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Beethoven, Ludwig Van Beethoven ( 1770-1827 )

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Beethoven Biography

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827). He is known for some of the most influential pieces of music ever written, Ludwig van Beethoven created a bridge between the 18th-century classical period and the new beginnings of Romanticism. His greatest breakthroughs in composition came in his instrumental work, including his symphonies. Beethoven had a very hard childhood. He was 1 of 7 children, many of which never lived to adulthood. His family was very poor. His father was an alcoholic with a very bad temper and was very hard on him, however this did not affect his love for music. He became the breadwinner of the family at 18 years of age due to his father’s death in 1792, which caused their family to grow deeper into poverty.

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, however there is no actual record of his date of birth. Beethoven got his musical training from his father and grandfather who were also musicians. Although he had only meager academic schooling, he studied piano, violin, and French horn, and before he was 12 years old he became a court organist. Christian Gottlob Neefe was one of his earliest teachers. In 1787 he briefly studied with Mozart and years later left to go to Vienna to study with Joseph Haydn.

Beethoven's first public appearance in Vienna was on March 29, 1795, as a soloist in one of his piano concerti. He had developed a great reputation for his music before he left Bonn, Germany and once he reached Vienna his music grew wide

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