Beethoven short biography famous composer outlined in this article.

Ludwig van Beethoven short biography

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in musical family in 1770 in Bonn. As a child, the future composer was introduced to playing the musical instruments- organ, harpsichord, violin, flute.

Composer Christian Gottlob Nefe was Beethoven's first teacher. At the age of 12, Beethoven became an assistant organist at court. In addition to studying music, Ludwig was engaged in the study of languages, reading such authors as Homer, Plutarch, Shakespeare, while simultaneously trying to compose music.

Beethoven loses his mother early and takes on all the expenses of the family.

After moving to Vienna, Beethoven took music lessons from such composers as Haydn, Albrechtsberger, Salieri. Haydn notes the gloomy manner of performance of the future genius of music, but despite this virtuoso.

Famous works of the composer appeared in Vienna: Moonlight Sonata, and the Pathetic Sonata. Beethoven's work of the following years is filled with new works: the First, Second Symphonies, "The Creation of Prometheus", "Christ on the Mount of Olives".

Beethoven loses his hearing due to a middle ear disease and settles in the city of Heiligenstadt. The peak of the composer's popularity is coming. A painful illness only helps Beethoven to work with even greater enthusiasm on his compositions.

Ludwig van Beethoven - 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 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 others outstanding musicians- see below, in the block "More on the topic ..."

Ludwig van Beethoven comes from a musical family. As a child, the future composer was introduced to playing musical instruments such as organ, harpsichord, violin, flute.

Composer Christian Gottlob Nefe is Beethoven's first teacher. AT 12- summer age Beethoven becomes assistant organist at court. In addition to studying music, Ludwig was engaged in the study of languages, reading such authors as Homer, Plutarch, Shakespeare, while simultaneously trying to compose music.

Beethoven loses his mother early and takes on all the expenses of the family.

After moving to Vienna, Beethoven took music lessons from such composers as Haydn, Albrechtsberger, Salieri. Haydn notes the gloomy manner of performance of the future genius of music, but despite this virtuoso.

Famous works of the composer appeared in Vienna: the Moonlight Sonata, and the Pathetic Sonata,

Beethoven loses his hearing due to a middle ear disease and settles in the city of Heiligenstadt. The peak of the composer's popularity is coming. A painful illness only helps Beethoven to work with even greater enthusiasm on his compositions.

Ludwig van Beethoven dies of liver disease in 1827. More than 20 thousand fans of the composer's work came to the composer's funeral.

Ludwig van Beethoven. Detailed biography

Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 17, 1770 in Bonn. The boy was destined to be born into a musical family. His father was a tenor, and his grandfather was a choir director. Johann Beethoven had high hopes for his son and wanted to develop outstanding musical abilities in him. The methods of education were very cruel, and Ludwig had to study all night long. Despite the fact that in short time Johann failed to make the son of the second Mozart, the gifted boy was noticed by the composer Christian Nefe, who made a great contribution to both his musical and personal development. Due to the difficult financial situation, Beethoven began to work very early. At the age of 13, he was accepted as an assistant organist, and later became an accompanist in National theater Bonn.

The turning point in Ludwig's biography was his trip to Vienna in 1787, where he managed to meet Mozart. "One day the whole world will talk about him!" - such was the summary of the great composer after listening to Beethoven's improvisations. The young man dreamed of continuing his studies with his idol, but due to a serious illness of his mother, he was forced to return to Bonn. Since then, he had to take custody of his younger brothers, and the issue of lack of money has become even more acute. During this period, Ludwig finds support in the Breuning family of aristocrats. The circle of his acquaintances is expanding, the young man finds himself in a university environment. He actively works on large-scale musical works such as sonatas and cantatas, and also writes songs for amateur performance, among which are "Marmot", " Free man"," Sacrificial song.

