Ludwig van Beethoven - a brilliant composer, born December 16, 1770 in Bonn, died March 26, 1827 in Vienna. His grandfather was a court bandmaster in Bonn (d. 1773), his father Johann was a tenor in the elector's chapel (d. 1792). Beethoven's initial education was led by his father, later he moved to many teachers, which in later years caused him to complain about the insufficient and unsatisfactory education he had in his youth. With his piano playing and free fantasizing, Beethoven aroused general astonishment early on. In 1781 he made a concert tour of Holland. By 1782-85. refers to the appearance in print of his first writings. In 1784 he was appointed, 13 years old, second court organist. In 1787 Beethoven traveled to Vienna, where he met Mozart and took several lessons from him.

Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven. Artist J. K. Stieler, 1820

Upon his return from there, his financial situation improved, thanks to the fate that Count Waldstein and the von Breuping family accepted in him. In the Bonn court chapel, Beethoven played the viola, improving at the same time in playing the piano. Beethoven's further composing attempts date back to this time, but the compositions of this period did not appear in print. In 1792, with the support of Elector Max Franz, brother of Emperor Joseph II, Beethoven went to Vienna to study with Haydn. Here he was a student of the latter for two years, as well as Albrechtsberger and Salieri. In the person of Baron van Swieten and Princess Lichnovskaya, Beethoven found ardent admirers of his brilliant talent.

Beethoven. Composer's life story

In 1795 he made his first public appearance as a complete artist: both as a virtuoso and as a composer. As a virtuoso, Beethoven had to stop his concert trips as a virtuoso, due to the weakening of his hearing that appeared in 1798 and was growing, which subsequently ended in complete deafness. This circumstance left its mark on Beethoven's character and influenced all his future activities, forcing him to gradually abandon public performance on the piano.

From now on, he devotes himself almost exclusively to composing and partly to pedagogical activity. In 1809, Beethoven received an invitation to take the post of Westphalian Kapellmeister in Kassel, but at the insistence of friends and students, in whom he, especially in the upper strata of Vienna, had no shortage, and who promised to provide him with an annual rent, he remained in Vienna. In 1814 he was once again the subject of public attention at the Congress of Vienna. From that time on, increasing deafness and a hypochondriacal mood, which did not leave him until his death, forced him to almost completely abandon society. This, however, did not dampen his inspiration: such major works as the last three symphonies and the Solemn Mass (Missa solennis) belong to the later period of his life.

Ludwig van Beethoven. The best works

After the death of his brother, Karl (1815), Beethoven assumed the duties of guardian over his young son, who caused him much grief and trouble. Severe suffering, which gave his works a special imprint and led to dropsy, put an end to his life: he died 57 years old. His remains, interred at the Vering cemetery, were then transferred to an honorary grave at the central cemetery in Vienna. A bronze monument to him adorns one of the squares in Bonn (1845), another monument was erected to him in 1880 in Vienna.

About the works of the composer - see the article Beethoven's Creativity - Briefly. Links to essays about other outstanding musicians - see below, in the block "More on the topic ..."

Back in 1770, a boy was born in a family of German musicians, who was destined to become a brilliant composer. Beethoven's biography is extremely interesting and fascinating, the life path contains many ups and downs, ups and downs. The name of the greatest creator of brilliant works is known even to those who are far from the world of art and are not fans of classical music. The biography of Ludwig van Beethoven will be briefly presented in this article.

Musician's family

Beethoven's biography has gaps. So it was not possible to establish the exact date of his birth. But it is known for certain that on December 17 the sacrament of baptism was performed on him. Presumably, the boy was born the day before this ceremony.

He was lucky to be born into a family that is most directly related to music. Ludwig's grandfather was Louis Beethoven, who was the leader of the choir. At the same time, he was distinguished by a proud disposition, an enviable capacity for work and perseverance. All these qualities were passed on to his grandson through his father.

Beethoven's biography has a sad side. His father Johann van Beethoven suffered from alcohol addiction, this left a certain imprint on the character of the boy, and on his entire future fate. The family lived in poverty, the head of the family earned money only for his own pleasure, completely disregarding the needs of his children and wife.

The gifted boy was the second child in the family, but fate decreed otherwise, making him the eldest. The first-born died, having lived only one week. The circumstances of death have not been established. Later, five more children were born to Beethoven's parents, three of whom did not live to adulthood.

