Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German composer of Classical and Romantic music; he is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians to have ever lived. Most famous for his nine symphonies, piano concertos, piano sonatas, and string quartets, Beethoven was a great innovator and very probably the most influential composer in the history of music.
More about: Ludwig van BeethovenDefinition
Timeline
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1770 - 1827Life of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
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16 Dec 1770The composer Ludwig van Beethoven is born in Bonn, Germany.
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1779Ludwig van Beethoven is employed at the Cologne court under the tutorship of the organist and composer Christian Neefe.
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1782Ludwig van Beethoven has his first works published, a set of keyboard variations.
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1789Ludwig van Beethoven takes over responsibility for his family’s affairs from his alcoholic father.
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1792Ludwig van Beethoven moves to Vienna and studies under Joseph Haydn.
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29 Mar 1795Ludwig van Beethoven gives his first public performance at Vienna’s Burgtheater. He plays a new piano concerto.
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1798Ludwig van Beethoven begins to lose his hearing.
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1798Ludwig van Beethoven composes his Pathétique piano sonata.
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1800Ludwig van Beethoven completes his First Symphony.
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1801Ludwig van Beethoven composes his much-admired string quartets.
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1801Ludwig van Beethoven completes his ballet Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (The Creatures of Prometheus).
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1801Ludwig van Beethoven composes his Moonlight piano sonata.
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1802Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Second Symphony.
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1802Ludwig van Beethoven writes his Heiligenstadt Testament.
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1803Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Third Symphony Eroica.
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1805Ludwig van Beethoven completes his opera Fidelio (initially known as Leonore).
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1806Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Fourth Symphony.
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1806Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Violin Concerto.
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1806Ludwig van Beethoven composes his Razumovsky Quartets.
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1808Ludwig van Beethoven premieres his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies.
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1809Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Fifth Piano Concerto, titled 'Emperor'.
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1811Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Seventh Symphony.
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1812Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Eighth Symphony.
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1815Ludwig van Beethoven assumes the legal guardianship of his nephew Karl.
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1818Ludwig van Beethoven is completely deaf.
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1823Ludwig van Beethoven composes his Diabelli Variations on a Waltz and the Missa solemnis.
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1824Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Ninth Symphony.
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26 Mar 1827The composer Ludwig van Beethoven dies of liver disease in Vienna.
