Ludwig van Beethoven

He baptised 17 December 1770[1] 26 March

1827) was a German composer and pianist. A
crucial

figure

in

the

transition

theClassical and Romantic eras

between

in Western

art

music, he remains one of the most famous and

influential of all composers. His best-known
compositions

include

9symphonies,

5 piano

concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas,

16 string

quartets,

his

great Mass the Missa

solemnis and an opera, Fidelio. Born in Bonn,

then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and
part of the Holy Roman Empire, Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age and was
taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and by composer and conductor Christian Gottlob Neefe.
At the age of 21 he moved to Vienna and began studying with Joseph Haydn, quickly gaining a
reputation as a virtuoso pianist. He lived in Vienna until his death. By his 30s his hearing began to
deteriorate, and by the last decade of his life he was almost totally deaf. In 1811 he gave up
conducting and performing in public but continued to compose; many of his most admired works
come from these last 15 years of his life.

Biography
Beethoven was the grandson of Ludwig van Beethoven (de) (171273), a musician from the
town of Mechelen in the Duchy of Brabant in the Flemish region of what is now Belgium, who at the
age of twenty moved to Bonn.[2][3] Ludwig (he adopted the German cognate of theDutch Lodewijk)
was employed as a bass singer at the court of the Elector of Cologne, eventually rising to
become Kapellmeister (music director). Ludwig had one son, Johann(17401792), who worked as a
tenor in the same musical establishment and gave lessons on piano and violin to supplement his
income.[2] Johann married Maria Magdalena Keverich in 1767; she was the daughter of Johann
Heinrich Keverich, who had been the head chef at the court of the Archbishopric of Trier.[4]
Beethoven was born of this marriage in Bonn. There is no authentic record of the date of his
birth; however, the registry of his baptism, in a Roman Catholic service at the Parish of St. Regius on
17 December 1770, survives.[5] As children of that era were traditionally baptised the day after birth in
the Catholic Rhine country, and it is known that Beethoven's family and his teacher Johann
Albrechtsberger celebrated his birthday on 16 December, most scholars accept 16 December 1770

as Beethoven's date of birth.[6][7] Of the seven children born to Johann van Beethoven, only Ludwig,
the second-born, and two younger brothers survived infancy. Caspar Anton Carl was born on 8 April
1774, and Nikolaus Johann, the youngest, was born on 2 October 1776.[8]
Beethoven's first music teacher was his father. Although tradition has it that Johann van
Beethoven was a harsh instructor, and that the child Beethoven, "made to stand at the keyboard,
was often in tears,"[2] the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians claimed that no solid
documentation supported this, and asserted that "speculation and myth-making have both been
productive."[2] Beethoven had other local teachers: the court organist Gilles van den Eeden (d. 1782),
Tobias Friedrich Pfeiffer (a family friend, who taught Beethoven the piano), and Franz Rovantini (a
relative, who instructed him in playing the violin and viola).[2] Beethoven's musical talent was obvious
at a young age. Johann, aware of Leopold Mozart's successes in this area (with son Wolfgang and
daughter Nannerl), attempted to exploit his son as a child prodigy, claiming that Beethoven was six
(he was seven) on the posters for Beethoven's first public performance in March 1778. [9]
Some time after 1779, Beethoven began his studies with his most important teacher in
Bonn, Christian Gottlob Neefe, who was appointed the Court's Organist in that year.[10] Neefe taught
Beethoven composition, and by March 1783 had helped him write his first published composition: a
set of keyboard variations (WoO 63).[8] Beethoven soon began working with Neefe as assistant
organist, at first unpaid (1781), and then as a paid employee (1784) of the court chapel conducted
by the Kapellmeister Andrea Luchesi. His first three piano sonatas, named "Kurfrst" ("Elector") for
their dedication to the ElectorMaximilian Friedrich (17081784), were published in 1783. Maximilian
Frederick noticed Beethoven's talent early, and subsidised and encouraged the young man's musical
studies.[11]
Maximilian Frederick's successor as the Elector of Bonn was Maximilian Franz, the youngest
son of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, and he brought notable changes to Bonn. Echoing
changes made in Vienna by his brother Joseph, he introduced reforms based onEnlightenment
philosophy, with increased support for education and the arts. The teenage Beethoven was almost
certainly influenced by these changes. He may also have been influenced at this time by ideas
prominent in freemasonry, as Neefe and others around Beethoven were members of the local
chapter of the Order of the Illuminati.[12]
In March 1787 Beethoven traveled to Vienna (possibly at another's expense) for the first
time, apparently in the hope of studying with Mozart. The details of their relationship are uncertain,
including whether they actually met. [13] Having learned that his mother was ill, Beethoven returned
about two weeks after his arrival. His mother died shortly thereafter, and his father lapsed deeper
into alcoholism. As a result, Beethoven became responsible for the care of his two younger brothers,
and spent the next five years in Bonn.[14]