Childhood

Beethoven's biography is full of tragedy. Childhood was overshadowed by poverty and despotism of one of the closest people - the father. The latter caught fire with a fantastic idea - to make a second Mozart out of his own child. Having become acquainted with the actions of Pope Amadeus - Leopold, Johann seated his son at the harpsichord and made him study music for long hours. Thus, he did not try to help the boy realize his creative potential, unfortunately, he was simply looking for an additional source of income.

At the age of four, Ludwig's childhood ended. With enthusiasm and enthusiasm unusual for himself, Johann began to drill the child. To begin with, he showed him the basics of playing the piano and violin, after which, “encouraging” the boy with slaps and cracks, he forced him to work. Neither the sobs of the child, nor the entreaties of the wife could shake the stubbornness of the father. The educational process crossed the boundaries of what was permitted, the young Beethoven did not even have the right to take a walk with friends, he immediately settled in the house to continue his musical studies.

Intensive work with the instrument took away another opportunity - to get a general scientific education. The boy had only superficial knowledge, he was weak in spelling and oral calculation. A great desire to learn and learn something new helped to fill the gap. Throughout his life, Ludwig was engaged in self-education, joining the work of such great writers as Shakespeare, Plato, Homer, Sophocles, Aristotle.

All these hardships failed to stop the development of the amazing inner world of Beethoven. He was different from other children, he was not attracted to fun games and adventures, an eccentric child preferred loneliness. Having devoted himself to music, he very early realized his own talent and, in spite of everything, moved forward.

The talent has evolved. Johann noticed that the student surpassed the teacher, and entrusted classes with his son to a more experienced teacher - Pfeifer. The teacher has changed, but the methods have remained the same. Late at night, the child was forced to get out of bed and play the piano until the early hours of the morning. To withstand such a rhythm of life, you must have truly outstanding abilities, and Ludwig had them.

Beethoven's mother: biography

A bright spot in the boy's life was his mother. Mary Magdalene Keverich had a meek and kind disposition, so she could not resist the head of the family and silently looked at the bullying of the child, unable to do anything. Beethoven's mother was unusually weak and sickly. Her biography is little known. She was the daughter of a court cook and married Johann in 1767. Her life path was short: the woman died of tuberculosis at the age of 39.

The beginning of a great journey

In 1780, the boy finally found his first true friend. The pianist and organist Christian Gottlieb Nefe became his teacher. Beethoven's biography pays a lot of attention to this person (you are now reading a summary of it). Nefe's intuition suggested that the boy was not just a good musician, but a brilliant personality capable of conquering any heights.

And the training began. The teacher creatively approached the learning process, helping the ward to develop impeccable taste. They spent hours listening to the best works of Handel, Mozart, Bach. Nefe severely criticized the boy, but the gifted child was distinguished by narcissism and self-confidence. Therefore, sometimes stumbling blocks arose, nevertheless, Beethoven later highly appreciated the teacher's contribution to the formation of his own personality.

In 1782, Nefe went on a long vacation, and he appointed eleven-year-old Ludwig as his deputy. The new position was not easy, but the responsible and intelligent boy coped well with this role. A very interesting fact is kept by Beethoven's biography. The summary tells that when Nefe returned, he discovered with what skill his protégé coped with hard work. And this contributed to the fact that the teacher left him nearby, giving him the position of his assistant.

Soon the organist had more responsibilities, and he shifted the part to the young Ludwig. Thus, the boy began to earn 150 guilders a year. Johann's dream came true, the son became a support for the family.

Significant event

A biography of Beethoven for children describes an important moment in the life of a boy, perhaps a turning point. In 1787, he met with the legendary figure - Mozart. Perhaps the extraordinary Amadeus was not in the mood, but the meeting upset the young Ludwig. He played the renowned composer on the piano, but received only dry and restrained praise in his address. Nevertheless, he said to his friends: "Pay attention to him, he will make the whole world talk about himself."

But the boy did not have time to be upset about this, because the news of a terrible event came: his mother was dying. This is the first real tragedy that Beethoven's biography speaks of. For children, the death of a mother is a terrible blow. The weakened woman found the strength to wait for her beloved son and died shortly after his arrival.

Great loss and heartbreak

The grief that befell the musician was immeasurable. The joyless life of his mother passed before his eyes, and then he witnessed her suffering and painful death. For the boy, she was the closest person, but fate turned out so that he did not have time for sadness and longing, he had to support his family. In order to abstract from all troubles, you need an iron will and nerves of steel. And he had it all.

