Ludwig van Beethoven

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Biography

Bonn, Germany (1770 – 1827)

Ludwig van Beethoven (16 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a composer of the transitional period between the late Classical and early Romantic eras. He was born in Bonn, Germany.

Beethoven is widely regarded as one of the greatest masters of musical construction, sometimes sketching the architecture of a movement before he had decided upon the subject matter. He was one of the first composers to systematically and consistently use interlocking thematic devices, or “germ-motives”, to achieve unity between movements in long compositions. (Some insight into the meaning of the germ-motive device is given at the end of this bio.) Equally remarkable was his use of “source-motives”, which recurred in many different compositions and lent some unity to his life’s work. He made innovations in almost every form of music he touched. For example, he diversified even the well-crystallized form the rondo, making it more elastic and spacious, which brought it closer to sonata form. He was mostly inspired by the natural course of nature, and liked to write songs describing nature.

Beethoven composed in a great variety of genres, including symphonies, concerti, piano sonatas, other instrumental sonatas (including for violin), string quartets and other chamber music, masses, lieder, and one opera.
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  • AndreDias164

    For the fans of Beethoven,check this mash up/remix by Ennio Morricone taken from the movie "Un Genio, Due Compari, Un Pollo". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ho1a4yyVVA worth listening! ;)

    18 May 9:57am Reply

  • Koimeterion

    Come to Russia! Pleaaasee!

    13 May 7:51pm Reply

  • pimpmyturban

    COME TO BRAZIL!!!

    13 May 5:17am Reply

  • iagolugon

    pedancia

    10 May 3:43am Reply

  • adwth

    Well, i never said i was Beethoven's #1 fan. All i'm saying is that some people here are like "oMggg i luuv classical music" by only listening to these popular works.

    9 May 4:54pm Reply

  • KeIemvor

    v Fail much? You have almost only Symphony 9 & 5, Moonlight Sonata and Für Elise scrobbled, those are just the popular works...

    9 May 1:12pm Reply

  • adwth

    "If you're going to be pretentious and pretend to like classical music at least try a little harder than Beethoven." hahahah or at least try to go beyond symphony no 5 guys, and, as you people like to call it, "for elise". This kind of music is much more than the famous works.

    9 May 10:29am Reply

  • alkaid96

    Die Deutschen und Österreicher, ich danke Ihnen für den großen Klassikern besser als gar keine Musik.

    8 May 6:25pm Reply

  • Sviests4

    No wonder, it's impossible not to fall in love with it :D

    6 May 5:46pm Reply

  • Cranigen

    vv He mentioned Fur Elise, that makes his bro story way cooler.

    5 May 3:12pm Reply

  • DiogoAlvim777

    Für Elise ♥

    2 May 7:05pm Reply

  • Kilgorer

    Cool story bro.

    28 Apr 11:31am Reply

  • RobynYoBank

    I think it's miraculous that certain segments of classical music transcend even the biggest popular songs of all time. Globally, there is no Beatles song, no Michael Jackson song, no Elvis song, no Madonna song, no pop song that comes close to the recognizability of the first few moments of Beethoven's 5th Symphony, or the Ode to Joy melody, or Fur Elise. It's just interesting, the heights of Western music.

    26 Apr 9:52pm Reply

  • Ali-Red

    Maturity is absent from this shoutbox

    25 Apr 9:08am Reply

  • jGustainis

    come to Lithuania

    24 Apr 6:31pm Reply

  • KeIemvor

    Yeah, you're far too lame, go back to troll school.

    24 Apr 1:24pm Reply

  • synthstatic

    lol shut up faggots i'm finished with you now you're far too easy #umadbro #confirmedformad

    24 Apr 9:01am Reply

  • KeIemvor

    Hipsters naturally always think everyone is pretending something since they are pretenders themselves. They probably have never thought about listening to music they would enjoy, but only certain music because it's underground and considered hip. They are just the biggest poseurs on the planet. But now ignore the lame troll kiddo, it's not worthy to be fed.

    23 Apr 7:43pm Reply

  • Sviests4

    Lol, you must be joking saying that Kelemvor is pretending to like classical music, if you don't know anything than better shut your mouth instead of talking bullshit. And wtf has Beethoven to do with that? Just disappear from here, you don't even listen to classical music, so why did you come here in the first place? Just go away.

    23 Apr 6:46pm Reply

  • synthstatic

    If you're going to be pretentious and pretend to like classical music at least try a little harder than Beethoven.

    23 Apr 4:58pm Reply
    • All 3555 shouts

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