LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Born in Bonn Germany in 1770, Beethoven was born to a very musical family. Both his grandfather and father were employed as musicians in the court of Elctor in Bonn. When 4 years old, he started studying piano, violin, and composition with his father. Beethoven was performing and sight reading with great expertise at 11 years old.
He traveled to Vienna and met and played for the famous Wolfgang A. Mozart at age 17. In 1792 Beethoven met Franz Joseph Haydn who complimented him so much on his work that he was sent to Vienna to study with Haydn.
Beethoven spent the rest of his life in Vienna Germany studying with great musicians and writing his beautiful pieces for piano, orchestra, chorals, and much more. He carried a notebook with him everywhere especially on his long walks to the countryside, he never knew when a tune would popped into his head or the a bird would sing something that just had to be written down.
In 1801 he wrote Sonata quasi una Fantasia or is better known as Moonlight Sonata. He composed this piece for one of his students named Countess Giulietta Guicciardi it is said that he proposed marriage to her but was refused by the father because Beethoven was without any money or permanent employment.
1820 a tragedy struck Mr. Beethoven, he had become deaf. However, that did not stop him from composing, actually some of his wonderful and famous compositions were written when he could no longer hear, such as his wonderful 9th Symphony or is known as Ode To Joy. Beethoven is considered to be the one of the greatest composers of the Classical Period.
Beethoven all together composed 400 pieces, and there may be more that he never published.
Beethoven played the piano, violin, and organ.
While listening to his music think of rainstorms, thunder, wind moving through the wheat, and all things that happen during Nature.
(Listen to his music on the side bar.)