Further, the biography of Ludwig van Beethoven briefly reports on his inner struggle and mental anguish. An irresistible force drew him forward, an active nature demanded changes, feelings, emotions, fame, but because of the need to provide for relatives, he had to part with dreams and ambitions and get involved in daily exhausting work for the sake of earning money. He became short-tempered, aggressive and irritable. After the death of Mary Magdalene, the father sank even more, the younger brothers did not have to count on him to become a support and support.

But it was the trials that befell the composer that made his works so penetrating, deep and allowing one to feel the unimaginable suffering that the author had to endure. The biography of Ludwig Van Beethoven is replete with similar events, but the main test of strength is yet to come.

Creation

The work of the German composer is considered the greatest value of world culture. He is one of those who participated in the formation of European classical music. The invaluable contribution is determined by symphonic works. The biography of Ludwig van Beethoven puts additional emphasis on the time he worked. It was restless, the Great French Revolution was going on, bloodthirsty and cruel. All this could not but affect the music. During the period of residence in Bonn (hometown), the composer's activity can hardly be called fruitful.

A short biography of Beethoven talks about his contribution to music. His works have become the precious property of all mankind. They are played everywhere and loved in any country. He wrote nine concertos and nine symphonies, as well as countless other symphonic works. The most important works can be distinguished:

• Sonata No. 14 "Lunar".
• Symphony No. 5.
• Sonata No. 23 "Appassionata".
• Piano piece "To Elise".

In total it was written:

• 9 symphonies,
• 11 overtures,
• 5 concerts,
• 6 youth sonatas for piano,
• 32 sonatas for piano,
• 10 sonatas for violin and piano,
• 9 concerts,
• opera "Fidelio"
• ballet "The Creation of Prometheus".

great deaf

A brief biography of Beethoven cannot but touch upon the catastrophe that happened to him. Fate was extraordinarily generous for difficult trials. At the age of 28, the composer had health problems, there were a huge number of them, but they all paled in comparison with the fact that he began to develop deafness. It is impossible to put into words what a blow it was for him. In his letters, Beethoven reported suffering and that he would humbly accept such a share if it were not for the profession, which implies the presence of perfect hearing. Ears buzzed day and night, life turned into torture, and each new day was given with great difficulty.

Development of events

The biography of Ludwig Beethoven reports that for several years he managed to hide his own flaw from society. It is not surprising that he sought to keep this a secret, because the very concept of a "deaf composer" is contrary to common sense. But as you know, sooner or later everything secret becomes clear. Ludwig turned into a hermit, others considered him a misanthrope, but this was far from the truth. The composer lost confidence in himself and became gloomier every day.

But it was a great personality, one fine day he decided not to give up, but to resist the evil fate. Perhaps the composer's rise in life is the merit of a woman.

Personal life

The inspiration was Countess Juliette Guicciardi. She was his charming student. The fine spiritual organization of the composer demanded the greatest and ardent love, but his personal life was not destined to take shape. The girl gave her preference to a count named Wenzel Gallenberg.

A short biography of Beethoven for children contains few facts about this event. It is only known that he sought her location in every possible way and wanted to marry her. There is an assumption that the parents of the countess opposed the marriage of their beloved daughter with a deaf musician, and she listened to their opinion. This version sounds plausible enough.

1. The most outstanding masterpiece - the 9th symphony - was created when the composer was already completely deaf.
2. Before composing another immortal masterpiece, Ludwig dipped his head in ice water. It is not known where this strange habit came from, but it may have provoked hearing loss.
3. With his appearance and behavior, Beethoven challenged society, but he, of course, did not set himself such a goal. Once he was giving a concert in a public place and heard that one of the spectators started a conversation with a lady. Then he stopped the game and left the hall with the words: "I will not play with such pigs."
4. One of his best students was the famous Franz Liszt. The Hungarian boy inherited his teacher's unique playing style.

"Music should strike fire from the human soul"

This statement belongs to a virtuoso composer, his music was just like that, touching the most delicate strings of the soul and making hearts burn with fire. A brief biography of Ludwig Beethoven also mentions his death. In 1827, on March 26, he died. At the age of 57, the rich life of the recognized genius ended. But the years have not been lived in vain, his contribution to art cannot be overestimated, he is colossal.

