Glasses cloth: Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Karl Stieler, Beethoven-Haus Bonn

ABOUT THE COMPOSER, LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN:

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most famous composers of all time. His music is seen as the link between the Classical period and the Romantic era.

Quick facts

Born: December 1770 (baptized December 17), Bonn (Germany)
Died: March 26, 1827, Vienna (Austria)
Relationships: never married. Had guardianship of his nephew Karl.
Most famous pieces: Für Elise, Moonlight Sonata, Symphony No.5, Symphony No.6 ‘Pastoral’, Symphony No.7 (featuring the famous Adagietto from The King’s Speech), Symphony No.9 (with Ode an die Freude), Piano Concerto No.5, ‘Emperor’, Violin Concerto, Cavatina from String Quartet No.13
Interesting: continued composing while becoming deaf.

Beethoven dominated the entire nineteenth century with his music. No composer could escape his influence, no composer could write anything without acknowledging Beethoven's dominance. This applies to Mendelssohn, Berlioz, Schumann, Wagner and countless others. Wagner even held the view that after Beethoven, the symphony should no longer play a significant role. Beethoven had already 'said' everything.

Brahms initially dared not write symphonies because he was intimidated by the enormous qualities of Beethoven’s symphonic work. Brahms' opposite Anton Bruckner also built upon Beethoven's monumental style and through Brahms and Bruckner, Beethoven’s music led to far-reaching influences in the music of the late romantics. In that respect, Beethoven has been one of the most influential figures in Western music history.