Who is Ludwig Van Beethoven ?

Ludwig van Beethoven was baptized December 17, 1770 in Bonn. His family was originally from Brabant, Belgium. His father was a musician at the Court of Bonn, with a penchant for drinking. Her mother has always been described as a gentle, self-effacing and considerate. Beethoven said of her that she was "her best friend." Beethoven family had seven children, but only three boys survived, of which Ludwig was the eldest.
Early on, Ludwig is interested in music, and his father taught him day and night, when he gets home after practice or the tavern. The gift of children is no doubt, and his father Johann plans to make a new Mozart, a child prodigy.
On March 26, 1778, at the age of seven and a half, Beethoven made his first public concert known in Cologne. For the occasion, his father announced that he had six. Because of this, think Beethoven always be younger than in reality. Even much later, when he receives a copy of his baptismal certificate, he believes that this is his brother Ludwig Maria was born two years before him, died in infancy. But the teaching ability and musical father is limited. Ludwig soon learn music, especially the organ and composition with renowned musicians such as Christian Gottlob Neefe. It will totally aware of the extraordinary abilities of Beethoven. He will also know, beyond music, ancient and modern philosophers.
In 1782, during its twelfth year, that Beethoven published his first work: 9 variations, in C minor for piano on a march by Ernst Christoph Dressler (WoO 63). And that the following year, in 1783, that Neefe wrote in the "Magazine of Music", about his student: "If it continues, it will undoubtedly be a new Mozart."

In June 1784, on the recommendations of Neefe, Ludwig was appointed organist at the court of Maximilian Franz, Elector of Cologne. He did not then fourteen. This site allows him to attend a different environment than that of his family and friends of his father. He meets the friends he keeps all his life: family Ries, von Breuning family and the charming Eleonore, Karl Amenda, the violinist, Franz Gerhard Wegeler, doctor friend who will also go to Vienna, etc..
At home, little by little, Ludwig replaced his father. Financially at first, because Johann, often tipsy, are less able to take his place in the home and office at the Court. The young Beethoven feels responsible for his two brothers, and he will assume this responsibility all his life, even to the extreme.
Aware also of the gift of Beethoven is at his expense that the Prince Maximilian Franz sent to Vienna in 1787 to meet Mozart and hone his musical education. Vienna was then the city's flagship musical culture. The meeting between Mozart and Beethoven, there are only texts to the truth uncertain. Mozart would have said "Remember this name, you will hear".

But a letter recalls Beethoven in Bonn: his mother is dying. The only member of his family with whom he had established a relationship strong and loving each other off July 17, 1787.
Five years later, in 1792, Beethoven off again in Vienna, receiving an annuity provided by the Elector for two years, always to develop his musical education. He will never see his home town. His friend Waldstein wrote to him saying: "... Get hands of the spirit of Haydn Mozart" ...
In Vienna, the young musician took lessons with Haydn, then with Albrechtsberger and Salieri. It astonishes and seduces Vienna by his virtuosity and his improvisations on the piano. In 1794, Beethoven composed his opus 1, three trios for piano. The following year, Beethoven had his first public performance in Vienna (an "Academy") in which he plays his own works. Then will follow a tour: Prague, Dresden, Leipzig and Berlin before leaving for a concert in Budapest.


That is all you need to know about the great Beethoven.