Ludwig van Beethoven is the greatest phenomenon in world musical culture, a composer who became a legend during his lifetime. He was so incredibly talented and purposeful that, even having lost his hearing, he continued to create his own, unparalleled, brilliant masterpieces. The outstanding maestro stood on the threshold of Romanticism in Western European music and was the direct founder of a new era that replaced the exhausted Classicism. As a child, learning music harpsichord with its characteristic lacy sound, Beethoven subsequently popularized the piano, creating 5 concertos, 38 sonatas, about 60 pieces and several dozen other works for this musical instrument.

Read a brief biography of Ludwig van Beethoven and many interesting facts about the composer on our page.

Short biography of Beethoven

In the Austrian (and now German) city of Bonn, on December 16, 1770, in the family of the tenor of the court chapel Johann van Beethoven, the third in the family Ludwig was born, after his grandfather (bass, and then court bandmaster) and older brother. The very fact of being born in a family of hereditary singers predetermined the fate of the boy.

Ludwig's first music teacher was his father, who dreamed of making a second Mozart out of his son. A four-year-old kid practiced the harpsichord for 6 hours a day, and if his father ordered, then also at night. So unique abilities, like the one who made a splash with his virtuoso playing Wolfgang Mozart, Ludwig did not show up, but he definitely had an outstanding talent for music.

The Beethoven family was not rich, and after the death of his grandfather, they became completely impoverished. At the age of 14, young Ludwig was forced to leave school and help his father in supporting the family, working as an assistant organist in the court chapel.

Before that, the boy studied at a school where German and arithmetic were in the background after Latin and music. Already in his youth, Beethoven freely read and translated Plutarch and Homer, but multiplication and spelling remained a mystery to him with seven seals.

When Ludwig's mother died in 1787, and his father drank more than before, the responsible and disciplined young man took over the maintenance of his younger brothers. He got a job as a violist in the court orchestra, thanks to which he became acquainted with the diversity of the world of opera.

At the age of 21 - in 1791 - Ludwig van Beethoven moved to Vienna in search of a good teacher, where he spent his whole life. For some time the young man worked with Haydn. But Josef was afraid that he would get into trouble because of a free-thinking and harsh student. And Ludwig, in turn, felt that Haydn was not the person who could teach him anything. Ultimately, Salieri took up Beethoven's training.

The early Viennese period of the young composer's work is biographically closely connected with the names of the Austrian court prince Likhnovsky, the Russian nobleman Razumovsky, the Czech nobleman Lobkowitz: they patronized Beethoven, supported financially, their names appeared on the title pages of the composer's manuscripts. At the same time, Beethoven greatly valued his self-esteem and never allowed his noble patrons to attempt to point out his low origin.

In the 1790s, Beethoven composed mainly chamber and piano music, and in the 1800s he began to write his first symphonies, created the only oratorio (“Christ on the Mount of Olives”).

When by 1811 the maestro had completely lost his hearing, he rarely left the house. Public piano playing was the main source of income for the virtuoso, and he also constantly gave music lessons to representatives of the aristocracy. With hearing loss, Beethoven fell on hard times. After a failed attempt in 1811 to play his own Piano Concerto No. 5 (The Emperor), he made no further public appearances until, together with the conductor Michael Umlauf, he led the orchestra during the premiere. Symphonies No. 9 in 1824.

But deafness did not prevent the composition of music. Beethoven used a special stick attached at one end to the front of the piano. Clamping the other end of the stick with his teeth, he "felt" the sound made by the instrument due to the vibration transmitted through the stick.

It was in the last decade of the composer's life that the most magnificent works were written, which to this day listeners do not get tired of admiring: String Quartet, op. 131; "Solemn Mass"; "Great Fugue", op. 133 and, of course, the Ninth Symphony.

Interesting facts about Beethoven

• Beethoven was the eldest of 7 children in his family, 4 of whom died in childhood.
• We know from Beethoven's biography that the young maestro made his first public appearance at the age of 7 on March 26, 1778. It is noteworthy that March 26 is also the date of his death.
• When his father was taking little Ludwig for his first performance in Cologne, he pointed out that the boy was only 6 years old (he really wanted to emphasize the uniqueness of his son). The young musician believed what his father said and since then considered himself a year and a half younger than he really was. When his parents handed Beethoven his baptismal certificate, he refused to believe the date indicated there, believing that the document belonged to his older brother, also Ludwig, who died in infancy.
• Beethoven had the good fortune to study music under renowned composers such as Gottlob Nefe, Joseph Haydn, Albrechtsberger and Salieri. He also almost became a student of Mozart, who was delighted with the improvisation presented to his attention, but the death of his mother forced Ludwig to leave classes and urgently leave Vienna.
• When Beethoven was 12, he first published his works. It was a collection of variations for keyboards that ultimately made him famous as one of the most popular pianists in history.