Beethoven was introduced in these years to several people who became important in his life.
Franz Wegeler, a young medical student, introduced him to the von Breuning family (one of whose
daughters Wegeler eventually married). Beethoven often visited the von Breuning household, where
he taught piano to some of the children. Here he encountered German and classical literature. The
von Breuning family environment was less stressful than his own, which was increasingly dominated
by his father's decline.[15] Beethoven also came to the attention of Count Ferdinand von Waldstein,
who became a lifelong friend and financial supporter.[16]
In 1789 Beethoven obtained a legal order by which half of his father's salary was paid
directly to him for support of the family.[17] He also contributed further to the family's income by
playing viola in the court orchestra. This familiarised Beethoven with a variety of operas, including
three by Mozart that were performed at court in this period. He also befriendedAnton Reicha,
a flautist and violinist of about his own age who was a nephew of the court orchestra's
conductor, Josef Reicha.[18]

Compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven

The musical works of Ludwig van Beethoven (17701827) are classified by both genre and
various numbering systems.
The most common methods of numbering Beethoven's works are by opus number, assigned
by Beethoven's publishers during his lifetime, and by number within genre. For example, the
14th string quartet, published as Opus 131, may be referenced either as "String Quartet No. 14" or
"the Opus 131 String Quartet".
Many works that were unpublished or else published without opus numbers have been
assigned either "WoO" (works without opus number) or "Anh" (appendix) numbers. For example, the
short piano piece "Fr Elise", is more fully known as the "Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59 ('Fr Elise')".
Some works are also commonly referred to by their nicknames, such as the 'Kreutzer' Violin Sonata,
or the Eroica Symphony.
T

he listings include all of these relevant identifiers. While other catalogues of Beethoven's

works exist, the numbers here represent the most commonly used and widely known. Years in
parentheses denote dates of composition or publication.

Orchestral music
Beethoven wrote nine symphonies, nine concertos, and a variety of other orchestral music, ranging
from overtures and incidental music for theatrical productions to other miscellaneous "occasional"
works, written for a particular occasion. Of the concertos, seven are widely known (one violin
concerto, five piano concertos, and one triple concerto for violin, piano, and cello); the other two are
an unpublished early piano concerto (WoO 4) and an arrangement of the Violin Concerto for piano
and orchestra (Opus 61a).
Symphonies

Opus 21: Symphony No. 1 in C major (composed 17991800, premired 1800)

Opus 36: Symphony No. 2 in D major (composed 180102, premired 1803)

Opus 55: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major ("Eroica") (composed 1803/04, premired 1805)

Opus 60: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major (composed 1806, premired 1807)

Opus 67: Symphony No. 5 in C minor ("Fate") (composed 180408, premired 1808)

Opus 68: Symphony No. 6 in F major ("Pastoral") (composed 180408, premired 1808)

Opus 92: Symphony No. 7 in A major (composed 181112, premired 1813)

Opus 93: Symphony No. 8 in F major (composed 1812, premired 1814)

Opus 125: Symphony No. 9 in D minor ("Choral") (composed 181724, premired 1824)

Beethoven is believed to have intended to write a Tenth Symphony in the last year of his life; a
performing version of possible sketches was assembled by Barry Cooper.[1]
ConcertoS

WoO 4: Piano Concerto No. 0 in E-flat major (1784)

Opus 15: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major (composed 179697)

Opus 19: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major (first two movements composed 17871789,
finale composed in 1795)

Opus 37: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor (composed 180001)

Opus 56: Triple Concerto for violin, cello, and piano in C major (1803)

Opus 58: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major (composed 180506)

Opus 61: Violin Concerto in D major (1806)

Opus 61a: Beethoven's arrangement of Opus 61 for piano

Opus 73: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major ("Emperor") (composed 180910)

Hess 13: Romance in E minor for 3 soloists and orchestra

Hess 15: Piano Concerto No. 6 in D major (unfinished performing version completed
by Nicholas Cook) (1815)[2]

Anh. 7: Piano Concerto (Allegro) in D major (first movement only) (probably spurious; some
believe this work to be the missing movement of a piano concerto by the Bohemian
composer Johann Joseph Rsler (17711813))