In 1792 Beethoven moved to live in Vienna. There he takes lessons from Y. Gaydan, and later goes to A. Salieri. Then he becomes known as a virtuoso pianist. Among the fans of Ludwig there are many influential people However, the composer was remembered by his contemporaries as a proud and independent person. He said: "What I am, I owe to myself." In the "Viennese" period of 1792 - 1802. Beethoven wrote 3 concertos and several dozen sonatas for piano, works for violin and cello, the oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives and the overture to the ballet Creations of Prometheus. At the same time, Sonata No. 8 or "Pathetic" was created, as well as Sonata No. 14, better known as "Moonlight". The first part of the work, which Beethoven dedicated to his beloved, who took music lessons from him, received the name "Moonlight Sonata" from the critic L. Relshtab after the death of the composer.

Beethoven meets the beginning of the 19th century with symphonies. In 1800 he completed the First Symphony, and in 1802 the Second was written. Then comes the hardest period in the life of the composer. The signs of developing deafness intensify and lead Ludwig into a state of deep mental crisis. In 1802, Beethoven writes the Heiligenstadt Testament, in which he addresses people and shares his experiences. Despite everything, the composer once again managed to find a way out of a difficult situation, learned to create with his serious illness, although he emphasized that he was very close to suicide.

Period 1802-1812 - the heyday of Beethoven's career. Victory over yourself and events French Revolution are reflected in the Third Symphony, called "Heroic", Symphony No. 5, and the "Appassionata". The Fourth and "Pastoral" symphonies are filled with light and harmony. For the Congress of Vienna, the composer wrote the cantatas "The Battle of Vittoria" and "Happy Moment", which brought him a resounding success.

Beethoven was an innovator and a seeker. In 1814, his first and only opera, Fidelio, saw the light of day for the first time, and a year later he created the first vocal cycle called To a Distant Beloved. And fate, meanwhile, continues to challenge him. After the death of his brother, Ludwig takes his nephew to his upbringing. The young man turned out to be a gambler and even attempted suicide. Worries about his nephew seriously undermined Ludwig's health.

Meanwhile, the deafness of the composer increased. For everyday communication, Ludwig started "conversational notebooks", and to create music, he had to capture the vibration of the instrument with a wooden stick: Beethoven held one tip in his teeth, and applied the other to the instrument. Fate tested the genius and took from him the most precious thing - the opportunity to create. But Beethoven again conquers circumstances and discovers new stage in his work, which became an epilogue. In the period from 1817 to 1826, the composer wrote fugues, 5 sonatas and the same number of quartets. In 1823, Beethoven completed work on the Solemn Mass, which he treated with particular trepidation. Symphony No. 9, performed in 1824, caused real delight among the listeners. The hall greeted the composer standing up, but he maestro could only see a standing ovation when one of the singers turned him to the stage.

In 1826, Ludwig van Beethoven fell ill with pneumonia. The condition was complicated by pain in the stomach and other concomitant diseases, with which he was never able to cope. Beethoven died in Vienna on March 26, 1827. It is believed that the death of the composer was the result of poisoning with a drug containing lead. More than 20 thousand people came to say goodbye to the genius.

Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his most famous works during the most difficult periods of his life. Scientists have established that the rhythm of a composer's work is the frequency of his heartbeats. The great genius gave his heart and life to music so that it could penetrate our hearts.

Option 3

There is probably not a single person in the world who has not heard the name of the greatest composer of all time, the last of the representatives of the "Viennese classical school by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Beethoven is one of the most talented figures in the history of music. He wrote music in all genres, including operas and choral compositions. Beethoven's symphonies are still popular today: many musicians record cover versions in various styles. You need to get acquainted with the biography of the composer.

Childhood.

It is not known exactly when Ludwig was born. Rather, it happened on December 16, 1770, since it is known for sure that his christening fell on December 17 of the same year. Ludwig's father wanted to make his son a talented musician. The first serious teacher of little Beethovin was Christian Gottlob Nef, who immediately saw the boy's musical talent and began to acquaint him with the works of Mozart, Bach and Handel. At the age of 12, Beethoven wrote his first work, Variations on Dressler's March.

