Beethoven 's Violin Concerto in D major Op 61, was written in 1806. 7–11), the next seven piano sonatas (including the "Waldstein" and the "Appassionata"), the "Kreutzer" Violin Sonata and Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio. The Piano Sonata No 21 in C major, Op53 nicknamed Waldstein, is considered to be one of Beethoven 's greatest piano sonatas, as Ludwig van Beethoven 's Piano Sonata No 23 in F minor, opus 57, colloquially known as the Appassionata, is considered one of the three Violin Sonata No 9 in A major, commonly known as the Kreutzer Sonata, is a Violin sonata which Ludwig van Beethoven published in 1802 Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Fidelio (Op 72 is an Opera in two acts by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Beethoven's Late (Romantic) period began around 1815. Works from this period are characterized by their intellectual depth, their formal innovations, and their intense, highly personal expression. For example, the String Quartet, Op. 131 has seven linked movements, and the Ninth Symphony adds choral forces to the orchestra in the last movement. The String Quartet No 14 in C-sharp minor, opus 131 by Ludwig van Beethoven was completed in 1826 The Symphony No 9 in D minor Op 125 "Choral" is the last complete Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. ^[29] Other compositions from this period include the "Missa Solemnis", the last five string quartets (including the massive "Grosse Fuge") and the last five piano sonatas, of which the "Hammerklavier" Sonata is the best known. The Missa solemnis in D Major Op 123 was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven from 1819-1823 The Große Fuge is a single-movement composition for String quartet by Ludwig van Beethoven famous for its extreme technical demands on the players as well as for Ludwig van Beethoven 's Piano Sonata No 29 in B flat major, opus 106, known as the Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier, or more simply as the

Media

Cinematic depictions

The composer has been depicted in a number of biopic films for both theatrical and television release. They include a 1909 silent film from the French writer/director Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset, Beethoven, starring Harry Baur as the composer ^[30] and a 1927 German film from Hans Otto Löwenstein, Das Leben des Beethoven. Harry Baur (born 12 April 1880 as Henri-Marie Baur in Montrouge Seine ( Hauts-de-Seine) Île-de-France &ndash died 8 April ^[31] Another French writer/director, Abel Gance, made a film in 1936, Un grand amour de Beethoven ^[32] (Harry Baur once again starred as the composer); the film has been praised for its depiction of Beethoven's struggle with deafness and touches upon the romantic themes from the composer's life, which would later be explored in the 1994 film Immortal Beloved. Abel Gance (25 October 1889 - 10 November 1981 was a French Film director, producer, Writer, Actor and editor best Harry Baur (born 12 April 1880 as Henri-Marie Baur in Montrouge Seine ( Hauts-de-Seine) Île-de-France &ndash died 8 April Immortal Beloved is a 1994 Film about the life of Composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Also of note is the Emmy Award winning 1992 television movie, Beethoven Lives Upstairs ^[33], a 1985 film Le Neveu de Beethoven (or Beethoven's Nephew), which deals with the composer's custody battle for his nephew, and the 2006 theatrical release of Copying Beethoven from director Agnieszka Holland, with Ed Harris starring as the composer. Beethoven Lives Upstairs is a 1992 TV movie, directed by David Devine. Copying Beethoven is a dramatic film directed by Agnieszka Holland which gives a fictional take on the triumphs and heartaches of Ludwig van Beethoven 's Agnieszka Holland (born November 28 1948 is an award-winning Polish film and TV director and screenwriter Edward Allen "Ed" Harris (born November 28 1950 is a four-time Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe -winning American actor writer and director On the comedic side, Clifford Davis played the composer in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure in 1989. Clifford Davis ( November 18, 1897 &ndash June 8, 1970) was a Democratic U Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure ( 1989) is an American comedy / Science fiction Movie in which two Slackers

Beethoven's music has been used in the soundtracks of over 250 films and television programs. ^[34] In 2007 the critically acclaimed play 33 Variations by Moises Kaufman was first produced at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. Moisés Kaufman (born November 21 1963) is a Playwright, director and founder of Tectonic Theater Project. Arena Stage is a theatre production company in Southwest Washington D Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The play depicts a modern-day researcher struggling to understand the process of creativity as she delves into how Beethoven composed his Diabelli Variations. The 33 Variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli Op 120 commonly known as the Diabelli Variations, is a set of variations for the Piano

See also

• Life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven
• List of compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven

References

Further reading

External links

General reference

• Chronology of Beethoven's life
• Beethoven Depot. Contains all of his works in midi format.
• Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 1. In English at Gutenberg. org.
• Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 2. In English at Gutenberg. org.
• Beethoven: The Immortal. Introduction and detailed account of the composer's life. Articles include his deafness, demeanor, daily routine, medical history, final days, and letters.
• Beethoven-Haus Bonn. Official website of Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, Germany. Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located about 20 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia Links to extensive studio and digital archive, library holdings, the Beethoven-Haus Museum (including "internet exhibitions" and "virtual visits"), the Beethoven-Archiv research center, and information on Beethoven publications of interest to the specialist and general reader. Extensive collection of Beethoven's compositions and written documents, with sound samples and a digital reconstruction of his last house in Vienna.
• Raptus Association for Music Appreciation site on Beethoven
• One Stop Beethoven Resource - articles and facts about Beethoven from Aaron Green, guide to Classical Music at About. com.
• Analysis of the music and life of Beethoven on the All About Ludwig van Beethoven Page.
• Beethoven’s Personality and Music: The Introverted Romantic
• Keeping Score: Beethoven Symphony No. 3 multimedia website Rich multimedia website that explores the history and creation of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. Presented by Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony
• Beethoven Dead From Lead? ScienceNOW Daily (2007-08-28)
• Ludwig van Beethoven at Discogs

