Beethoven, Ludwig Van Biography

The events of Beethoven's life are the stuff of Romantic legend, evoking images of the solitary creator shaking his fist at Fate and finally overcoming it through a supreme effort of creative will. Born in the small German city of Bonn on or around December 16, 1770, he received his early training from his father and other local musicians. As a teenager, he earned some money as an assistant to his teacher, Christian Gottlob Neefe, then was granted half of his father's salary as court musician from the Electorate of Cologne in order to care for his two younger brothers as his father gave in to alcoholism. Beethoven played viola in various orchestras, becoming friends with other players such as Antoine Reicha, Nikolaus Simrock, and Franz Ries, and began taking on composition commissions. As a member of the court chapel orchestra, he was able to travel some and meet members of the nobility, one of whom, Count Ferdinand Waldstein, would become a great friend and patron to him. Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 to study with Haydn; despite the prickliness of their relationship, Haydn's concise humor helped form Beethoven's style. His subsequent teachers in composition were Johann Georg Albrechtsberger and Antonio Salieri. In 1794, he began his career in earnest as a pianist and composer, taking advantage whenever he could of the patronage of others. Around 1800, Beethoven began to notice his gradually encroaching deafness. His growing despondency only intensified his antisocial tendencies. However, the Symphony No. 3, "Eroica", of 1803 began a sustained period of groundbreaking creative triumph. In later years, Beethoven was plagued by personal difficulties, including a series of failed romances and a nasty custody battle over a nephew, Karl. Yet after a long period of comparative compositional inactivity lasting from about 1811 to 1817, his creative imagination triumphed once again over his troubles. Beethoven's late works, especially the last five of his 16 string quartets and the last four of his 32 piano sonatas, have an ecstatic quality in which many have found a mystical significance. Beethoven died in Vienna on March 26, 1827.

Beethoven's epochal career is often divided into early, middle, and late periods, represented, respectively, by works based on Classic-period models, by revolutionary pieces that expanded the vocabulary of music, and by compositions written in a unique, highly personal musical language incorporating elements of contrapuntal and variation writing while approaching large-scale forms with complete freedom. Though certainly subject to debate, these divisions point to the immense depth and multifariousness of Beethoven's creative personality. Beethoven profoundly transformed every genre he touched, and the music of the nineteenth century seems to grow from his compositions as if from a chrysalis. A formidable pianist, he moved the piano sonata from the drawing room to the concert hall with such ambitious and virtuosic middle-period works as the "Waldstein" (No. 21) and "Appassionata" (No. 23) sonatas. His song cycle An die ferne Geliebte of 1816 set the pattern for similar cycles by all the Romantic song composers, from Schubert to Wolf. The Romantic tradition of descriptive or "program" music began with Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony No. 6. Even in the second half of the nineteenth century, Beethoven still directly inspired both conservatives (such as Brahms, who, like Beethoven, fundamentally stayed within the confines of Classical form) and radicals (such as Wagner, who viewed the Ninth Symphony as a harbinger of his own vision of a total art work, integrating vocal and instrumental music with the other arts). In many ways revolutionary, Beethoven's music remains universally appealing because of its characteristic humanism and dramatic power.

