Ludwig van Beethoven(1770-

1827)

BeethovenHe was hardly the

tall, dark, and handsome type. He had good teeth, piercing eyes, and a stern, pock-marked face. He was only 5 feet 4 inches tall.

Beethoven’s LifeLudwig Van

Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770, in Bonn, Germany.

He was a pianist, a composer and considered as one of the greatest musicians of all time.

Beethoven’s ChildhoodLudwig started

learning piano at the age of 4, taught by his father. He had a natural gift, and got good quickly.

(Beethoven on a Piano

Bench)

Beethoven’s ChildhoodHis father was simply

a mediocre musician, and sorry to say, a drunk.

Johann Van BeethovenHis father would come home sometimes

late at night, wake him from his sleep, and force him to practice the piano or viola until the morning church bells sounded.

Beethoven’s Childhood

His father had to tell everyone that he was two years younger, just to make him seem more talented.

In 1778, at the age of 8, Ludwig performed in public for the first time, and his father lied about his age.

Beethoven’s Bread & ButterAt the age of 11, he quitted school.

When he was 12, he was already earning money composing and playing the organ, harpsichord, and viola.

He was already beginning to compose small pieces and became an absolute genius.

Beethoven’s Proper

Music Lessons with NeefeHe then began learning proper music

lessons with his composition teacher, Christian Gottlob Neefe, a German composer.

Neefe later encouraged his student to study with Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

He then travelled to Vienna, Austria.

Beethoven’s Ambition of

Taking Lessons with MozartIn 1787, Beethoven met

Wolfgang Mozart while in Vienna. Mozart recognized his talent and told his friends about his amazing talent.

“Keep an eye on him, he will make a

noise in the world some day.”-Mozart

Beethoven’s Mother’s DeathMozart agreed to take Beethoven on as

a pupil, but when Beethoven returned to his room, there was an urgent telegram from his father telling him to return home immediately - his mother was seriously ill.

His mother died when he was 18.

After his mother’s death, Beethoven placed himself at the head of the family and a responsible brother of two.

Beethoven’sReturn to

ViennaBy the time he returned to Vienna in November 1792, Mozart was dead.

Instead, he did take lessons from Haydn and Salieri but his lessons to study composition with them weren’t successful for he was adamant and stupidly stubborn.

Beethoven’s Worst Fate• In 1790, when he was about 30, He began

to notice his hearing loss.• He preferred to be alone and often wrote

music during long walks in the woods.• He was an unhappy, lonely man who

relied on his art for strength.• He never married to anyone else and

never had a child of his own.

Beethoven’s Last Decade

Beethoven wrote some of his finest music (the Ninth Symphony – Ode to Joy) after he was totally deaf at the age of 50.

He actually conducted its first performance in silence.

Ludwig van Beethoven died on March 26, 1827 due to pneumonia.

Beethoven’s Achievemen

ts & Contribution

s

What makesBeethoven's

music special?Beethoven studied works by Haydn, German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, and Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Then he broke their rules and made music that was like no one else’s. It was emotional and challenging. Beethoven wanted his music to express ideas as well as emotions. He wanted it to praise freedom and equality and other high ideals.

Ludwig van Beethoven may have been rude, clumsy, and even deaf, but he is considered among the greatest composers that ever lived.

He wrote…9 Symphonies

5 Piano Concertos16 String Quartets

10 Sonatas for Violin5 Sonatas for cello30 Piano Sonatas,

2 Masses,1 Opera called “Fidelio.”

More chamber music

Beethoven’s‘Fur Elise’

Fur Elise (For Elise), is Beethoven's famous "Bagatelle“ (short light piece of music), this is another piece which has an instantly recognizable melody.

It is a great beginner's piano piece!

Beethoven’s

“Eroica”

When Napoleon crowned himself Emperor though, Beethoven flew into a rage and violently scratched out the dedicatee's name on the manuscript.

Eroica or “Heroic” , Beethoven’s Third Symphony, is a ground-breaking piece, which Beethoven originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte.

Beethoven’sFifth Symphony

One of the best-known pieces in all of classical music. It opens with a famous "Fate" motif which probably nearly everyone would recognize nowadays.

Beethoven wrote the piece during a time of political turmoil and personal crisis. The works' innovations were celebrated as "revolutionary" at the time. It has a famous four-note

opening, da-da-da-dum.

Beethoven’sSeventh Symphony

It is a rousing symphony. It is best described as "the apotheosis of the dance".

It has an elevating tune.

Beethoven’sNinth Symphony

Composer Ludwig van Beethoven finished his Ninth Symphony, a work that summarizes much of his achievements and influence, in 1824, just three years before he died.

The work concludes with the Ode to Joy, which features a beautiful chorus.

It expresses an idealized vision of human struggle and triumph. The most striking feature of the symphony is Beethoven’s use of chorus and solo voices in the finale.

Beethoven’sOther

Achievements

Beethoven’sOther AchievementsSome of Beethoven’s well-known

achievements are the Moonlight Sonata for piano, Symphony No. 6, Symphony No. 8, Missa Solemnis, Adelaide, and his only Opera, “Fidelio”.

Beethoven’sMoonlight Sonata

Moonlight Sonata (Symphony No. 2) is a hugely famous piece, with a slow, dark first movement.

The story goes that the name was inspired by moonlight Beethoven saw while he improvised away on the piano.

Beethoven’sSymphony No. 8

Pathetique Sonata (Symphony No. 8) is one of Beethoven's early piano sonatas. The slow second movement is well-known for the tragedy and deep emotions it expresses. It sounds very nostalgic, but somehow comforting as well.

Beethoven’sAdelaide

Adelaide is Beethoven's most popular song. The lyrics are about idealized love for an unattainable woman, an experience which Beethoven had many times in his life.

In 1812 Beethoven wrote-but did not mail-a love letter to an unidentified woman whom he referred to as 'Immortal Beloved.

Beethoven’s“Fidelio”

Fidelio is Beethoven's only opera. The story is about a wife who disguises herself as a prison guard to rescue her husband.

Beethoven liked the heroic and political ideals of the story.