... CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Brief Biography of Ludwig Van Beethoven Ludwig Van Beethoven was a German Composer, considered one of the greatest musicians of all time. Having begun his career as an outstanding improviser at the piano and composer of piano music, Beethoven went on to compose string quartets and other kinds of chamber music, songs, two masses, an opera, and nine symphonies. Beethoven was born in Bonn. His father's harsh discipline and alcoholism made his childhood and adolescence difficult. At age 18, after his mother's death, Beethoven placed himself at the head of the family, taking responsibility for his two younger brothers, both of whom followed him when he later moved to Vienna, Austria In Bonn, Beethoven's most important composition teacher was German Composer Christian Gottlob Neefe, with whom he studied during the 1780's. Neefe used the music of German Composer Johann Sebastian Bach as a cornerstone of instruction, and later encouraged his student to ...

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