As a seventeen-year-old youth, Ludwig first visited Vienna, where Mozart listened to improvisation and appreciated it. At the same age, Beethoven loses his mother, she dies. Ludwig had to take on the leadership of the family and responsibility for his younger brothers.

Career flourish.

In 1789, Beethoven decides to go to Vienna and study with Haydn. Soon, thanks to the works of Ludwig, the composer receives his first fame. He writes the Moonlight and Pathetic Sonatas, and then the First and Second Symphonies and the Creation of Prometheus. Unfortunately, the great composer is overcome by an ear disease. But even with complete deafness, Beethoven continued to compose.

Last years.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Beethoven wrote with particular enthusiasm. In 1802-1812, the Ninth Symphony and the Solemn Mass were created. In those years, Beethoven enjoyed popularity and universal recognition, but due to the guardianship of his nephew, which the composer took over, he immediately grew old. In the spring of 1827, Ludwig died of liver disease.

Despite the fact that the composer lived for a relatively short time, he is recognized as the greatest musician of all time. His memory lives on today and will always live on.

THIS. Hoffman - German writer, who created several collections of short stories, two operas, a ballet and many small musical works. It was thanks to him that a symphony orchestra appeared in Warsaw.

Jean Calvin

John Calvin was one of the most radical figures of the European Reformation, a French theologian who laid the foundation for a new religious trend in the Protestant Church.

Ludwig van Beethoven is a famous deaf composer who created 650 pieces of music that are recognized as world heritage of classics. The life of a talented musician is marked by a constant struggle with difficulties and hardships.

In the winter of 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in a poor quarter of Bonn. The baptism of the baby took place on December 17th. The boy's grandfather and father are distinguished by their singing talent, so they work in the court chapel. Childhood years of the baby can hardly be called happy, because a constantly drunk father and a beggarly existence do not contribute to the development of talent.

Ludwig bitterly recalls his own room, located in the attic, where there was an old harpsichord and an iron bed. Johann (dad) often drank himself unconscious and beat his wife, taking out the evil. From time to time, the son was also beaten. Mother Maria dearly loved the only surviving child, sang songs to the baby and brightened up gray, joyless everyday life as best she could.

At Ludwig's early age musical abilities appeared, which Johann immediately noticed. Envying fame and talent, whose name is already thundering in Europe, he decided to raise a similar genius from his own child. Now the baby's life is filled with exhausting piano and violin lessons.

The father, finding out the boy's giftedness, made him practice simultaneously on 5 instruments - organ, harpsichord, viola, violin, flute. Young Louis spent hours poring over music-making. The slightest mistakes were punished by flogging and beatings. Johann invited teachers to his son, whose lessons are mostly mediocre and unsystematic.

The man sought to quickly train Ludwig in concert activity in the hope of fees. Johann even asked for an increase in salary at work, promising to arrange a gifted son in the archbishop's chapel. But the family did not heal better, as the money was spent on alcohol. At the age of six, Louis, urged on by his father, gives a concert in Cologne. But the fee received was tiny.

Thanks to maternal support, the young genius began to improvise and take notes. own works. Nature generously endowed the child with talent, but development was difficult and painful. Ludwig was so deeply immersed in the melodies that were created in the mind that he could not get out of this state on his own.

In 1782 the director court chapel appoint Christian Gottlob, who becomes Louis's teacher. The man saw glimpses of talent in the youth and took up his education. Realizing that musical skills do not give full development, Ludwig instills a love for literature, philosophy and ancient languages. , become idols of the young genius. Beethoven eagerly studies the works of Handel, dreaming of working with Mozart.

musical capital Europe, Vienna, the young man first visited in 1787, where he met Wolfgang Amadeus. The famous composer, having heard Ludwig's improvisations, was delighted. Mozart said to the astonished audience:

“Don't take your eyes off this boy. One day the world will talk about him."

Beethoven agreed with the maestro on several lessons, which had to be interrupted due to his mother's illness.

