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His Life
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Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), the second-oldest child of
the court musician and tenor singer Johann van Beethoven, was born in
Bonn. Ludwig's father drilled him thoroughly with the ambition of
showcasing him as a child prodigy. Ludwig gave his first public
performance as a pianist when he was eight years old. At the age of
eleven he received the necessary systematic training in piano
performance and composition from Christian Gottlob Neefe, organist and
court musician in Bonn. Employed as a musician in Bonn court orchestra
since 1787, Beethoven was granted a paid leave of absence in the early
part of 1787 to study in Vienna under Mozart. he was soon compelled to
return to Bonn, however, and after his
mother's death had to look after the family.
In 1792 he chose Vienna as his new residence and took lessons from
Haydn, Albrechtsberger, Schenck and Salieri. By 1795 he had earned a
name for himself as a pianist of great fantasy and verve, admired in
particular for his brilliant improvisations. Before long he was
traveling in the circles of the nobility. They offered Beethoven their
patronage, and the composer dedicated his works to them in return. By
1809 his patrons provided him with an annuity which enabled him to live
as a freelance composer without financial worries. Beethoven was
acutely interested in the development of the piano. He kept close
contact with the leading piano building firms in Vienna and London and
thus helped pave the way for the modern concert grand piano.
Around the year 1798 Beethoven noticed that he was
suffering from a hearing
disorder. He withdrew into increasing seclusion
for the public and from his few friends and was eventually left
completely deaf. By 1820 he was able to communicate with
visitors and trusted friends only in writing, availing himself of
"conversation notebooks".
The final years in the life of the restless bachelor (he
changed living quarters no fewer than fifty-two times) were
darkened by severe illness and by the struggle over the guardianship of his
nephew Karl, upon whom he poured his solicitude, jealousy, expectations
and threats in an effort to shape the boy according to his wishes.
When the most famous composer of the age died, about thirty thousand
mourners and curious onlookers were present at the funeral procession on
March 26, 1827.
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