Biography by allmusic.com

All abums by Beethoven, Ludwig Van

Cover	Album title	Year	Tracks	User rating	Preview
	For Meditation	2005	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album For Meditation by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	For Meditation	2005	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album For Meditation by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Coriolan (Furtwangler)	2002	1	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Coriolan (Furtwangler) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.1 (Toscanini)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.1 (Toscanini) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.2 (piano trio)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.2 (piano trio) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.3 (Furtwangler)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.3 (Furtwangler) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.3 (Leslie Howard)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.3 (Leslie Howard) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.4 (Toscanini)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.4 (Toscanini) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.5 (Leslie Howard)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.5 (Leslie Howard) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.5 (Toscanini)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.5 (Toscanini) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.6 (Leslie Howard)	2002	5	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.6 (Leslie Howard) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.6 (Toscanini)	2002	5	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.6 (Toscanini) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.7 (Furtwangler)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.7 (Furtwangler) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.8 (Toscanini)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.8 (Toscanini) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.9 (Furtwangler)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.9 (Furtwangler) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.9 (Leslie Howard)	2002	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.9 (Leslie Howard) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Piano Sonatas Moonlight	2001	9	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Piano Sonatas Moonlight by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	The Essential	1997	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Essential by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.3 in E-flat Major, Op.55 Eroica	1995	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.3 in E-flat Major, Op.55 Eroica by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.10 in G major Op.14	1989	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.10 in G major Op.14 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.11 in B flat major	1989	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.11 in B flat major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.12 in A flat major	1989	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.12 in A flat major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.19 in G minor Op.49	1989	2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.19 in G minor Op.49 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.20 in G major Op.49	1989	2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.20 in G major Op.49 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.21 in C major Op.53	1989	2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.21 in C major Op.53 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.31 In A Flat Major	1989	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.31 In A Flat Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.31 In A Flat Major	1989	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.31 In A Flat Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.32 In C Minor Op.111	1989	2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.32 In C Minor Op.111 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.32 In C Minor Op.111	1989	2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.32 In C Minor Op.111 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Masters Of Classical Music, Vol. 3	1988	10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Masters Of Classical Music, Vol. 3 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Masters Of Classical Music, Vol. 3	1988	10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Masters Of Classical Music, Vol. 3 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.13 in E flat major	1981	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.13 in E flat major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor	1981	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.15 in D major Op.28	1981	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.15 in D major Op.28 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.3 in C major Op.02	1981	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.3 in C major Op.02 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.4 in E flat major	1981	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.4 in E flat major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	2 Sonata Movements In F Major	1977	2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 2 Sonata Movements In F Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.3 In D Major Woo 47	1977	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.3 In D Major Woo 47 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	3 Marches Op.45	1970	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 3 Marches Op.45 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	6 Variations Woo 74	1970	1	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 6 Variations Woo 74 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	8 Variations Woo 67	1970	1	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 8 Variations Woo 67 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.1 in F minor Op.02	1968	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.1 in F minor Op.02 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.16 in G major Op.31	1968	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.16 in G major Op.31 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.17 in D minor Op.31	1968	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.17 in D minor Op.31 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.18 in E flat major	1968	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.18 in E flat major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.2 in A major Op.02	1968	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.2 in A major Op.02 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.23 in F minor Op.57	1968	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.23 in F minor Op.57 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.24 in F sharp major	1968	2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.24 in F sharp major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.5 in C minor Op.10	1968	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.5 in C minor Op.10 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.6 in F major Op.10	1968	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.6 in F major Op.10 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.7 in D major Op.10	1968	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.7 in D major Op.10 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.8 in C minor Op.13	1968	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.8 in C minor Op.13 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.9 in E major Op.14	1968	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.9 in E major Op.14 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Great Fugue in B flat major, op.133 ;Amadeus Quartet	1963	6	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Great Fugue in B flat major, op.133 ;Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Nine Symphonies (Karajan) - Disc 4	1963	10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Nine Symphonies (Karajan) - Disc 4 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in A minor, op.132; Amadeus Quartet	1963	5	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in A minor, op.132; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in B flat major, op.130; Amadeus Quartet	1963	6	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in B flat major, op.130; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in C sharp minor, op.131; Amadeus Quartet	1963	7	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in C sharp minor, op.131; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in E flat major, op.127; Amadeus Quartet	1963	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in E flat major, op.127; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in A major, op.18 no.5; Amadeus Quartet	1962	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in A major, op.18 no.5; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in B flat major, op.18 no.6; Amadeus Quartet	1962	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in B flat