Orchestral music
Beethoven wrote nine symphonies, nine concertos, and a variety of other orchestral music, ranging
from overtures and incidental music for theatrical productions to other miscellaneous "occasional"
works, written for a particular occasion. Of the concertos, seven are widely known (one violin
concerto, five piano concertos, and one triple concerto for violin, piano, and cello); the other two are
an unpublished early piano concerto (WoO 4) and an arrangement of the Violin Concerto for piano
and orchestra (Opus 61a).
Symphonies

Opus 21: Symphony No. 1 in C major (composed 17991800, premired 1800)

Opus 36: Symphony No. 2 in D major (composed 180102, premired 1803)

Opus 55: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major ("Eroica") (composed 1803/04, premired 1805)

Opus 60: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major (composed 1806, premired 1807)

Opus 67: Symphony No. 5 in C minor ("Fate") (composed 180408, premired 1808)

Opus 68: Symphony No. 6 in F major ("Pastoral") (composed 180408, premired 1808)

Opus 92: Symphony No. 7 in A major (composed 181112, premired 1813)

Opus 93: Symphony No. 8 in F major (composed 1812, premired 1814)

Opus 125: Symphony No. 9 in D minor ("Choral") (composed 181724, premired 1824)

Beethoven is believed to have intended to write a Tenth Symphony in the last year of his life; a
performing version of possible sketches was assembled by Barry Cooper.[1]
Concertos

WoO 4: Piano Concerto No. 0 in E-flat major (1784)

Opus 15: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major (composed 179697)

Opus 19: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major (first two movements composed 17871789,
finale composed in 1795)

Opus 37: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor (composed 180001)

Opus 56: Triple Concerto for violin, cello, and piano in C major (1803)

Opus 58: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major (composed 180506)

Opus 61: Violin Concerto in D major (1806)

Opus 61a: Beethoven's arrangement of Opus 61 for piano

Opus 73: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major ("Emperor") (composed 180910)

Hess 13: Romance in E minor for 3 soloists and orchestra

Hess 15: Piano Concerto No. 6 in D major (unfinished performing version completed
by Nicholas Cook) (1815)[2]

Anh. 7: Piano Concerto (Allegro) in D major (first movement only) (probably spurious; some
believe this work to be the missing movement of a piano concerto by the Bohemian
composer Johann Joseph Rsler (17711813))

Chamber music
Beethoven wrote 16 string quartets and numerous other forms of chamber music, including piano
trios, string trios, andsonatas for violin and cello with piano, as well as works with wind instruments.
Trios
Piano trios
The numbering of Beethoven's twelve piano trios is fairly arbitrary, and other than the three trios in
Op. 1 as being Nos. 1 through 3, sources including both recordings and authoritative publications
use other numberings from those shown here, or more frequently, none at all. It is more usual to
identify a piano trio only by its catalog number and key.

Biamonti 637: Piano Trio in F minor (incomplete sketches, 1815)

Hess 47: Allegro con brio in E-flat major for Piano Trio

Hess 48: Allegretto in E-flat major for Piano Trio (c. 17901792)

WoO 38: Piano Trio in E-flat major (c. 1790-1791)

WoO 39: Allegretto in B-flat major for Piano Trio (1812)

Opus 1: Three Piano Trios (composed 1793; published 1795)

No. 1: Piano Trio No. 1 in E-flat major

No. 2: Piano Trio No. 2 in G major

No. 3: Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor

Opus 11: Piano Trio [No. 4](?) in B-flat major ("Gassenhauer") (1797)

Opus 44: Variations on an original theme in E-flat major (composed 1792; published 1804)

Opus 63: Piano Trio in E-flat major (1806) (arrangement of Op. 4)

Opus 70: Two Piano Trios (1808)

No. 1: Piano Trio [No. 5](?) in D major ("Ghost")

No. 2: Piano Trio [No. 6](?) in E-flat major

Opus 97: Piano Trio [No. 7](?) in B-flat major ("Archduke") (1811)

Opus 121a: Kakadu Variations, for Piano Trio (Variations on "Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu")
(1803)

Piano quartets

WoO 36: 3 Piano Quartets (1785)

No. 1 in E-flat major

No. 2 in D major

No. 3 in C major

Opus 16/b: Piano Quartet in E-flat (1797) (arrangement of Quintet for Piano and Winds, Op.
16)

String trios

Opus 3: String Trio No. 1 in E-flat major (1794); five-movement piano transcription (anon,
supervised composer?, c181415)

Opus 8: String Trio No. 2 ("Serenade") in D major (1797)

Opus 9: Three String Trios (1798)

