Johann van beethoven

When was beethoven born
Beethoven family
Ludwig van beethoven date of death

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Anton Schindler (1795-1864): Beethoven's first biographer

All Beethoven scholars have reason to be grateful to Schindler - and angry with him - in equal measure.

Schindler was a violinist who introduced himself into Beethoven's circle in about 1822. He made himself indispensable to Beethoven, who was by now totally deaf.

He helped him in his dealings with his friends as well as publishers, offering advice and taking administrative chores off Beethoven's shoulders.

But he was over-protective of Beethoven, keeping his friends away and erecting a metaphorical wall around him.

At first Beethoven was grateful but became tired of his obsequiousness.

He dismissed Schindler after the concert which premiered the Ninth Symphony in May 1824, accusing him of withholding receipts from him. But Schindler was back in favour two years later and remained with Beethoven until his death.

Schindler was determined to secure Beethoven's reputation for future generations as a God-like figure. He examined all Beethoven's Conversation Books in minute detail, destroying any that cast Beethove

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Ludwig van Beethoven

German composer (1770–1827)

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

Ludwig van Beethoven^{[n 1]} (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. 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 to 1827, he extended his innovations in musical form and expression.

Born in Bonn, Beethoven displayed his musical talent at a young age. He was initially taught intensively by his f

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Beethoven's history: 1770 - 1802

Part 1 of our Beethoven timeline follows the story of the composer's birth to his Symphony no. 2.

1770: Beethoven is born

17 December: Beethoven is baptised in the church of St Remigius, Bonn. The date of his birth is not recorded, but since it was customary for baptisms to take place within 24 hours of birth, it is likely he was born on 16 December.

1773

24 December: Beethoven's beloved grandfather, Kapellmeister Ludwig van Beethoven, dies.

1774

8 April: Beethoven's brother Caspar Carl baptised.

1776

2 October: Beethoven's brother Nikolaus Johann baptised.

1778: Beethoven's first public appearance

26 March: Beethoven's first known public performance, in Cologne. His father advertised his age as six years, although he was in fact seven, probably to draw favourable comparisons with the child prodigy Mozart. He played 'various clavier concertos and trios'.

1780

Beethoven begins lessons with Gottlob Neefe, who writes of him in Cramer's Magazin der Musik: "He plays the clavier very skilfully and with power [and] reads at sight