Ludwig van Beethoven
- Born:
- December 16 or 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
- Early musical training from his father, Johann van Beethoven, and other local musicians.
- Showed precocious musical talent from a young age.
- Appointed assistant court organist in 1784.
- Traveled to Vienna in 1787, possibly meeting Mozart.
- Studied with Joseph Haydn after permanently moving to Vienna in 1792.
Career and Major Achievements
- Established himself as a virtuoso pianist and composer in Vienna during the late 1790s.
- Began to suffer from hearing loss in his late twenties, a condition that progressively worsened.
- Continued to compose prolifically despite his deafness, producing some of his most important works during this period.
- Revolutionized classical music by pushing its boundaries of form, harmony, and emotional expression.
Notable Works
- Symphonies: No. 3 ("Eroica"), No. 5, No. 6 ("Pastoral"), No. 7, No. 9 ("Choral")
- Piano Concertos: No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 ("Emperor")
- Violin Concerto
- String Quartets: Including the late quartets, such as Op. 131 and Op. 132
- Piano Sonatas: Including "Moonlight Sonata" (Op. 27, No. 2) and "Hammerklavier" Sonata (Op. 106)
- Opera: Fidelio
- Bagatelles: Für Elise
- String Quartet No. 2 in G major, op 18 no 2 beethoven biography highlights its significance in his early compositional period and its exploration of classical forms and harmonies.
Legacy and Impact
Beethoven is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in history. His innovative compositions bridged the Classical and Romantic periods and continue to be performed and studied worldwide. His music influenced generations of composers and remains a cornerstone of Western classical music.