• Beethoven was one of the first musicians to receive an allowance of 4,000 florins, simply because the nobles did not want him to leave Vienna for France, where he had been invited by the brother of Emperor Napoleon.
• Beethoven wrote 3 love letters to the "Immortal Beloved", whose name remains a mystery to this day. Since he fell in love with many women, biographers find it difficult to single out the only one that the composer could call so unusually.
• In all his life, Beethoven wrote only one opera - " Fidelio”, which is still considered an outstanding example of classical music.

• About 20 thousand people participated in the funeral procession on the third day after the death of their beloved composer - March 29, 1827. Franz Schubert, a great admirer of the composer's work, was among those who carried the coffin. Ironically, he himself died a year later and was buried next to Beethoven.
• Of the later quartets, the Fourteenth, in C minor, op. 131 Beethoven was especially fond of, calling it his most perfect work. When Schubert, lying on his deathbed, was asked about his last wish, he asked him to play a quartet in C minor. It was November 14, 1828, five days before his death.
• In August 1845, a monument to Beethoven was unveiled in Bonn. It was the first monument to the famous composer in Germany, after which about a hundred more were opened around the world.
• They say the Beatles song "Because" ("Because") is based on the melody "Moonlight Sonata" played in reverse order.
• "Ode to Joy" (an excerpt from the famous Ninth Symphony) is the official anthem of the European Union.
• The third largest crater on Mercury is named after the composer.
• One of the elements of the main ring of asteroids, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, is called "1815 Beethoven".

Love in the life of Beethoven

Unfortunately, Beethoven fell in love with women who belonged to a different class than he did. At that time, class affiliation was a serious argument for resolving questions about marriage. He met the young Countess Giulia Guicciardi in 1801 through the Brunswick family, where he gave piano lessons to Josephine Brunswick. However, for the reasons mentioned above, marriage was out of the question.

After the death of her husband Josephine Brunswick in 1804, Ludwig tried his luck with a young widow. He wrote 15 passionate letters to his beloved, she reciprocated, but soon, at the request of her family, she broke off all contact with Beethoven. In the case of marriage with a non-aristocrat, the countess would be deprived of the opportunity to communicate with children and engage in their upbringing.

After Josephine remarried a certain Baron von Stekelberg in 1810, Beethoven unsuccessfully proposed to his close friend Baroness Teresa Malfatti (Josephine Brunswick's sister). Unsuccessfully, because this chosen one was from a higher class than her admirer. Obviously, it is Teresa who is dedicated to bagatelle (a small piece of music).

Beethoven's biography says that, being deaf, the composer compensated for his deficiency with the help of the so-called conversational notebooks. There, during the conversation, friends wrote down their lines for him. The composer has been using conversational notebooks for approximately the last ten years, and before that he was rescued by an auditory tube, which is now kept in the Beethoven Museum in Bonn.

Conversation notebooks have become a precious document from which we learn the content of the composer's discussions, we can get information about his worldview, about the vision of the composer himself, how one or another of his works should be performed. Of the 400 conversational notebooks, 264 were destroyed, and the rest were subject to cuts and editing after the death of the composer by his personal secretary Anton Schindler. Being also the first biographer of the composer, Schindler, firstly, saved his and his reputation, since those sharply negative evaluative expressions against the monarch that Beethoven allowed himself could cause persecution and prohibitions from the authorities. And secondly, more than a secretary wanted to idealize the image of the maestro in the eyes of posterity.

