Ludwig Van Beethoven
By Kayla Whitworth
The Greatest Composer Ever Known
Beethoven wrote many great pieces of music (59, in fact.) People loved everything he wrote not only because it was so well written, but because he was deaf. Beethoven became deaf at the turn of the century and was no longer able to hear, which meant he would no longer be able to write the music he love. But it didn't stop him. He continued writing music and conducting it. You may be wondering, how did he conduct if he couldn't hear the mistakes? Well, he felt the vibrations in the floor and used that to feel how the music was performed.
Early Life
Beethoven was born December 16, 1770. He was the eldest living child in the family. He was the son of Maria Magdalena Keverich and Johann Van Beethoven. He had a single living brother named Kaspar Anton Karl Van Beethoven. His father was an alcoholic choir singer who had received the position from his father. His brother, Kaspar, was never into music, nor was Beethoven for a while. It was not until his teen years that Beethoven realized his love of the piano. Once his father realized Beethoven's talent, he sent straight to work making sure he was taught by many local musicians. Beethoven played viola in the orchestra for many years, and even started writing a few pieces, all in life seemed well.
Problems
Beethoven's mother died in 1787, which led to his father becoming a deeper alcoholic. Even the smallest mistake Beethoven would make in his music, his father would severely scorn him and say he was a disgrace to the family. That led to Beethoven and Kaspar moving to Vienna, Argentina when the price of alcohol raised. Shortly after his two sons moved, Johann died. Most likely due to the quick, extreme alcohol with drawl. A few years later, at the turn of the century, Beethoven became deaf. He was stuck without his hearing and without his music, but he overcame that barrier. Around that time, Kaspar had a son named Karl. Beethoven love Karl deeply, tried to teach him the art of music, and loved him as a son. In 1815, Kaspar died due to tuberculosis. In Kaspar's will, he said that his brother would be left in charge of Karl. The problem with that was that Karl wasn't fond of his uncle, also his mother wanted to be in charge of Karl. For the next 7 years, Beethoven and Karl's mother fought over his custody. Eventually Beethoven won custody over his distant, unhappy nephew.
Musical Accomplishments
Beethoven wrote 9 symphonies, his most famous, Symphony No. 9. Along with 32 piano sonatas, his most famous, Piano Sonata No. 14. One opera. Five piano concertos. Along with many string quartets. The links for Symphony No. 9 and Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata.)
Symphony No. 9 ~ Beethoven
Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata (FULL)
Family Life
Beethoven was not the original Ludwig. He had an older sibling originally named Ludwig, but that child died with the first few days after birth. His mother, Maria, was a kind hearted soul with a career, what career is unknown. While Beethoven's father, Johann, was a strict, but talented alcoholic. Over all, Maria and Johann had seven children. Only 2 survived. Maria died in 1787. Johann died in 1792. Kaspar married to a kind, but forceful woman. They had one son named Karl whom was loved deeply by all his family. Kaspar died from tuberculosis in 1815, leaving his son to Beethoven, which caused problems for years to come. Beethoven died in 1827, due to post hepatitic cirrhosis of the liver. Beethoven never married, nor had kids. There is sufficient evidence showing that Beethoven did in fact, have someone he loved.
Death
Beethoven died of hepatitic cirrhosis of the liver on March 26, 1827. The last time he saw him distant nephew, Karl, was during a emotionless meeting in which Karl was very aware his uncle was sick. The last composition Beethoven wrote was String Quartet OP 130.
Beethoven - String Quartet No.13 - Op 130
"Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman."
-Beethoven