On Beethoven

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    Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and a pianist. He is still one of the most respected composers of Western music.


    Beethoven was born in Bonn, and his musical talent was at a very early age. Beethoven was the grandson of Ludwig van Beethoven (same name, i know), born in 1712. He was also a musician but from the town of Mechelen who had moved to Bonn at the age of 21. Ludwig, Beethoven's grandpa was a bass singer at the court. He eventually became a Kapellmeister, which is a music director. Ludwig had a son Johann (Beethoven's dad), who worked as a tenor.


    He was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven first. Beethoven was trained later on by Tobias Friedrich Pfieffer on the piano. He was then taught by Franz Rovantini, who helped him with playing the violin and viola, and Franz Anton Ries for the violin only. Johann was concerned about Leopold Mozart's successes in his area (Mozart’s dad), so Johann attempted to help his son as a child prodigy, saying that Beethoven was six but he was actually seven on the posters for his first public performance in March 1778.


    Beethoven moved to Vienna at 21. Which became his place for studying music. After studying composition with Haydn, Beethoven then became a virtuoso pianist and was soon protected by Karl Alois, the Prince Lichnowsky for compositions. He soon composed Opus 1 piano trios in 1795.


    Beethoven has first noticed difficulties in his hearing earlier in 1798 when he was about 28. When he was 44 or 45, he was deaf and unable to communicate unless he passed written notes back and forth. And after months of bedridden illness, he died in 1827. Beethoven's pieces still remain in the classical music repertoire.


SOME FAMOUS PEICES:


Für Elise

Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy)

Piano Sonatas No. 3, 6, 9



If you have any things I missed or things to share about Beethoven, please comment down below!

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