Strokes for a creative portrait

• The city authorities of Bonn in 1790 chose the cantatas of the court violist Beethoven to be performed at the funeral of Franz Joseph II and during the subsequent enthronement of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. After these two imperial cantatas were never performed again and were considered lost until the 1880s. But these works were, in the words of Brahms, "through and through Beethoven" and clearly revealed the tragic style that marked all of Beethoven's works and which distinguished them from the classical traditions in music.
• Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, op. 13, commonly known as , was written in 1798. Beethoven dedicated it to his friend Prince Karl von Lichnowski. Contrary to the prevailing opinion that the composer himself called the sonata "Pathetic", it was the publisher who, impressed by the tragic sound of the sonata, wrote on the title page "The Great Pathetic Sonata".
• The influence of Mozart and Haydn on the work of Beethoven is undeniable. Thus, his Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments reveals a striking similarity with Mozart's work at the level of form. But Beethoven's melodies, the development of the theme, the use of modulation and texture, the expression of emotions in music - all this takes the composer's work beyond any influences and borrowings.
• Beethoven is rightfully considered the first composer of the Romantic era, his Symphony No. 3 was a radical departure from everything written before.
• The finale of Symphony No. 9 - "Ode to Joy" - is the first attempt in the history of Western European music to introduce the choir into a canonical symphony.

• The Ninth Symphony contains a scherzo in the second movement and an adagio in the third. For a classical symphony, where the tempo had to increase, this was unthinkable.
• Beethoven was apparently the first composer to use brass instruments as a full part of an orchestra. Beethoven was also the first to introduce the piccolo flute and trombone into the symphony. In turn, he included the harp in only one of his works - the ballet "Creations of Prometheus".
• Beethoven was the first who in music tried to reproduce the sounds of a quail, a cuckoo and a nightingale - all within the framework of one symphony - No. 6, "Pastoral". By the way, the abridged version of the Sixth Symphony sounds in the cartoon Disney's "Fantasy" . Imitations of animal sounds were present both in Mozart's brief "Toy Symphony" and in The Four Seasons by Vivaldi , but they have never been in a 40-minute symphony.

Since the composer's music is distinguished by a generally gloomy style, films that use his works as soundtracks contain mostly infernal motifs.

Music excerpts	Movie titles
String Quartet No. 13	The Expendables 3 (2014)
pathetic sonata	Wall Street: Money Don't Sleep (2010) William Turner (2014) Best man for rent (2015)
"Ode to Joy"	Get Smart (2008) John Wick (2014) Grandfather of easy virtue (2016)
"To Elise"	Odnoklassniki 2 (2013) Until I Disappear (2014) Walk (2015) Sisters (2015)
Symphony No. 3	Hitchcock (2012) Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015)
Symphony No. 7	Revelations (2011) Horror (2015) X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) Dancer (2016)
"Moonlight Sonata"	From London to Brighton (2006) Defender (2012) Office (2014) Love Without Commitment (2015) The Last Witch Hunter (2015)
Piano Sonata in G Minor	Notebook (2004)
String Quartet No. 14	Duty Dad (2003) Farewell Quartet (2012) After the Storm (2016)
Symphony No. 9	Equilibrium (2002) Surrogates (2009) Leningrad (2009) Ice Age 4: Continental Drift (2012)
"Fidelio"	Onegin (1999)
Egmont Overture	Late Flower (2016) Lincoln (2012)

So many documentaries and feature films have been shot based on Beethoven's biography that we decided to mention only the most famous of them.

• The Life of Beethoven (German: Das Leben des Beethoven) (1927), silent film, Spanish. Fritz Kortner, Austria.
• Beethoven's Great Love (French: Un grand amour de Beethoven) (1937), Spanish. Harry Bor, France.
• Heroica (German: Eroica) (1949), Spanish. Ewald Balser, Austria. The film was presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 1949.
• Ludwig van Beethoven (German: Ludwig van Beethoven) (1954), East Germany. Documentary film by Max Jaap tells about the life of Beethoven. Original documents, letters and photographs are complemented by the sound of the composer's most striking works.
• Napoleon (Napoleon) (1955), Spanish. Eric von Stroheim.
• In 1962, Walt Disney released a speculative television version of the film about Beethoven, The Magnificent Rebel, Spanish. Karlheinz Böhm.
• Ludwig van (German: Ludwig van) (1969), film by Mauricio Kagel, Spanish. Carl Walter Diss.
• Beethoven - Days in a Life (English: Beethoven - Days in a Life) (1976), Spanish. Donatas Banionis and Stefan Lizewski.
• Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) David Clifford.
• Beethoven Lives Upstairs (English: Beethoven Lives Upstairs) (1992), Spanish. Neil Munro, Czech Republic.
• Immortal Beloved (1994), Spanish. Gary Oldman.
• Rewriting Beethoven (2006), Spanish. Ed Harris.
• Maestro (2011), Spanish. Robert Guy Bathurst.
• Ludwig (2016), Spanish. Padrig Vion.

