Ludwig van Beethoven December 16, 1770 – March 26, 1827

Life Born in Bonn, Germany Pianist, taught by father By age 8, viola and organ as well Traveled to Vienna in hopes of studying with Mozart Age 16, Mother dies, cares for brothers

Life Vienna Age 22, moved to study with Haydn Established as piano virtuoso First Opuses in 1795 Income from performing, gifts, teaching and compositions (not court) 1808, Chapel Maestro- Jerome Bonaparte’s Court

Loss of Hearing Hearing loss begins Heiligenstadt Testament Could understand completely until Completely deaf

Heiligenstadt Testament “…for six years I have been a hopeless case, aggravated by senseless physicians, cheated year after year in the hope of improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a lasting malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be impossible)…” “…but what a humiliation when one stood beside me and heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone heard the shepherd singing and again I heard nothing, such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life - only art it was that withheld me, ah it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence - truly wretched…”

Character Difficult, aggressive, possibly bipolar No marriage, or children Custody battle over nephew Belief in the Enlightenment, the first Romantic composer –Early –Heroic –Romantic

Symphonies 9 total 3- “Eroica” 6-”Pastorale” 9- “Choral” –4 th movement sets poem “Ode to Joy” by Schiller

Ode to Joy “….Oh friends, no more of these tones! Let us sing more cheerful songs, More joyful. Joy! Joy! ….” “…Whoever has created, An abiding friendship, Whoever has won a loving wife, Yes, whoever calls even one soul theirs, Join in our song of praise…” “…Be embraced, you millions! This kiss for the whole world! Brothers, beyond the star-canopy Must a loving Father dwell. Do you bow down, you millions? Do you sense the Creator, world? Seek Him beyond the star-canopy! Beyond the stars must He dwell…”