Ludwig Van Beethoven

One of the greatest composers of all time

Ludwig Van Beethoven art print by Richard Day
Beethoven struggled against deafness from 1798-1816. He completed some of his most influential work 10 years before his death without hearing.

Here is a time line of Beethoven's life and famous compositions:

  • 1770 - Born December 16th, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. The next day he was baptized in Bonn.
  • 1778 - March 26th Ludwig's first known public performance in Cologne.
  • 1782 - At twelve years old, Beethoven's first known publication is released, known as the Dressler Variations. October 14th, 1783 he releases three other sonatas and more.
  • 1784 - At fourteen years old, Ludwig is appointed as organist to the Choir of Maximilian Franz.
  • 1787 - Ludwig traveled to Vienna to study with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. July 17th the following year, Ludwig's mother passed away.
  • 1789-1792 - Played for four seasons as violinist at the Opera of Bonn and continues to play numerous Beethoven compositions. December 5th, 1792 marks the death of Mozart.
  • 1792 - November 10th, Ludwig arrived in Vienna for musical studies with Haydn. December 18th, 1792 marks the death of Ludwig's father.
  • 1797 - Likely the year of a serious illness which triggered his deafness.
  • 1799 - Ludwig is receives instruction from Salieri. Later this year he begins composing his first symphony.
  • 1800 - Concert at Vienna, playing of his first symphony - Symphony No. 1 in C major (1800), Opus 21.
  • 1802 - In Feburary, Ludwig completes his second symphony, Symphony No. 2 in D major (1803), Opus 36. Two months later, he leaves for Heiligenstadt hoping his hearing would improve and there writes his will the "Heiligenstadt Testament".
  • 1805 - Ludwig has his first public performance of the Eroica symphony on April 7th, Symphony No. 3 in E flat major "Eroica".
  • 1807 - Composition of the Coriolan Overture is completed. In March, he has his first performance of the fourth symphony. The following Autmn, Ludwig completes the composition for the fifth symphony.
  • 1808 - During the Spring/Summer, Ludwig completes "The Pastoral" Symphony No. 6 in F major "Pastoral", Opus 68, his sixth symphony. The following December he plays the sixth symphony.
  • 1810 - Beethoven completed "Fur Elise" meaning "For Elise" but was not published until 40 years after his death.
  • 1811 - Failed atempt to perform Emperor concerto. In October, Ludwig begins writing the seventh symphony.
  • 1813 - December 8th, Ludwig makes his first public presentation of the eighth symphony. A year later on February 27th , he plays the eighth symphony, Symphony No. 8 in F major (1814), Opus 93 - the third and last version of "Fidelio".
  • 1816 - Beethoven becomes ill. A year later he begins writing the ninth symphony still under illness.
  • 1824 - Ludwig works on the tenth symphony. By Feburary, he completes the ninth symphony and performs the ninth symphony, Symphony No. 9 in D minor "Choral" (1824), Opus 125 three months later.
  • 1827 - Beethoven's health took a significant decline. He undergoes three more operations in the first two months of the year. On March 22nd he receives his last rites. Four days later on March 26th, Ludwig Van Beethoven dies at approximately 5:45pm.

"His innovative compositions combined vocals and instruments, widening the scope of sonata, symphony, concerto and quartet. He is the crucial transitional figure connecting the Classical and Romantic ages of Western music...Summing up his life and imminent death during his last days, Beethoven, who was never as eloquent with words as he was with music, borrowed a tagline that concluded many Latin plays at the time. Plaudite, amici, comoedia finita est, he said. "Applaud friends, the comedy is over.""

--Biography.com

If you have time, you should read more about this incredible composer on his Wikipedia entry.