Specific topics

• Beethoven manuscripts at the British Library
• Contemporary reviews of Beethoven's works
• Pictures of "Beethoven in Vienna and Baden". Discogs, short for discographies, is a Website and Database of information about Music Recordings including commercial releases promotional In French. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people
• Beethoven's Hair - trace the journey of Beethoven's Hair.
• Für Elise - and other Beethoven resources.
• The Guevara Lock of Beethoven's Hair, from The Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies.
• Hair analysis says Beethoven died of lead poisoning. CBC News, 18 October 2000. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.

Related topics

• Beethoven's last apartment in Vienna, digitally reconstructed 2004, on Multimedia CD-ROM edited by Beethoven-Haus Bonn

Lists of works

• University of Quebec In French. Contains links to the works arranged according to various criteria, and to a concordance of the various catalogues.
• Comprehensive lists of works by opus, WoO, Hess, Biamonti

Scores

• www.kreusch-sheet-music.net Free Sheet Music by Beethoven
• Ludwig van Beethoven free scores in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Works by Ludwig van Beethoven at Project Gutenberg, the oldest producer of public domain ebooks. The Choral Public Domain Library (CPDL is a Sheet music archive which focuses on choral and vocal Music in the Public domain. Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to Digitize, archive and distribute Cultural works
• Free scores by Ludwig van Beethoven in the Werner Icking Music Archive (WIMA)
• Beethoven scores from Mutopia Project
• Sonatas, piano, no. 14, op. 27, no. 2, C# minor(from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• Deutsche Tänze, WoO 8. Selections, arranged for piano, 4 hands(from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• Septet, woodwinds, horn, strings, op. 20, E♭ major; arr (from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• Concertos, violin, orchestra, op. 61, D major, arranged for piano, 4 hands (from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• Concertos, piano, orchestra, no. 3, op. 37, C minor, arranged for piano, 4 hands(from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• Sonatas, piano, no. 21, op. 53, C major (from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• 21 variations sur un thême de Beethoven, op. 133 (from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• Symphonies, arranged for 2 pianos, 8 hands(from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• Sonatas and other works for the pianoforte (from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• Symphonies, no. 1, op. 21, C major, arranged for piano 4 hands, and violin and cello(from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• Symphonies, no. 5, op. 67, C minor arranged for piano 4 hands, and violin and cello(from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
• und Fuge über ein Thema von Beethoven Bagatelles, piano, op. 119. No. 11(from the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)

Recordings

• The Complete Symphonies - Recording Free download featuring Maximianno Cobra conducting the Europa Philharmonia Orchestra
• All 9 symphonies Full-length recordings
• Musopen.com Free Public Domain MP3 Files, Including the Complete Piano Sonatas
• MP3 Creative Commons recordings from Magnatune
• Beethoven's Nine, The Philadelphia Orchestra performs all nine symphonies for NPR's Performance Today
• Kunst der Fuge: hundreds of MIDI files
• The Unheard Beethoven - MIDI files of hundreds of Beethoven compositions never recorded and many that have never been published. The Werner Icking Music Archive, often abbreviated WIMA, is a web archive of Public domain Sheet music. The Mutopia project is a volunteer-run effort to create a library of Free content Sheet music, in a way similar to Project Gutenberg 's library of public Magnatune is a small Berkeley California –based Independent record label, founded in spring 2003 by John Buckman, then-CEO of e-mail software The Philadelphia Orchestra is an Orchestra based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, in the United States. Performance Today is the most listened-to daily classical music radio program in the United States, with about one million listeners on 230 stations
• Beethoven cylinder recordings, from the Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara Library. The Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project is a free digital collection maintained by the University of California Santa Barbara Libraries with streaming and downloadable The University of California Santa Barbara ( UCSB) is a selective research-oriented public university located on the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara County California
• Ludwig van Beethoven discography at MusicBrainz, a collection of information about commercial recordings. MusicBrainz is a project that aims to create an Open content Music database
• Recording of the piano sonata opus 110, with extensive analysis
• Recording of the Moonlight Sonata
• Performances of works by Beethoven in MP3 and MIDI formats at Logos Virtual Library
• The British Library Archival Sound Recordings online audio service includes 100 years of String Quartets. Background information Archival Sound Recordings is a British Library service funded by the JISC, which provides free online access to spoken word
• Video of Beethoven's seventh symphony
• Video of Beethoven's ninth symphony

Persondata
NAME	Beethoven, Ludwig van
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	German composer
DATE OF BIRTH	1770-12-16
PLACE OF BIRTH	Bonn
DATE OF DEATH	1827-03-26
PLACE OF DEATH	Vienna

Year 1770 ( MDCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Friday Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located about 20 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria.

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