LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

• Born December

16, 1770 in

Bonn, Germany

• First public

performance at

age 7.5 on March

26, 1778

Franz Josef Haydn

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

BEETHOVEN’S CONVERSATION BOOK

BEETHOVEN’S

LIFE WORKS:

• 9 symphonies

• 17 string

quartets

• 9 concertos

• 32 piano

sonatas

• 10 sonatas for

violin and

piano

• 1 opera

Beethoven’s Most Famous

Works:

Bagatelle in A minor (“Für

Elise”)

Symphony No. 5

Symphony No. 9 (“The Choral”)

Piano Sonata in C Minor

(“Moonlight” Sonata)

QUICK FACTS ABOUT

BEETHOVEN

1.Ludwig van Beethoven was born

on December 16, 1770, in the

city of Bonn in the country of

Germany.

2.Beethoven gave his first known

public performance on the piano

at the age of 7.5 on March 26,

1778 . This was also the date on

which he died.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT

BEETHOVEN

3.His father told people that Ludwig was 6 years old, and so Ludwig always thought that he was 1.5 years younger than his real age. His father lied about his age because he wanted everyone to think his son was a child prodigy.

4.Beethoven continued his piano studies with some of the greatest musicians, including Haydn and Mozart.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT

BEETHOVEN

5. One of his favorite foods was Macaroni & Cheese .

6. He always put 60 coffee beans in his cup of coffee.

7. Every time he sat down to compose music, he would pour lots of ice water over his head.

8. He was known more for his piano playing than for his composing when he was alive.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT

BEETHOVEN

9. He owned 5 legless pianos and composed great works on the floor .

10.His increased deafness eventually put an end to his career as a pianist. Hearing aides had not yet been invented. A famous inventor made ear trumpets for Beethoven to help him hear better.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT

BEETHOVEN

11.He composed many symphonies and performed in various concerts even after he had completely lost his hearing!

12.He would take long walks in the countryside for inspiration. His Pastoral Symphony is one result of his countryside ramblings.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT

BEETHOVEN

13.Beethoven died in the middle of a violent thunderstorm on the same day he made his first public piano performance .