1. Great Classical Composer
Beethoven
Great Classical Composer

2. Ludwig Von Beethoven was a German composer and pianist born in 1770.
He is seen as a transitional figure between the Classical and Romantic eras of music.
Ludwig Von Beethoven was a German composer and pianist born in 1770.

3. Beethoven is one of the most famous composers of all time.
His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 32 piano sonatas, and 16 string quartets.
Beethoven is one of the most famous composers of all time.

4. When Beethoven was 7 years old, his father made him perform a concert.

5. His father lied about his age, saying he was only 6 years old.

6. Beethoven was given music lessons at an early age because he showed so much talent.

7. When Beethoven was 13, his teacher Neefe helped him write his first published song.

8. Beethoven moved to Austria to study with Mozart
Beethoven moved to Austria to study with Mozart. But after 2 months of living in Austria, Beethoven’s mother became sick.
Also, his father became an alcoholic. So Beethoven moved home to take care of his younger brothers. It is unknown if Beethoven and Mozart ever met.

9. Beethoven moved back to Vienna in 1792 and began studying with Haydn.
He was quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. Around this time, he composed his first symphonies.

10. By 1793, Beethoven established a reputation as an improviser
By 1793, Beethoven established a reputation as an improviser. Many of his songs came out of improvisation.

11. His first works were a financial success; Beethoven's profits were nearly enough to cover his living expenses for a year.

12. He gave up conducting and performing in public but continued to compose; many of his most admired works come from this period.
In about 1800 he began to lose his hearing, and by the last decade of his life he was almost totally deaf.

13. Beethoven’s 5th Symphony was written between 1804-1808.

14. Beethoven's personal life was troubled by hearing loss and stomach pain. This often made him frustrated and sad. Still, he had close friends all his life.

15. Beethoven would stop performing at the piano if the audience was talking, or didn’t give him their full attention.

16. Beethoven is known as one of the giants of classical music; he is referred to as one of the "three Bs" (along with Bach and Brahms) .

18. Fur Elise
Fur Elise is one of Ludwig van Beethoven's most popular songs. The song was discovered 40 years after Beethoven died.

19. Fur Elise
The original work may have actually been named "Für Therese”. The original paper is missing, and only the translated copy remains. Therese is a woman that Beethoven loved.

20. Fur Elise
Beethoven was almost completely deaf when he wrote Fur Elise.

21. Fur Elise
This song begins in the key of A minor. There are two types of keys - major and minor. Major keys have a happier sound, and minor keys have a sadder sound. Why would Beethoven keep this song in a minor key?

22. Fur Elise
This song uses arpeggios. Arpeggios are a type of broken chord.

23. Beethoven became sick later in life, partially because he drank too much alcohol. Many of his friends came to visit while he was sick. Beethoven died in 1827 at the age of 56 during a thunderstorm.

24. Beethoven was an important person in the transition from the 18th century classical music to 19th century romantic music.
Listening to his iPod

28. Beethoven completed his 9th symphony in 1824, three years before he died. This symphony contained his song “Ode to Joy”.