Ludwig van Beethoven

Born:

Baptized December 17, 1770, Bonn, Electorate of Cologne (present-day Germany)

Died:

March 26, 1827, Vienna, Austrian Empire

Nationality:

German

Profession(s):

Composer, Pianist

Early Life and Education

• Born into a musical family; his grandfather and father were musicians at the Bonn court.
• Early musical training was rigorous, primarily under his father, Johann van Beethoven.
• Studied with various teachers in Bonn, including Christian Gottlob Neefe.
• In 1787, he traveled to Vienna, possibly meeting Mozart, but was soon called back to Bonn due to his mother's illness.
• Moved permanently to Vienna in 1792, where he studied with Joseph Haydn, Johann Georg Albrechtsberger, and Antonio Salieri.

Career and Major Achievements

• Established himself as a virtuoso pianist in Vienna during the 1790s.
• Began experiencing hearing loss in his late twenties, which gradually worsened to complete deafness.
• Despite his hearing loss, he continued to compose prolifically.
• Transitional figure between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music.
• Pioneered new forms and expanded the emotional range of musical expression.

Notable Works

• Symphonies: Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica"), Symphony No. 5, Symphony No. 6 ("Pastoral"), Symphony No. 7, Symphony No. 9 ("Choral")
• Piano Concertos: Piano Concerto No. 5 ("Emperor")
• Violin Concerto: Violin Concerto in D major
• Piano Sonatas: Piano Sonata No. 14 ("Moonlight Sonata"), Piano Sonata No. 8 ("Pathétique")
• String Quartets: Late String Quartets (Op. 127, 130, 131, 132, 135)
• Opera: Fidelio

Legacy and Impact

Beethoven's work remains influential to this day. Educational resources, including beethoven biography worksheets, are widely used to teach students about his life and compositions. His innovative use of form, his powerful emotional expression, and his perseverance in the face of adversity have cemented his place as one of the greatest composers in history.

Selected Discography

Related links