No. 1: String Trio No. 3 in G major

No. 2: String Trio No. 4 in D major

No. 3: String Trio No. 5 in C minor

Hess 28: Movement in A-flat for String Trio

String quartets
Early

Hess 30: Prelude and Fugue in F major (1795)

Hess 31: Prelude and Fugue in C major (1795)

Opus 18: Six String Quartets

No. 1: String Quartet No. 1 in F major (1799)

No. 2: String Quartet No. 2 in G major (1799)

No. 3: String Quartet No. 3 in D major (1798/99)

No. 4: String Quartet No. 4 in C minor (1799)

No. 5: String Quartet No. 5 in A major (1799)

No. 6: String Quartet No. 6 in B-flat major (1800)

Middle

Opus 59: Three String Quartets ("Rasumovsky") (1806)

No. 1: String Quartet No. 7 in F major

No. 2: String Quartet No. 8 in E minor

No. 3: String Quartet No. 9 in C major

Opus 74: String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat major ("Harp") (1809)

Opus 95: String Quartet No. 11 in F minor ("Serioso") (1810)

You and Me
What day is it? And in
what month?
This clock never
seemed so alive
I can't keep up and I
can't back down
I've been losing so
much time
Cause it's you and
me and all of the
people
With nothing to do,
nothing to lose
And it's you and me
and all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes
off of you
All of the things that I
want to say
Just aren't coming
out right
I'm tripping on words,
you got my head
spinning
I don't know where to
go from here
Cause it's you and
me and all of the
people
With nothing to do,
nothing to prove
And it's you and me
and all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes
off of you
Something about you
now
I can't quite figure

out
Everything she does
is beautiful
Everything she does
is right
Cause it's you and
me and all of the
people
With nothing to do,
nothing to lose
And it's you and me
and all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes
off of
You and me and all of
the people
With nothing to do
and nothing to prove
And it's you and me
and all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes
off of you
What day is it? And in
what month?
This clock never
seemed so alive
Wish I May
Wish that I could say
these words tonight
Wish I have the
courage, wish I might
Have the chance to
show you, speak
what's on my mind
While you're right
next to me
I've loved you from
the start

Wish that I could walk

you down the road
Share each moment,
have my hand to hold
My imagination's
beginning to unfold
Every wish is
granted, every dream
and hope
[Chorus]
Wish I may, wish I
might
Find a way to your
heart
Wish that I'll be the
sun to warm you all
through your life
Wish you may feel
my love that is
hidden in the stars
Wish I may, wish I
might
Be the one
Maybe now I'm ready
to be found
Then I'll be a part of
who you are
Promise of forever,
never break your
heart
Always there to
listen, always by your
side
[Chorus]
Wish I may, wish I
might
Find a way to your
heart
Wish that I'll be the
sun to warm you all
through your life
Wish you may feel
my love that is

hidden in the stars

Wish I may, wish I
might
Be the one
(Wish I may, wish I
might
Find a way to your
heart
Wish that I'll be the
sun to warm you all
through your life)
Wish you may feel
my love that is
hidden in the stars
Wish I may, wish I
might
Be the one
Wish I may
Wish I might
Be the one
"You Are The One"
(with Sam Milby)

Another day passes by,

I'm dreamin' of you,
And though I know it
might be just a dream,
dreams come true,
Somewhere, somehow I'll
find you even though it
takes all of
My life (all of my life)
And when I finally do
(and when I finally do)
I know inside my heart (I
know inside my heart)

That there could be no

doubt, I knew it from the
start
(you are the one) you are
the one
That I've been searching
for my whole life through,
(you are the one) you are
the one that I've been
looking for
And now that I have
found you,
I'll never let you go, I'll
hold you in my arms
You are the one
Another night spent alone
I'm lying in the dark
(lying in the dark)
I don't know your name
But I know your voice
sings to my heart (voice
sings to my heart)
A sweet melody, a
symphony of love
I know that come one day
(I know that come one
day)
I time for you and me (a
time for you and me)
To finally be together,
cause I know we're
meant to be
(you are the one) you are
the one
That I've been searching

for my whole life through,

(you are the one) you are
the one that I've been
looking for
And now that I have
found you,
I'll never let you go, I'll
hold you in my arms
Forever's a meaningless
word
Even though you're here
with me
Here by my side, here in
my heart
I'll never let you go I'll
hold you in my arms
(you are the one) you are
the one that I've been
searching for my whole
life through
(you are the one) you are
the one that I've been
looking for and now that I
have found you
I'll never let you go, I'll
hold you in my arms
[repeat]
Cause you are the one,
you are the one