Beethoven's work covers many musical genres and uses a variety of combinations of musical instruments. For the symphony orchestra, he wrote 9 symphonies and more than a dozen other works. Beethoven composed 7 instrumental concertos. He wrote one opera (" Fidelio”) and one ballet (“Creations of Prometheus”). Beethoven's piano music is rich and varied in terms of form: these are sonatas, miniatures and other compositions.

Peru of Beethoven also owns a significant number of works of ensemble music. In addition to 16 string quartets, he wrote 5 string quintets, 7 piano trios, 5 string trios and over a dozen works for various combinations of wind instruments.

Beethoven, according to Anton Schindler, used his own tempo-rhythm and, being considered by most musicologists as the last Viennese classic, managed to break many canons of the classical style in music.

Video: watch a film about Beethoven

In a family with Flemish roots. The composer's paternal grandfather was born in Flanders, served as a chorister in Ghent and Louvain, and in 1733 moved to Bonn, where he became a court musician in the chapel of the Elector-Archbishop of Cologne. His only son Johann, like his father, served in the chapel as a vocalist (tenor) and worked part-time giving violin and clavier lessons.

In 1767 he married Mary Magdalene Keverich, daughter of a court chef in Koblenz (residence of the Archbishop of Trier). Ludwig, the future composer, was the eldest of their three sons.

His musical talent showed up early. Beethoven's first music teacher was his father, and the musicians of the chapel also studied with him.

On March 26, 1778, the father organized the first public performance of his son.

Since 1781, the composer and organist Christian Gottlob Nefe led the young talent. Beethoven soon became concertmaster of the court theater and assistant organist of the chapel.

In 1782, Beethoven wrote his first work, Variations for Clavier on a March by composer Ernst Dresler.

In 1787 Beethoven visited Vienna and took several lessons from the composer Wolfgang Mozart. But he soon learned that his mother was seriously ill and returned to Bonn. After the death of his mother, Ludwig remained the sole breadwinner of the family.

The young man's giftedness attracted the attention of some enlightened Bonn families, and his brilliant piano improvisations provided him with free entry to any musical gatherings. The von Breining family, which took custody of the musician, did a lot for him.

In 1789, Beethoven was a volunteer in the philosophy department of the University of Bonn.

In 1792, the composer moved to Vienna, where he lived almost without a break until the end of his life. His initial goal when moving was to improve his composition under the guidance of the composer Joseph Haydn, but these studies did not last long. Beethoven quickly gained fame and recognition - first as the best pianist and improviser in Vienna, and later as a composer.

In the prime of his creative powers, Beethoven showed tremendous capacity for work. In 1801-1812, he wrote such outstanding works as the Sonata in C sharp minor ("Moonlight", 1801), the Second Symphony (1802), the Kreutzer Sonata (1803), the "Heroic" (Third) Symphony, the sonatas "Aurora" and "Appassionata" (1804), the opera "Fidelio" (1805), the Fourth Symphony (1806).

In 1808, Beethoven completed one of the most popular symphonic works - the Fifth Symphony and at the same time the "Pastoral" (Sixth) Symphony, in 1810 - the music for Johann Goethe's tragedy "Egmont", in 1812 - the Seventh and Eighth Symphonies.

From the age of 27, Beethoven suffered from progressive deafness. A serious illness for the musician limited his communication with people, made it difficult for pianistic performances, which Beethoven eventually had to stop. Since 1819, he had to completely switch to communicating with his interlocutors using a slate board or paper and pencil.

In his later compositions, Beethoven often turned to the fugue form. The last five piano sonatas (Nos. 28-32) and the last five quartets (Nos. 12-16) are notable for their particularly complex and refined musical language, which requires the greatest skill from the performers.

Beethoven's late work was controversial for a long time. Of his contemporaries, only a few were able to understand and appreciate his last writings. One of these people was his Russian admirer, Prince Nikolai Golitsyn, who commissioned and dedicated quartets Nos. 12, 13 and 15. The Overture Consecration of the House (1822) is also dedicated to him.

