December 16, 1770

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany on December 16, 1770 - and is known as one of the greatest composers in history. His work marked a turning point for composers, who had previously written primarily for religious services, or to teach, or entertain at social functions. But Beethoven’s music was listened to for pleasure. His pioneering work gave musicians a new freedom to express themselves. Happy Birthday, Beethoven!

Beethoven: The Magnificent Master
“Beethoven is recognized by many as the greatest composer whoever lived. But very often we overlook the man in favor of seeing the feats of the master composer. This biography is dedicated to exploring the life of this most unique genius in an endeavor to discover more of the man behind the music.” In addition to the detailed biography, you’ll find a well-organized portrait gallery and a few fascinating (but wordy) peeks into the history behind several of Beethoven’s major works (listed under Research Projects.)

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