Beethoven

Beethoven was born in the attic room of his family home in Bonn, Germany during December of 1770. Because his birth record is missing, no one can be sure of his exact birthdate. 

His baptism record did survive, however.  It reveals the child was christened on December 17, 1770 - at a time and place when infants were typically baptized the day after birth.  As a result, Beethoven's birthday is commemorated on December 16.

As a lad, Ludwig had a difficult life.  His father was a heavy drinker who never actualized his potential.  Although Beethoven greatly loved his mother, she was unable to mitigate her husband's shortcomings. Their home, in Bonn, was generally an unhappy place.

Ludwig inherited his grandfather's musical talent, but his father treated him harshly.  Although the senior Beethoven boasted of his son's ability, he did not praise him in public.  Historians and biographers believe the young boy never knew his father was proud of him.

Beethoven, an impressive keyboardist, was composing by the time he was twelve.  Greatly encouraged by his teacher - Christian Gottlob Neefe - the youngster thought he had a muse who whispered in his ear. 

Later Carl, his brother, recalled how fortunate it was - for the entire family - that Ludwig had such talent.  Soon his skills produced income.  The timing could not have been better since the family's inheritance - from Beethoven’s paternal grandfather - was nearly gone.

Escaping the turmoil in his own house, Beethoven found peace at the home of friends - Eleonore and Stephan von Breuning - whose mother (Helene) understood the growing child was fragile, needing protection. "It's our job," she would say, "to keep the insects off the flower."

Lost in music, the teen-aged Beethoven went to Vienna where he could study with the best teachers. Plans changed, however, when his forty-year-old mother became extremely ill.

Returning home to Bonn, Beethoven lost the person he loved most.  Thereafter, his father's drinking problem worsened.

Music lessons in Vienna were put on hold as Beethoven remained in Bonn.  Realizing his father was incapable of managing the family’s finances, Ludwig persuaded the Elector of Bonn (his father's employer) to pay him half the earnings, so he could care for the family's obligations.   He was then nineteen years old.

By 1790, Bonn's leaders knew about Beethoven's skills.  They selected him to write a cantata commemorating the death of Joseph II, the popular Hapsburg emperor.  "Cantata on the Death of Joseph II," was the result. 

This work, never publicly performed during Beethoven’s lifetime, provides an early clue to the composer’s blossoming genius.  With its simple-yet-beautiful melody, the music initially rises - then falls back into itself. 

It was a technique Beethoven would use - to great acclaim - for the rest of his composing career.