Music of the Month: Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Bonn, Germany.  Ludwig gave his first public performance as a pianist when he was eight years old. At the age of eleven he received training in piano performance and composition from Christian Gottlob Neefe, organist and court musician in Bonn.  In 1787 Beethoven went to study in Vienna under Mozart but he soon had to return to Bonn, and after his mother's death had to look after the family.

In 1792 he moved to Vienna and took lessons from Haydn and others. By 1795 he had earned a name for himself as a pianist, admired especially for his brilliant improvisations. Before long he was traveling in the circles of the nobility. They offered Beethoven their patronage, and the composer dedicated his works to them in return. By 1809 his patrons provided him with money which enabled him to live as a freelance composer without financial worries.

Around the year 1798 Beethoven noticed that he was suffering from a hearing disorder. He withdrew into increasing seclusion for the public and from his few friends and was eventually completely deaf. By 1820 he was able to communicate with visitors and trusted friends only in writing, using "conversation notebooks".

The final years in the life of the restless bachelor (he moved fifty-two times) were darkened by severe illness and by the struggle over the guardianship of his nephew Karl. When the most famous composer of the age died, about thirty thousand mourners and curious onlookers were present at the funeral procession on March 26, 1827.

March 1 - 5: Variations on "God Save the King" (1808)

March 8 - 12: Symphony No. 6  - Third Movement (1808)

March 29 - April 2 - Sonata No. 6, Op. 10 No.2 - third movement

April 5 - 8: Septet in E Flat Major - fifth movement

April 13 - 16: movements from String Quartets 14 and 15

a lock of Beethoven's hair