Life of Ludwig Van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven is considered one of the greatest classical

composers who has ever lived. It is not known exactly when Beethoven was
born, but he is baptized on December 17, 1770 in Bonn, Germany.

With an alcoholic father, Ludwig has a difficult life as a young boy. To

escape, he loses himself in music. WIth an extraordinary talent for piano
playing, he begins composing when he is only twelve years old.

Ludwig moves to Vienna, Austria in 1792 and lives there for the rest of
his life. He writes classical music for the piano, orchestra and different groups
of instruments. Idolized by the public, Ludwig has a good life in Vienna.
Beethoven is popular with the city's rich and important people. Even with his
popularity, however, Ludwig faces financial problems and has to find sponsors
when his music cannot support him.

Ludwig never marries and has no children of his own. He does, however,
become so obsessed with gaining custody of his nephew, Karl, that he does not
compose for two years. After a lengthy legal battle, he finally gets custody of
the boy. His relationship with his nephew is very strained. In 1826, Karl tries to
shoot himself. He survives but leaves Beethoven to join the army.

In 1801, Ludwig begins to lose his hearing. His deafness gradually

becomes worse and, by 1817, he is completely deaf. Instead of allowing
deafness to overwhelm him, however, Ludwig begins a period of prodigious and
brilliant composition.

Although he cannot hear all the notes with his ears, Beethoven writes
some of the best-known symphonies of all time. His well-known works include
his sixth ("Pastoral") and ninth ("Choral") symphonies, and his eighth
("Pathetique") and fourteenth ("Moonlight") piano sonatas. Beethovens
amazing classical music is still popular today.

Somehow, despite his tumultuous personal life, physical infirmity and

complete deafness, Beethoven composed his greatest music -- perhaps the
greatest music ever composed -- near the end of his life. From 1803-1812, what
is known as his "middle" or "heroic" period, he composed an opera, six
symphonies, four solo concerti, five string quartets, six string sonatas, seven
piano sonatas, five sets of piano variations, four overtures, four trios, two
sextets and 72 songs. The most famous among these were symphonies No. 3-8,
the "Moonlight Sonata," the "Kreutzer" violin sonata and Fidelio, his only
opera. In terms of the astonishing output of superlatively complex, original and
beautiful music, this period in Beethoven's life is unrivaled by any of any other
composer in history. His greatest late works include Missa Solemnis, a mass
that debuted in 1824 and is considered among his finest achievements, and
String Quartet No. 14, which contains seven linked movements played without
a break.

Beethoven's Ninth and final symphony, completed in 1824, remains the

illustrious composer's most towering achievement. The symphony's famous
choral finale, with four vocal soloists and a chorus singing the words of
Friedrich Schiller's poem "Ode to Joy," is perhaps the most famous piece of
music in history.

Ludwig dies on March 26, 1827 but his legacy exists today through his
music. The compositional path Beethoven creates allows other composers to
break free from prescribed musical formats. In this story about an extraordinary
musician, learn about the man behind the music.