Music

Ludwig van Beethoven

1770–1827 · German

Classical / early Romantic

Beethoven was born in Bonn and spent his career in Vienna, where he studied briefly with Haydn. Despite progressive deafness he expanded the symphony, sonata, concerto and string quartet in scale and emotional force, carrying music from the Classical era into Romanticism.

How to spot them

▸Forceful, dramatic music built from short, hammered motifs developed relentlessly, with sudden dynamic contrasts
▸Short-short-short-long in C minor is the Fifth Symphony; a huge choral finale singing 'Freude' is the Ninth
▸Quiz clues: Bonn, Vienna, deafness, Heiligenstadt Testament, Napoleon and the 'Eroica', nine symphonies

Key works — listen

Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 (1808)

The four-note 'fate' motif; journey from C minor struggle to C major triumph

Recording: user:OldakQuill · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, 'Choral' (1824)

Finale sets Schiller's 'Ode to Joy'; its melody is the anthem of Europe

Recording: Ludwig van Beethoven · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55, 'Eroica' (1804)

Originally dedicated to Napoleon; Beethoven struck out the name when Napoleon crowned himself emperor

Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, 'Pastoral' (1808)

Countryside scenes with a brook, birdsong and a thunderstorm

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2, 'Moonlight' (1801)

Hypnotic triplet first movement; nickname from the critic Ludwig Rellstab

Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor, WoO 59, 'Für Elise' (1810)

Oscillating E–D-sharp opening; published only in 1867

Recording: Sebion7125 · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Quick-fire facts

•Beethoven was born in Bonn in December 1770 (baptised on 17 December) and died in Vienna on 26 March 1827.
•In the Heiligenstadt Testament (1802) he confided his despair at his growing deafness.
•He wrote only one opera, Fidelio, first performed in 1805 and revised to its final form in 1814.
•Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, is nicknamed the 'Emperor'.
•Nicknamed piano sonatas include the 'Pathétique' (Op. 13), 'Appassionata' (Op. 57) and 'Hammerklavier' (Op. 106).
•The Ninth Symphony was premiered in Vienna on 7 May 1824; the deaf composer had to be turned round to see the applause.
•WoO stands for 'Werke ohne Opuszahl' – works without opus number.
•His Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47, is known as the 'Kreutzer' Sonata; the Piano Trio Op. 97 is the 'Archduke'.

Drill it — 10 cards

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Sources

Encyclopaedia Britannica — Ludwig van Beethoven
Jan Swafford — Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph