Children's Web Magazine
Beethoven is the classical composer that everyone will have heard of even if they don't think they do, as part of his ninth symphony is used as the European anthem.
He was born Ludwig Van Beethoven in Bonn and baptized on 17th December in 1770. Nobody knows exactly when he was born although one possibility is the 16th. This is because babies were normally baptized the day after they were born.
He was the eldest child of three boys and very much felt he had to look after his younger brothers.
Beethoven's father was an alcoholic who taught him music and wanted to turn him into a child prodigy. His mother was in contrast a kind, gentle loving woman. Beethoven was extremely close to his mother. She sadly died when he was seventeen.
He went to Vienna so he could develop his talent more and learnt from the masters. One of whom was Joseph Haydn. (A famous classical composer) What really makes Beethoven so incredible is that he went deaf but continued to compose. He was already recognized as a genius. Although it is a cruel fate that almost drove him to suicide. It is a measure of his enormous talent that manages to come through despite losing one of his senses, the most important of all to a musician, his hearing.
Despite a longing to get married he never did. He won custody of his nephew after a battle with his late brother's wife.
Beethoven died on March 26th 1827 thousands of people attend his funeral. Among them were his fellow musicians.
Along with the ninth symphony the other most well known are the fifth and six. Another popular work is his piano sonata which is known as Moonlight Sonata.
© Children's Web Magazine 2005
