Ludwig Van Beethoven was a German musical prodigy. He got baptized on December 17, 1770, in Bonn, Germany. During that time, newborn babies got baptized within 24 hours of their birth.
He started his career in music composition and became popular very soon. At the age of 12, he composed his first symphony. He is widely considered one of the greatest musicians of all time.
The German composer was a predominant musical figure during the transitional period of the Classical and Romantic eras. In today’s blog, we will look into his biography within a short time. So, let’s get started.
ABOUT LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN’S BIOGRAPHY:
- Name: Ludwig Van Beethoven
- Age: 56 years. (December 17, 1770 – March 26, 1827)
- Citizenship: German
- Horoscope: Scorpion
- Spouse: N/A.
- Children: N/A
- Popular Work: Missa Solemnis, Op.123, Symphony 9, Für Elise.
Ludwig Van Beethoven Name & Family
Where is Ludwig Van Beethoven from?
Ludwig Van Beethoven’s family originated from Brabant, Belgium. His father’s name was Johann van Beethoven. He was a German musician, teacher, and singer. Also, he worked at the choir of the archbishop-elector of Cologne. And his mother’s name was Maria Magdalena Van Beethoven. However, Beethoven’s parents had seven children. Unfortunately, only three of them survived their childhood including Beethoven,.
Beethoven’s grandfather’s name was also Ludwig Van Beethoven. He also performed as a prominent musician and singer. He became a singer and musician in the choir of the archbishop-elector of Cologne. Moreover, he eventually rose to become Kapellmeister.
Although Ludwig’s childhood did not go very comforting. His father started teaching him from an early age. Beethoven had a great interest in music since his childhood. His father had the intention of creating another Mozart, a child prodigy.
But his father was highly addicted to alcohol. He used to beat him up and torture him to make him practice. However, her mother was a kind-hearted woman. Beethoven mentioned her mother as a friend.
On March 26 of 1778, Ludwig did his first performance publicly at Cologne. His father announced his name as six years old. He played his first recital impressively.
Ludwig Van Beethoven Educational Information
Where did Ludwig Van Beethoven study?
Ludwig Van Beethoven started his education in music from an early age from his father. Where he attended a Latin grade school named Tirocinium. According to one of his classmates, he wasn’t so bright as a student. Because they did not see the spark in him as it showed later in his career.
Beethoven had struggled with sums and spelling his entire life. However, he was an average student. Some of the researchers think that Beethoven might have suffered from mild dyslexia. Also, he mentioned that Music comes more readily than words.
In 1781, Beethoven withdrew from school at the age of 10. He started taking lessons from Christian Gottlob Neefe. Neefe was a newly appointed Court Organist. From him, he learned composition. He also took lessons from Gilles van den Eeden, Tobias Friedrich Pfeiffer and others.
In 1783, Beethoven published his first composition at the age of 12. It was a set of piano variations. Soon, Beethoven started working with Neefe as an assistant organist. Later, he started as a paid employee in 1784.
Ludwig Van Beethoven Career Path
What did Ludwig Van Beethoven do?
Early Career
In 1784, Beethovens’s father became unable to support his family due to his deteriorating health. He initially requested an official appointment as assistant court organist. He got the job with a modest annual salary of 150 florins.
In 1787, Beethoven went to Vienna, where he hoped to study with Mozart. Upon hearing Beethoven, Mozart said to keep an eye on Beethoven. Mozart thought he would become remarkable someday.
After staying a few days there, Beethoven came to know that her mother had fallen sick. So, he returned home to Bonn. Then, he again started his career as a promising court musician.
The Holy Roman Emperor died in 1790, After his death, Beethoven received immense appreciation for composing a musical memorial in his honor. But, no one ever performed the composition.
About centuries later, another prodigy of music Johannes Brahms discovered something. It was a “beautiful and noble” piece of music entitled as Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II. It is now considered one of his earliest masterpieces.
Ludwig Van Beethoven In Vienna
Beethoven left Bonn in November 1792 for Vienna. It was the time when French Revolutionary Wars broke out across Europe. Soon, he got the news of his father passing away.
In 1791, Mozart had passed away, leaving another living prodigy of music Joseph Haydn. Haydn was living in Vienna. Beethoven intended to study under Haydn and went to learn piano.
Then, he dedicated himself to studying music wholeheartedly with the most prominent musicians of that time. He studied piano with Haydn, vocal composition with Antonio Salieri, and Johann Albrechtsberger.
Beethoven made his long-awaited public debut on March 29, 1795. After that, in 1800, Beethoven debuted his Symphony no. 1 in C Major. The following year, he had been considered as one of the most important musicians during his time after releasing his second symphony.
In 1801, Beethoven also composed another wildly popular ballet named The Creatures of Prometheus. It received 27 performances at the Imperial Court Theater.
Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Last Days
In late 1798, Beethoven started to realize that has lost his hearing. Although, the first symptoms occurred in 1800. Yet, his life remained unchanged. He still played in various places. In 1802, he realized his symptoms were permanent and progressive. By 1819, his deafness became permanent.
Although, he never stopped regarding his deafness. He composed his third symphony in 1804. Following the years, his masterworks followed as the Waldstein Piano Sonata, Opus 53; Piano Sonata in F Minor, Opus 57, known as the Appassionata; the Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Opus 58; the three Razumovsky Quartets, Opus 59; the Fourth Symphony, Opus 60; the Violin Concerto, Opus 61.
Ludwig Van Beethoven Relationship
Who is Ludwig Van Beethoven’s husband/wife?
In 1799, Beethoven taught piano to the daughters of Hungarian Countess Anna Brunsvik. During this time, he fell in love with the younger daughter Josephine. Later in 1812, he wrote a letter addressed as “to you, my immortal beloved,” But, the letter was never sent.
Despite all this, he never got married and remained a bachelor throughout his entire life.
Last Days of Beethoven Life
In Late 1826, Beethoven suffered from illness. He was suffering from noticeable symptoms including fever, jaundice, and dropsy, with swollen limbs, coughing, and breathing difficulties. And this greatest composer died on March 26, 1827, at the age of 56.
Ludwig Van Beethoven Awards
How many awards does Ludwig Van Beethoven have?
Beethoven received an award in 1792 for the best orchestral work of a young composer. The prize money was 25000 DM. The prize was given every three years.
So, that was it for today’s blog. We hope you liked these facts about Ludwig Van Beethoven. Stay tuned in Blog Sur for biographies of famous people, including Lionel Messi, Jennifer Lawrence, Helen Keller, and many more.
