Read or die beethoven biography

German composer (1770–1827)

"Beethoven" redirects here.

For other uses, see Beethoven (disambiguation) and Ludwig van Beethoven (disambiguation).

"Ludwig van" redirects here. For the 1970 experimental film, see Ludwig van (film).

Ludwig van Beethoven^{[n 1]} (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist.

Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, the predominant musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras.

The author lets the music do the talking in this pithy new biography, which uses the composer's works to shed new light on his life.

Born in , Beethoven was instructed in music by both his father, a singer and instrumentalist, and the court organist CG Neefe.

Equal parts absorbing cultural history and lively biography, Beethoven, A Life paints a complex portrait of the musical genius who redefined the musical style.

Much has been written about Beethoven, about his life, his deafness, his legal battles over his nephew Karl, his love life, his reaction to.

He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire and span the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era in classical music.

His early period, during which he forged his craft, is typically considered to have lasted until 1802. From 1802 to around 1812, his middle period showed an individual development from the styles of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and is sometimes characterised as heroic.

During this time, Beethoven began to grow increasingly deaf. In his late period, from 1812