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42 The Resonance Facts About Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven is said to be one of the most influential classical composers of all time.
This German composer made his mark in the transition period between Classical and Romantic in classical music.
Even people who cannot name any of his works have heard his works somewhere in the world.
Check out 42 facts about Ludwig van Beethoven - a famous artist you probably never knew about!
Often regarded as one of the most influential conductors in music, Ludwig van Beethoven is a true rock star of the classical music world.
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in December 1770. His actual date of birth remains unknown.
As a failed singer, Beethoven's father boosted his own hopes for his son by forcing him to practice for hours every day.
Beethoven had to leave school at 11 years old to support his family.
As a child, Beethoven played the violin and often preferred improvisation to music over playing from music.
Although Beethoven had 6 other siblings, 4 of them died in his life.
Beethoven's father was an alcoholic - a trait that Beethoven eventually recognized.
By the age of 18, Beethoven was the main income provider for his family.
When he was growing up, Beethoven's father told him that he was born in 1772, not 1770. This was intended to create the illusion that his son was younger than he really was and thus made his talent seem remarkable.
Impressively, Beethoven published his first composition when he was 12 years old.
After Mozart's death in 1791, the Viennese Waldstein Earl tells the young Beethoven that if he works hard enough he will receive the 'spirit of Mozart through Haydn's hands'.
Beethoven has kept a diary of his daily life while living in Vienna since 1792, giving us insights into his everyday life, from finding a new wig to
Sadly, Beethoven is prone to getting sick and most of his life suffer from a variety of diseases such as colitis, rheumatism, rheumatic fever, typhus fever, skin disorders, abscesses, a wide range of infections, and eye diseases.
When Beethoven moved to Vienna in the early 20s, he learned lessons from Joseph Haydn - another important and influential composer.
Interestingly, the two often lose patience with each other, and then don't like each other.
Around the time that Ludwig van Beethoven began composing music, the harpsichord was dominating.
Unless his students were attractive women or outstanding talent, Beethoven hated teaching the piano.
By 1793, at the age of 22, Beethoven used to play piano in the shops of the Viennese aristocracy and quickly became an accomplished pianist, playing Bach's Well Tempered Clavier's prelude and fugue.
Beethoven performed his first symphony at the age of 30 for the first time. Symphons were considered gentle works but Beethoven's introduction took things two steps further - in fact, it often suffers.
In 1802 during a retreat to Heiligenstadt outside Vienna, a desperate Beethoven wrote “I should have finished my life - only art held me back.
Beethoven's early period is considered to have ended in 1802, after the Heiligenstadt Testament, and included his first and second symphonies, a set of six string quartets, a piano concerto no.
The infamous moonlight Sonata is dedicated to the love of Beethoven and his pupil, Julie Guicciardi.
Beethoven's "hero" middle phase was heavily emotional and depicted heroes and struggles - this included Symphony 3, the last three piano concerts, five string quartets, opera
Beethoven's Late Period - including works of his 9th Symphony with its choir finale, Missa Solemnis, late string quartet, and some of his best piano pieces including sonatas and
The “Moonlight” Sonata is one of Beethoven's most famous works, but he is known only as Piano Sonata No. 14, and did not receive its nickname until 1832, five years after him.
At the age of 25, Beethoven's hearing began to decline.
Even when he was famous, Beethoven still had to work hard to maintain a comfortable life.
A group of Viennese aristocrats had gathered together to support Beethoven with an annual salary of 4,000 florins just to leave them in Vienna as a skilled artist and resident composer.
Beethoven was the first musician to receive a salary just to compose whenever and wherever he wanted.
Before losing his hearing, Beethoven was famous for his improvisation.
However, even with hearing loss, Ludwig van Beethoven kept perfect pitch and continued to compose.
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is the first symphony ever composed that includes parts for singers.
It is rumored that Beethoven often dipped his head in cold water before composing, but no one knew why.
An English pianist, Thomas Broadwood, sent Beethoven a piano as a gift in 1818. However, by the time he received it, he was completely deaf and never heard.
Beethoven, an admirer of the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte, devoted his third symphony.
After hearing loss, Beethoven will communicate with his friends by having them write in "conversation books".
Some of Beethoven's most important works were composed in the last decade of his life, at which point he was completely deaf.
Beethoven might have only composed one opera, but he redesigned and edited the work over a period of ten years to give us the version of the two plays currently performed.
Beethoven's music was widely used in the film and appeared in a number of unexpected films, such as Saturday Night Fever, where hints of his fifth symphony can be heard.
Beethoven is a man who loves a little bit;
When he writes, Beethoven will keep the most surviving sketchbooks - which helps us understand a lot about how he composed!
As he lay in his hospital bed, a friend brought Beethoven a few bottles of wine as a gift.
The last piece Beethoven was able to complete was the last movement of the Thirteenth String Quartet, Opus 130 in 1825. He died in 1827.
