Ludwig Van Beethoven: A Biography

Beethoven's family originated from Brabant, Belgium but he was born in Bonn. He was one of the three boys that survived in his seven person family. He was the oldest of the three. At the Court of Bonn, Beethoven's father was a musician. His father had a weakness for drinking. His mother, who he called his "best friend", was a gentle woman with a warm heart.

Beethoven got interested in music at an early age. Whenever he returned from the tavern or music practice, his father would teach him more music. Beethoven's father knew that he was gifted and helped to make him a great child musician.

Beethoven gave his first performance at Cologne on March 26^th, 1778. Even though he was eight years old, his father announced that he was six. He always thought that he was younger than he really was because of this. When he received his baptism certificate, he thought it was his brothers who were two years younger than him.

Once Beethoven's father taught him all he knew Beethoven found a new teacher. He found a renowned musician named Gottlob Neefe who recognized Beethoven's extraordinary talent right away. He taught him music and the works of philosophers too.

Beethoven published his first work: 9 variations in C minor, at only the age of twelve. Neefe wrote in a magazine that "If he continues like this he will be, without doubt, the new Mozart". Beethoven was appointed organist of the court of Maximilian Franz when he was fourteen.

Beethoven then started to drink just like his father. He was becoming less and less able of keeping up his role at the court. Beethoven felt his whole life that he was responsible for his two younger brothers. He was to the extent of being excessive by caring too much.

Prince Maximilian Franz sent Beethoven to France in 1787, to further his music education and for him to meet Mozart. Vienna was known to be the beacon city of culture and music.

Beethoven was called back to Bonn after hearing one of his friends was ill. His mother was dying and passed away on July 17^th, 1787. Five years later he went back to Vienna and never returned back to the town of his birth.

In 1801 Beethoven confessed to his friends of his fear of becoming deaf. He wrote a famous text in 1802 explaining his disgust in life. He said he would not want to live through life being a deaf musician. Beethoven threw himself into his greatest works instead of committing suicide because of his handicap getting worse and worse.

Then over the rest of his lifetime, Beethoven met many other composers and wrote many symphonies. Then in 1826 Beethoven caught a bad cold coming back from his brother's place. It was added on to all the other problems Beethoven had suffered all his life.

Then on March 26^th, 1827, Beethoven died while surrounded by all his friends just as a storm broke out. It's estimated that 10,000 to 30,000 people attended his funeral at the Church of the Holy Trinity. Franz Schubert who was a huge admirer of Beethoven was one of his coffin bearers. He died the next year and was buried next to Beethoven.

Sources:

Wikipedia.org

Elliot Forbes - "Thayer's Life of Beethoven, Part 1"