December Composer

Unit Study:
Ludwig van Beethoven

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 Ludwig van
Beethoven
Born:
December 1770
Died:
March 26, 1827

Classical Period
Most known as the composer of the
"5th Symphony" and "9th Symphony".
Ludwig van Beethoven
Born: December 1770 Died: March 26, 1827 *Classical period
composer
There is no record of Beethoven's actual date of birth. The first recorded date is his
baptism, which took place December 17, 1770. He was likely born the 16th, as it was law
and custom to baptize babies within 24 hours. He was born in Bonn, Germany, which at that
time was the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of the Holy Roman Empire.
Early on, Beethoven displayed musical talents and was first taught by his father, Johann van
Beethoven and composer and conductor Christian Gottlob Neefe. Beethoven's parents
were not notable people in society, but his grandfather, godfather and namesake,
Kapellmeister Ludwig van Beethoven was Bonn's most prosperous and eminent musician.
Beethoven's father required much practice from him at an early age. Neighbors remember
hearing cries while he was forced to practice under less than pleasant circumstances,
including lack of sleep for extra practice time, in hopes that his son would be recognized as
a prodigy by Mozart. His father arranged for his first recital on March 26, 1778, at the
age of seven, however it received no press. Beethoven struggled with spelling and math his
entire life and was just an average student, at best. Some people theorize that he had mild
dyslexia, but it has never been proven. In 1781, at the age of 10, Beethoven withdrew from
school to study music full time with Christian Gottlob Neefe, the newly appointed Court
Organist. Neefe introduced Beethoven to Bach, and at the age of twelve Beethoven
published his first composition, a set of piano variations on a theme by an obscure classical
composer named Dressler. At the age of 13, he was appointed Assistant Court Organist, in
an effort to help support his family as his father was ailing. In 1787, at the age of 16, the
court sent Beethoven to Vienna to encourage his musical development. After only a few
weeks in Vienna, Beethoven learned his mother fell ill and returned to Bonn to help care for
her. At the age of 19, Beethoven received the immense honor of composing a musical
memorial for the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, who died in 1790. In 1792, as French
Revolutionary forces swept across his hometown, Beethoven decided to leave and return to
Vienna. In 1799, Beethoven noticed his hearing declining, but he refused to admit it to
anyone until 1801. However, it was during this time that he composed Symphonies 3-8 and
his most well known and final work, Ninth Symphony, was composed in 1824. He is most
known for bridging the gap between the Classical and Romantic eras.
During his lifetime, he composed hundreds of pieces, but his most notable works include 9
symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his
great Mass the Missa solemnis and an opera, Fidelio.
Ludwig van Beethoven
L Z G R R Y A Y L E E I O O S I
M K S A L S C E G U M N E E R P
I I P P E C T N I U D P G R S I
R D K H E H M V C G S W I O I A
L Z D H A R D S I P O G I R Q N
O M R R H H B H R E R W A G E I
J B S F O E J E T O N O E A Y S
H Y A F R M O F E A M N D N E T
N H B O E E U O O T R A A I L S
H H O C E Q H E R E H M N S G E
B E P N T N L U S Y R O E T B Y
D E M L F M O O L E H J V D O K
C F I S E C P O G P O T S E N M
R D R U C M H A M N F M A A N C
D E O Y O O L Y S N M X L F J H
O S K C L A S S I C A L O C X F
WORD BANK
Ludwig Beethoven Bonn Germany
Vienna pianist composer prodigy
court organist Holy Roman
Empire symphonies Classical deaf
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
 Ludwig van Beethoven Copywork

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"What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I

am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand
princes; there is only one Beethoven."
- Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
 Ludwig van Beethoven Copywork
"Composers in the old days used to keep strictly
to the base of the theme, as their real subject.
Beethoven varies the melody, harmony, and
rhythms so beautifully."
- Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
 Ludwig van Beethoven Copywork
"I cannot listen to Beethoven or Mahler or
Chopin or Bach when I write because those
composers require you to stop what you are
doing and listen."
- Antonio Damasio (1944-present)
 Ludwig van Beethoven Copywork
"What you are, you are by accident of birth;
what I am, I am by myself. There are and
will be a thousand princes; there is only one
Beethoven."
- Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
 Ludwig van Beethoven Copywork
"Composers in the old days used to keep
strictly to the base of the theme, as their real
subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony,
and rhythms so beautifully."
- Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
 Ludwig van Beethoven Copywork
"I cannot listen to Beethoven or Mahler or
Chopin or Bach when I write because those
composers require you to stop what you are
doing and listen."
- Antonio Damasio (1944-present)
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