Ludwig van Beethoven 
Biography

Ludwig van Beethoven Biography

Date of Birth: No authentic records (Suggested date is December 16, 1770)

Date of Baptism: December 17, 1770

Date of Death: March 26, 1827

Place of Birth: Bonn, Germany

Father: Johann van Beethoven

Mother: Maria Magdalena Keverich

Instruments Played: Organ, Harpsichord, Pianoforte, Violin

BABY BEETHOVEN GROWS WITH MUSIC

Ludwig van Beethoven's early musical career was enhanced by his father and other relatives who were also musicians in Germany. Many would say that this influenced him to become a composer and musician.

At age eleven he served as an assistant organist to Christian Gottlob Neefe, who taught him composition and helped him to write and publish his first composition. By age twelve Ludwig was able to publish several compositions.

By 1784 Beethoven became a paid employee at the Court Chapel. A age sixteen he played for Mozart.

MUSICAL CAREER IN VIENNA

In 1792 Beethoven moved to Vienna to study music. It was in Vienna that he met Joseph Haydn a great music composer who also taught him music.

While in Vienna he composed a number of works and gained public praise. He was also given money for his contribution to music in Vienna. However, he earned good fees from piano lessons he taught, concerts and from publishers who bought a number of his compositions.


TIMES OF ILLNESS

As Beethoven gained success as a great musician and composer, he was diagnosed with an illness that could not be corrected by doctors. This illness caused him to become deaf at about twenty nine years old.

He kept all the information about his sickness to himself until October 1802, when he wrote a letter to his brothers about the illness.

Even though he suffered from such a terrible illness, he continued to compose music but was not able to play the piano as he could in previous times.


MUSICAL WORKS

Ludwig van Beethoven is no doubt one of the greatest pianists and composers of all times. He has done many compositions for a variety of musical instruments. Here is list of some of his works:

Nine Symphonies

Seven Concerto

One Opera (Fidelio)

Two Masses

Ten Violin Sonatas

Five Cello Sonatas

One French Horn Sonata

Sixteen String Quartets

Five String Quintets

Seven Piano Trios

Several string trios, works for wind instruments and chamber music.

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Ludwig van Beethoven Biography - Resources

Would you like to read more Beethoven biographies? Visit any of these websites. (Learn more by clicking on any of the links below.)

http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/beethoven.php

http://www.biography.com/people/ludwig-van-beethoven-9204862

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