Ludwig van Beethoven, the German composer, was the most acclaimed musical prodigy in western musical history.Beethoven is also a popular pianist who redefined the piano sonatas. His compositions of piano sonatas are still contemplated as some of the greatest performed classical music today.In the German city of Bonn, Ludwig van Beethoven was born into a musical family. His birth date is unknown, but he was baptized on Dec 17, 1770. His parents are Maria van Beethoven and Johann van Beethoven. They had seven children, of whom four died in infancy, and Ludwig van Beethoven was the second eldest child. Ludwig’s grandfather was a singer at the court of Clemens August, and his father was also a court musician in the same electoral choir of Cologne. His father also gave violin and keyboard lessons to enhance his income; he was an alcoholic, a habit that Beethoven also picked up in due course. Therefore, by 18, Beethoven became the main breadwinner for his family.Did you know that Beethoven debuted his first known public piano performance in Cologne at the very young age of seven? Read on to know more facts about Ludwig van Beethoven!What is Beethoven most known for?Ludwig van Beethoven was a well-known classical composer of the music world. Though he suffered from many chronic illnesses, including deafness, he is the man who skillfully achieved the impossible and paved his way to success.Being from a music family, Beethoven’s interest in music began early, and his father was his first music teacher.Beethoven’s father tried to push his son as a child prodigy like Leopold Mozart. For his debut public performance in March 1778, he attempted to claim Beethoven as six years old on the posters though he was seven. His father often put Beethoven through harsh training, and he was also punishing him for improvising, a trait which later made him popular.Beethoven withdrew from school when he was 10 years old and started his full-time music lessons with Christian Gottlob Neefe, the newly selected court musician. But his father was an alcoholic, so at the age of 12, he started working as a keyboard player to support his family.In 1782, when Beethoven was 12, he started composing and published his first composition, ‘Nine Variations’, on a simple march theme by Christian Ludwig Dressler. It is a set of piano variations that were quite challenging to play during that time.In 1787, Beethoven traveled to Vienna to take lessons with Mozart, but his visit was short. Two weeks later, he learned that his mother was sick, and he went back to Bonn. Shortly after his mother’s death, Beethoven cared for his two younger brothers.In his early 20s, Beethoven moved to Vienna and started taking lessons with the significant composer Franz Joseph Haydn, called the father of the symphony. Joseph Haydn also taught Mozart, one of Beethoven’s early idols. He used his time to study and research Mozart’s scores.Beethoven is most known as the first to compose complete pieces for the piano, and he was the first composer to focus on piano. He is widely contemplated as the greatest music composer who can enlighten feelings into music. His collection of 35 piano sonatas is still one of the most outstanding works in classical music.At the age of 22, Beethoven frequently played the piano in the Viennese nobility salons, and as he was exceptionally expert at improvisation, he quickly established himself as a piano virtuoso.Fun Facts About Beethoven’s MusicClassical music composer Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the most famous music prodigies. Here are some surprising fun facts you never knew about the beloved German pianist Ludwig van Beethoven.Did you know that the musical genius Beethoven is terrible at Mathematics? At the age of 11, he left school; as, he was bad at mathematics, and later he found difficulty in keeping track of his finances.There is no documentary proof of Beethoven’s exact birth date. But most scholars believe it was Dec 16, 1770, because Beethoven was baptized on December 17. According to the Catholic Church’s tradition at that time, baptism usually took place within a day after birth.Ludwig van Beethoven was not keen on receiving criticism for his work; thus, he had control over his fame by informing the editor of a major music journal to remove any negative comments to continue acquiring his work.Musically talented Beethoven led a comfortable life but never got rich. Being a popular person, we would assume that he had been wealthy, but he always had to work hard continuously, writing his compositions or teaching piano.The last recorded words of Beethoven had many different versions from his friends, which include “applaud”, “my friends, the comedy is over”, or “I shall hear in heaven”, which cite to his deafness. Some mention it was about wine. On realizing that his publisher had sent him a red wine case, he is believed to have said: “pity, pity; too late.