Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany.  Everyone in his family was musical. . Beethoven's musical gift blossomed and he was sent to Vienna when he was 17, in 1787.  An introduction to Mozart led to some music lessons, but his golden opportunity lasted just two weeks, when Beethoven learned his mother had died.  He returned to Bonn, bitterly disappointed his chance had been snatched away.  He remained in Bonn for five years where he became the teacher to the family of a wealthy widow.  His works gained the recognition and admiration of the Austrian composer, Joseph Haydn who invited him to Vienna in 1792.  The Vienna of the 1790s was more then ready for the 22-year-old Beethoven.  Mozart had died in 1791 and the music-loving Viennese were looking for another genius to take Mozart's place.  By 1800, Beethoven was the toast of Vienna.  But there was a dark cloud on his horizon: he  noticed some problems with his hearing.  A  team of doctors diagnosed him, but all agreed on one point- the condition was  incurable : one day Beethoven, a man who relied on his hearing, would loose it completely.  He contemplated suicide, but his own own creative force averted such a tragedy.    He became a recluse because of his deafness and he was mixing less  with the outside world.  He still conducted his own work in public, unaware of  of the wild applause from the audience behind him.  Beethoven completed his last commission-a string quartet-in 1826.  On March 26, 1827,  the great composer died at the age of 57 from cirrhosis of the liver.  His popularity was demonstrated three days later when over 20,000 people attended his funeral.   During his lifetime, his music was recognized as revolutionary in every sense.  He broke the mold of classical composition, where emotion was finely balanced with musical form.  The depth of feeling he expressed in his work paved the way for the Romantic style of music which is so well-loved today.

 The 49-year-old Beethoven sits impatiently
for a portrait in 1819, the year he lost his
hearing completely.  He hold the score
of his Missa Solemnis,  which took another
four years to complete.
 
Ludwig Van Beethoven
(1770-1827)
4
1770  Born in Bonn, Germany 
1782 Becomes assistant to the organist to the Elector of Cologne
1787 Has music lessons from Mozart in Vienna
1795 First public appearance, in Vienna, playing his Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 19; first music published-Three Trios for Piano, Violin and Cello, Op. 1
1800 Grand public concert helps spread his fame abroad
1802 Learns his deafness is incurable; tempted to take his own life
1808 First performances of his Symphonies No. 5, Op. 67 and No. 6, Op. 68
1819 Becomes completely deaf
1826 Deeply affected by nephew's suicide attempt, composes last work, the string quartet No. 16 in F, Op. 135
1827 Dies in Vienna on 26 March
• Beethoven ruined his English-made Broad wood grand piano by banging the keys in a vain attempt to hear his music.  Yet it is still used in performances of his work today and is insured for
Symphonies £5,000,000.

Symphonies

-Symphony No. 1 (3rd mov. movement)
 
Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
    -1st movement
    -2nd movement

Symphony No. 4 in Bb (op. 60)
    -3rd movement (minuetto)

Symphony No. 5 (Op. 67)
    -1st movement
    -2nd movement
    -3rd movement
    -4th movement

Symphony No. 6 (Op. 68) "Pastoral"
    -1st movement
    -2nd movement
    -3rd movement
    -4th movement

Symphony No. 7 (Op. 92)
    -1st movement
    -2nd movement
    -3rd movement
    -4th movement

Symphony No. 8 (Op. 93)
    -1st movement
    -2nd movement
    -3rd movement
    -4th movement

-Symphony No. 9 (Op. 125) "Choral"
    -2nd movement
    -3rd movement
    -4th movement
 

Piano Sonatas

-No. 8 in c minor (complete) " Pathetique "

 -No.14 in C# minor (complete) " Moonlight "

-No. 21 in C " Waldenstein "

-No.23 in F minor " Appassionata "

-No.26 in E flat " Das Labewohl "
    -1st movement
    -2nd and 3rd movement
 

-No. 29 in Bb " Hammerklevier "

-Für Elise


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