In 1823, Beethoven completed the Solemn Mass, which he considered his greatest work. This mass, designed more for a concert than for a cult performance, has become one of the milestone phenomena in the German oratorio tradition.

With the assistance of Golitsyn, the Solemn Mass was first performed on April 7, 1824 in St. Petersburg.

In May 1824, Beethoven's last benefit concert took place in Vienna, in which, in addition to parts from the Mass, his final, Ninth Symphony was performed with the final chorus to the words of "Ode to Joy" by the poet Friedrich Schiller. The idea of ​​overcoming suffering and the triumph of light is consistently carried through the whole work.

The composer created nine symphonies, 11 overtures, five piano concertos, a violin concerto, two masses, one opera. Beethoven's chamber music includes 32 piano sonatas (not counting six youthful sonatas written in Bonn) and 10 sonatas for violin and piano, 16 string quartets, seven piano trios, as well as many other ensembles - string trios, septet for mixed composition. His vocal heritage consists of songs, over 70 choirs, canons.

On March 26, 1827, Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna from pneumonia, complicated by jaundice and dropsy.

The composer is buried in the Vienna Central Cemetery.

The traditions of Beethoven were taken up and continued by the composers Hector Berlioz, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Anton Bruckner, Gustav Mahler, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich. As their teacher, Beethoven was also honored by the composers of the Novovensk school - Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Anton Webern.

Since 1889, a museum has been open in Bonn in the house where the composer was born.

In Vienna, three museum houses are dedicated to Ludwig van Beethoven, and two monuments have been erected.

The Beethoven Museum is also open at Brunsvik Castle in Hungary. At one time, the composer was friendly with the Brunsvik family, often came to Hungary and stayed at their house. He was alternately in love with two of his students from the Brunswick family - Juliet and Teresa, but none of the hobbies ended in marriage.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770 in Boney, Germany, in a family of hereditary musicians. Father, Johann Beethoven was an active man, sometimes quick-tempered. Worked as a singer. In every possible way contributed to the education of his son. Mother, Maria Magdalene Keverich (nee), daughter of the chef Elector Johann Philipp von Walderdorf.

Beethoven early mastered the violin, harpsichord, organ. The first teacher, in addition to his father's home lessons, was K. Nefe, the head of the court chapel. Christian Nefe taught Beethoven the classics: Handel, Haydn, Bach, Mozart.

From the age of 12, Beethoven wrote his compositions. The first is a variation of Dressler's march. At the same age, he began his musical career - he received the position of court organist. A talented young man was noticed in Vienna. Popular at that time, Mozart predicted a great future for the composer. Beethoven also took lessons from the famous musician.

In 1785 Beethoven was at the disposal of Max Franz II, and later moved to Vienna and gained popularity with Archduke Rudolf, Count Kinsky and Prince Lobkowitz. Each of these rulers tried to invite Beethoven to play music at balls as often as possible.

In 1814 - a period of general popularity of the composer. The main musical activity now took place only in Vienna, although smaller cities from time to time were honored to receive a new star of the German musical Olympus.

During this period, the previously identified Beethoven's disease - deafness took away the opportunity to earn a living, create and enjoy life. Beethoven did not give up concert activity to the last, but continued to write music even after the victory of the disease - he dictated notes to his father-in-law.

Beethoven's works of the 18th-19th centuries:

• Sonata No. 8 for piano "Pathetic"
• Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight" for piano;
• Oratorio "Christ on the Mount of Olives";
• "Kreutzer Sonata" for violin and piano;
• “Third symphony – dedicated to Napoleon I – “Heroic”;
• Ode "to joy";
• "Ninth Symphony";
• Opera "Fidelio";

About the composer's work: first period- the formation of a composer - is characterized by works for the organ and the general public. The works are sublime, heroic in nature, often dedicated to a patron or a well-known public figure.

Late period of creativity Beethoven - a harmonious series of piano sonatas. There are 32 of them in the composer's arsenal. The music becomes heavier, probably overshadowed by the composer's illness, which affected the author's worldview. The dying work - the "Ninth Symphony" of 1823 - differs from earlier works. It became a strange and painful point in a life as short as the biographies of a German composer.

Beethoven on music:

• Music is a people's need.
• Music is a mediator between spiritual life and real sensuality.
• There is nothing higher, more beautiful than bringing happiness to many people.
• The heart is the real lever of everything great. What comes from the heart must lead to the heart.

(5 rated, rating: 4,00 out of 5)