“Beethoven’s grandfather Ludwig van Beethoven (1712- 1773) was professionally an eminent music director and singer, but he was well known as the composer’s grandfather.Beethoven hated teaching piano classes unless the students were immensely talented or were attractive women.What is Beethoven’s most famous piece?Everyone knows Ludwig van Beethoven as the deaf composer, but according to Beethoven’s letters, he began suffering signs of hearing loss at the age of 26. He attributed his deafness to a side effect of disease from his childhood. His hearing loss left him depressed. He strengthened by continuing to create more renowned pieces; in fact, many of his famous compositions were created after losing most of his hearing.Beethoven was a recognized composer in all the main genres of classical music, including five piano concertos, one violin concerto, nine symphonies, string quartets, the opera, and 32 piano sonatas. His most famous workpieces include:Moonlight Sonata, No. 14 Op. 27, which was completed in 1801 and was a tremendously famous piece dedicated to Julie Guicciardi, who had been Beethoven’s love interest. The Sonata was known to Beethoven as Piano Sonata No. 14. Thus, the nickname Moonlight Sonata was derived in 1832 after five years of his death from poet Ludwig Rellstabs’ description of the first movement, which resonated like the moonlight shining upon Lake Lucerne.Eroica Symphony (Third), Op.55, was considered one of Beethoven’s most important works. It was initially dedicated to Napoleon. However, when Napoleon crowned himself as emperor, Beethoven angrily flared out the dedicatee’s name on the manuscript out of rage.Emperor piano concerto, (Fifth) Op. 73 was Beethoven’s most famous and last piano concerto, which is a magnificent piece.Beethoven’s other famous works include Fifth Symphony, Op.67, Pathetique Sonata, No. 8 Op.30, Septet, Op.20, and his popular song, Adelaide, Op.46.Beethoven’s musical style was divided into three periods: early, middle and late. The early period was more classical, which lasted until 1802 along the lines of Mozart and Haydn. The middle period (1803-1814) was highly affected by his struggle with his ensuing deafness. Works from this period represent his struggle and are larger in scale. The late period began around 1815 when he was completely deaf.Though he was considered the pioneer of romanticism, Ludwig Van Beethoven was never married, and his love life is also mysterious. He dedicated himself to a popular opera singer, but she is believed to have rejected him.What instruments did Beethoven play?Ludwig van Beethoven was the third in the family to be named Ludwig van Beethoven and prior to him was his grandfather, a successful musician, and his elder brother, who died in his childhood and also had the same name.Although Ludwig van Beethoven was famous for being a great pianist, he still played multiple instruments aside from the piano. He was trained to play the violin, piano, viola, and organ from his childhood. In his early years, Beethoven often loved playing the violin and enjoyed musical improvisation rather than playing scores from the piano. Beethoven’s music lessons began in his fifth year. After his father’s early teaching, he learned to play the violin, keyboard, and viola from local teachers including Tobias Friedrich Pfeiffer, who provided keyboard lessons; Franz Anton Ries for the violin; Gilles van den Eeden and Franz Rovantini, who instructed him with other instruments. The young Beethoven was given irregular and intensive late-night sessions, often bringing him to tears. Apart from these, Beethoven also loved learning and playing harpsichord, which somewhat looked like a piano. He took up violin lessons from notable violinist Haydn, and Beethoven is known for composing even the best violin sonatas and concertos in history. Ludwig was quite skillful to become a regular member of the Bonn theatrical orchestra.The major instrument used by Beethoven was the piano. In his illustrious career, he went through quite a few piano brands owned by his close friends, including Graf, Walter, Streicher, Stein, Friz, and Erard, a French brand. The Graf is Beethoven’s last piano. The other two pianos, the Erard and the Broadwood are displayed in a museum in Linz and Budapest, respectively.When Beethoven first visited Vienna at the age of 17, he performed for Mozart, Vienna’s greatest composer. Mozart was very impressed with Ludwig’s talent, and he said, “Keep your eyes on him—someday he’ll give the world something to talk about.“Beethoven performed brilliantly in his youth and early 30s, but slowly he lost his hearing; the reason for this is not known. However, Beethoven composed many of the most important works in musical history.Though his hearing was declining, he still composed four solo concerti, five sets of piano variations, five-string quartets, an opera, six-string sonatas, four overtures, six symphonies, seven piano sonatas, two sextets, four trios, and 72 songs!How many symphonies did Beethoven write?Ludwig van Beethoven had immense musical talent from a young age. His symphonies were the bridge of change from the classical style to the romantic style in classical music repertoire.The well-known classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven played an important role in developing the symphony. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies, of which his first symphony, Symphony number one, was made in 1800 when he was 29. His third symphony, Eroica, was dedicated to Napoleon for proposing democracy to Europe. Beethoven’s Ninth symphony switched the face of classical music; it was the most prominent and best-known symphony, which is currently the European Union’s anthem. Beethoven’s music is unique with his enhanced symphonic form that conquered all musical boundaries and set the stage for music even today. He was a chronic perfectionist who wrote to leave his mark. Beethoven would sit on his piano for the entire day and night until his compositions were perfect.Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, was a near failure on its first screening and fortunately canceled. Thus, he reworked his compositions and came up with new versions. Later, he never attempted to write for an opera again.The music maestro, Ludwig van Beethoven, died on Mar 26, 1827, at 56, but the reason was unknown. Vienna’s leading musicians, such as Franz Schubert, and around 10,000 people joined his procession.
Ludwig van Beethoven, the German composer, was the most acclaimed musical prodigy in western musical history.