Returning to Bonn and burying his mother, the young man plunged into despair. This painful moment in the biography had a negative impact on the musician's work. The young man is forced to look after two younger brothers and endure the drunken antics of his father. The young man turned to the prince for financial help, who assigned the family an allowance of 200 thalers. The ridicule of the neighbors and the bullying of the children greatly hurt Ludwig, who said that he would get out of poverty and earn money by his own labor.

The talented young man found patrons in Bonn who provided free access to music meetings and salons. The Breuning family took custody of Louis, who taught music to their daughter Lorchen. The girl married Dr. Wegeler. Until the end of his life, the teacher maintained friendly relations with this couple.

Music

In 1792, Beethoven went to Vienna, where he quickly found patrons. To improve his skills in instrumental music, he turned to, to whom he brought his own works for verification. Relations between the musicians immediately did not work out, as Haydn was annoyed by the obstinate student. Then the young man takes lessons from Schenk and Albrechtsberger. Vocal writing improves with Antonio Salieri, who introduced the young man to the circle of professional musicians and titled persons.

A year later, Ludwig van Beethoven creates music for the "Ode to Joy", written by Schiller in 1785 for the Masonic Lodge. Throughout his life, the maestro modifies the anthem, striving for the triumphant sound of the composition. The public heard the symphony, which caused a furious delight, only in May 1824.

Beethoven soon became a fashionable pianist in Vienna. In 1795, the debut of a young musician in the salon took place. Having played three piano trios and three sonatas of his own composition, he charmed his contemporaries. Those present noted the stormy temperament, the richness of the imagination and the depth of Louis' feelings. Three years later, the man is overtaken terrible disease- tinnitus, which develops slowly but surely.

Beethoven hid the malaise for 10 years. Those around him did not even suspect that the pianist was beginning to become deaf, and misleading reservations and answers were attributed to absent-mindedness and inattention. In 1802 he writes the Heiligenstadt Testament, addressed to the brothers. In the work, Louis describes his own mental suffering and excitement for the future. The man orders this confession to be read only after death.

In a letter to Dr. Wegeler there is a line: "I will not give up and take fate by the throat!". Vitality and expression of genius were expressed in the enchanting "Second Symphony" and three violin sonatas. Realizing that he will soon go completely deaf, he eagerly sets to work. This period is considered the heyday of creativity of the brilliant pianist.

The "Pastoral Symphony" of 1808 consists of five parts and occupies a separate place in the life of the master. The man loved to relax in remote villages, communicated with nature and pondered new masterpieces. The fourth movement of the symphony is called Thunderstorm. Storm”, where the master conveys the revelry of the raging elements, using the piano, trombones and piccolo flute.

In 1809, Ludwig received a proposal from the management of the city theater to write a musical accompaniment to the drama Egmont by Goethe. As a sign of respect for the writer's work, the pianist refused a monetary reward. The man wrote music in parallel with theatrical rehearsals. Actress Antonia Adamberger joked about the composer, confessing to him that he had no singing talent. In response to a puzzled look, she skillfully performed an aria. Beethoven did not appreciate the humor and said sternly:

“I see that you can still perform overtures, I’ll go and write these songs.”

From 1813 to 1815 he was already writing fewer works because he loses his hearing. A brilliant mind finds a way out. Louis uses a thin wooden stick to "hear" the music. He clamps one end of the plate with his teeth, and leans the other against the front panel of the instrument. And thanks to the transmitted vibration, he feels the sound of the instrument.

The compositions of this life period are filled with tragedy, depth and philosophical sense. The works of the greatest musician become classics for contemporaries and posterity.

Personal life

The story of the personal life of a gifted pianist is extremely tragic. Ludwig was considered a commoner in the circle of the aristocratic elite, therefore he did not have the right to claim noble maidens. In 1801 he fell in love with the young Countess Julie Guicciardi. The feelings of the young people were not mutual, since the girl also met Count von Gallenberg at the same time, whom she married two years after they met. The composer expressed the love torment and bitterness of losing his beloved in the Moonlight Sonata, which became the anthem of unrequited love.