major, op.18 no.6; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in C minor, op.18 no.4; Amadeus Quartet	1962	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in C minor, op.18 no.4; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in D major, op.18 no.3; Amadeus Quartet	1962	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in D major, op.18 no.3; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in F major, op.18 no.1; Amadeus Quartet	1962	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in F major, op.18 no.1; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in G major, op.18 no.2; Amadeus Quartet	1962	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in G major, op.18 no.2; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in C major, op.59 no.3 (Razumovsky); Amadeus Quartet	1960	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in C major, op.59 no.3 (Razumovsky); Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in E flat major, op.74 (-Harp-); Amadeus Quartet	1960	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in E flat major, op.74 (-Harp-); Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in E minor, op.59 no.2 (Razumovsky); Amadeus Quartet	1960	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in E minor, op.59 no.2 (Razumovsky); Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	String Quartet in F minor, op.95; Amadeus Quartet	1960	4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album String Quartet in F minor, op.95; Amadeus Quartet by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	4 - Piano Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'the Tempest'		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 4 - Piano Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'the Tempest' by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	4 - Piano Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'the Tempest'		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 4 - Piano Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No.2 'the Tempest' by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra In C Major 'trip		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra In C Major 'trip by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello And Orchestra In C Major `trip		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello And Orchestra In C Major `trip by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Great Piano Sonatas CD1		9	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Great Piano Sonatas CD1 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Greatest Classic Composers - Ludwig Van Beethoven		10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Greatest Classic Composers - Ludwig Van Beethoven by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Overtures		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Overtures by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Overtures		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Overtures by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Piano Sonata No.13 In E Flat Major, Op.27 No.1		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Piano Sonata No.13 In E Flat Major, Op.27 No.1 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Piano Sonata No.13 In E Flat Major, Op.27 No.1		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Piano Sonata No.13 In E Flat Major, Op.27 No.1 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'moonlight'		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'moonlight' by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'moonlight'		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'moonlight' by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Piano Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.13 'pathetique'		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Piano Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.13 'pathetique' by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Piano Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.13 'pathetique'		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Piano Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.13 'pathetique' by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Quintettino (La Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid) Op		5	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Quintettino (La Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid) Op by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.25 In G Major Op.79		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.25 In G Major Op.79 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.26 In E Flat Major		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.26 In E Flat Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.27 In E Minor Op.90		2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.27 In E Minor Op.90 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.28 In A Major Op.101		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.28 In A Major Op.101 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.29 In B Flat Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.29 In B Flat Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.30 In E Major Op.109		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.30 In E Major Op.109 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata No.30 In E Major Op.109		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata No.30 In E Major Op.109 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata ?15 D-Dur		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata ?15 D-Dur by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonata ?21 C-Dur Avrora		2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonata ?21 C-Dur Avrora by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Sonaty Dlja Fortepiano		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sonaty Dlja Fortepiano by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphonie No. 4 B-Dur Op.60		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphonie No. 4 B-Dur Op.60 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphonie No. 4 B-Dur Op.60		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphonie No. 4 B-Dur Op.60 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphonie No. 6 F-Dur Op.68 'pastorale'		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphonie No. 6 F-Dur Op.68 'pastorale' by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphonie No. 6 F-Dur Op.68 `pastorale`		3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphonie No. 6 F-Dur Op.68 `pastorale` by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphonie No. 7 A-Dur Op.92		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphonie No. 7 A-Dur Op.92 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphonie No. 7 A-Dur Op.92		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphonie No. 7 A-Dur Op.92 by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.1 In C Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.1 In C Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.2 In D Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.2 In D Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.2 In D Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.2 In D Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.3 In E-Flat Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.3 In E-Flat Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.3 In E-Flat Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.3 In E-Flat Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.4 In B-Flat Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.4 In B-Flat Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.4 In B-Flat Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.4 In B-Flat Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.5 In C Minor		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.5 In C Minor by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.5 In C Minor		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.5 In C Minor by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.6 In F Major		5	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.6 In F Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.6 In F Major		5	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.6 In F Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.7 In A Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.7 In A Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.7 In A Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.7 In A Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.8 In F Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.8 In F Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.8 In F Major		4	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.8 In F Major by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.9 In D Minor		5	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.9 In D Minor by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Symphony No.9 In D Minor		5	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Symphony No.9 In D Minor by Beethoven, Ludwig Van
	Vl. Sonatas (Yehudi Menuhin - violin,Wilhelm Kempff - piano)		7	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Vl. Sonatas (Yehudi Menuhin - violin,Wilhelm Kempff - piano) by Beethoven, Ludwig Van