Ludwig Van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven

Born : December 17, 1770 - Bonn

Died: March 26, 1827 - Vienna

* In 1740 Beethoven's father Johann was born.

* Johann sang soprano in the electoral chapel where his father was

chapel master.

* Johann grew up proficient enough to teach violin, piano, and voice to earn a living.

* At a very early age Beethoven received piano lessons from his father

* At the age of 8 he studied theory and keyboard with Van Den Eeden who was a former chapel organist

* He also studied with several local organists and received violin and viola lessons.

* Although Beethoven's musical genius was compared to that of Mozart's, his education never exceeded elementary level.

* Beethoven studied with Johann Georg Albrechtsberger, the best known teacher of counterpoint in Vienna. He also studied with Schenk and Salieri.

* Beethoven has traditionally been referred to as music's "bridge to romanticism"

Beethoven's Compositions

* 9 symphonies

* 7 concertos - 5 of which were for piano

* 17 string quartets

* 32 piano sonatas

* 10 sonatas for violin and piano

* 5 sonatas for cello and piano

* 1 opera

* 2 masses and several overtures

* Numerous sets of piano variations

Symphony No.3, Op. 55 "Eroica"

Key: E-flat Major

Orch: 2 Fl., 2 Ob., 2 Cl., 2 Bsn./ 3 Hrn., 2 Tpt./ Timp./ Str.

Approx: 50 minutes

Composed: 1803

The symphony has four movements:

1. Allegro con brio

2. Marcia funebre (Adagio assai)

3. Scherzo-Allegro vivace

4. Finale-Allegro molto

The Eroica Symphony was first