Ludwig van Beethoven Classical/Romantic Composer

* learned music from his father (piano and violin) * did not have a happy childhood (father’s alcoholism) * received no education beyond elementary school; knew almost nothing about math * at 19, went to court for custody of his brothers; sued for half his father’s salary

* met Haydn in London, later studied with him in Vienna * also studied with Antonio Salieri

* in 1800, first public concert to make $$$ * in 1815, sued for custody of his nephew Karl * totally deaf by 1818; continued to compose until his death

Beethoven listening test: 1. Symphony No. 5 - short short short long

2. For Elise - only piano, pretty or delicate

3. Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” - Heroic, for Napoleon - first ROMANTIC piece of music - starts three times

4. Moonlight Sonata - only piano - sad - constant triplets

5. Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”), 4 th Movement - “pastoral” refers to nature - This movement sounds like a gathering thunderstorm.

6. Piano Sonata No. 8 (“Pathetique”) - only piano - sad - no triplets

7. Symphony No. 9 (“Ode to Joy”) - Gotterfunken! - lyrics from Schiller’s famous poem about world peace

Beethoven was from Bonn, Germany