From 1804 to 1810, Beethoven was passionately in love with Josephine Brunswick, the widow of Count Joseph Deim. The woman enthusiastically responds to the courtship and letters of her ardent lover. But the romance ended at the insistence of Josephine's relatives, who are sure that the commoner will not become a worthy candidate for a wife. After a painful breakup, a man on principle proposes to Teresa Malfatti. Receives a refusal and writes a masterpiece sonata "To Elise".

The emotional disturbances experienced so upset the impressionable Beethoven that he decided to spend the rest of his life in splendid isolation. In 1815, after the death of his brother, he became involved in litigation associated with custody of a nephew. The child's mother is characterized by a reputation as a walking woman, so the court satisfied the requirements of the musician. It soon became clear that Karl (nephew) had inherited bad habits mother.

The uncle brings up the boy in severity, tries to instill a love for music and eradicate alcohol and gambling addiction. Having no children of his own, a man is not experienced in teaching and does not stand on ceremony with a spoiled youth. Another scandal leads the guy to a suicide attempt, which turned out to be unsuccessful. Ludwig sends Karl to the army.

Death

In 1826, Louis caught a cold and contracted pneumonia. Stomach pains joined the pulmonary disease. The doctor incorrectly calculated the dosage of the medicine, so the ailment progressed daily. 6 months man bedridden. At this time, Beethoven was visited by friends trying to alleviate the suffering of a dying man.

The talented composer died at the age of 57 - March 26, 1827. On this day, a thunderstorm raged outside the windows, and the moment of death was marked by a terrible thunderclap. At autopsy, it turned out that the master's liver had decomposed and the auditory and adjacent nerves were damaged. On the last journey, Beethoven is escorted by 20,000 townspeople, he heads the funeral procession. The musician was buried at the Waring cemetery of the Church of the Holy Trinity.

• At the age of 12 he published a collection of variations for keyboard instruments.
• He was considered the first musician to receive a cash allowance from the city council.
• Wrote 3 love letters to the "Immortal Beloved", found only after death.
• Beethoven wrote the only opera called Fidelio. There are no more similar works in the master's biography.
• The greatest delusion of contemporaries is that Ludwig wrote the following works: “Music of Angels” and “Melody of Rain Tears”. These compositions were created by other pianists.
• He valued friendship and helped those in need.
• Could simultaneously work on 5 works.
• In 1809, when he bombarded the city, he was worried that he would lose his hearing from the explosions of shells. Therefore, he hid in the basement of the house and covered his ears with pillows.
• In 1845, the first monument dedicated to the composer was opened in Beaune.
• The Beatles song "Because" is based on "Moonlight Sonata" played in reverse order.
• The anthem of the European Union is "Ode to Joy".
• Died from lead poisoning due to medical error.
• Modern psychiatrists believe that he suffered from bipolar disorder.
• Beethoven's photographs are printed on German postage stamps.

Discography

Symphonies

• First C-dur op. 21 (1800)
• Second D-dur op. 36 (1802)
• Third Es-dur "Heroic" op. 56 (1804)
• Fourth B-dur op. 60 (1806)
• Fifth c-moll op. 67 (1805-1808)
• Sixth F-dur "Pastoral" op. 68 (1808)
• Seventh A-dur op. 92 (1812)
• Eighth F-dur op. 93 (1812)
• Ninth d-moll op. 125 (with choir, 1822-1824)

Overtures

• "Prometheus" from op. 43 (1800)
• "Coriolanus" op. 62 (1806)
• "Leonora" No. 1 op. 138 (1805)
• "Leonora" No. 2 op. 72 (1805)
• "Leonora" No. 3 op. 72a (1806)
• "Fidelio" op. 726 (1814)
• "Egmont" from op. 84 (1810)
• "The ruins of Athens" from op. 113 (1811)
• "King Stephen" from op. 117 (1811)
• "Birthday" op. 115 (18(4)
• "Consecration of the House" cf. 124 (1822)

Over 40 dances and marches for symphony and brass bands