Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
The culmination of the classical period is reached in the
music of Ludwig van Beethoven.The composer of some of
the most influential pieces of music ever written, Ludwig van
Beethoven created a bridge between the 18th-century
classical period and the new beginnings of Romanticism. His
greatest breakthroughs in composition came in his
instrumental work, including his symphonies. Unlike his
predecessor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, for whom writing
music seemed to come easily, Beethoven always struggled to
perfect his work.