Ludwig van Beethoven Quotes

“A violinist named Karl Amenda arrived in Vienna about this time and became Beethoven’s nearly inseparable companion due to their mutual enjoyment of each other’s music. Amenda later related that when he once deplored the fact that Beethoven’s marvelous improvisations were “born and lost in a moment,” Beethoven refuted this statement by accurately replaying every note of the impromptu piece he had just completed. Another time, Amenda happened to be on hand when Beethoven came up short on cash when his rent was due. Amenda told Beethoven that he didn’t have a problem; boldly, he locked Beethoven into his room, gave him an assignment, and returned after three hours had passed. Beethoven shoved over a paper on which a new musical composition was written. Amenda took the paper to Beethoven’s landlord and instructed him to take it to a publisher and collect the rent that was due to him. The landlord was dubious, but he returned from the publisher asking if “other bits of paper like that were to be had.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“On November 20, 1815, Ludwig van Beethoven’s brother Carl Casper died of tuberculosis, appointing his brother Ludwig as guardian of his son Karl in his will. Not yet ten years old, the little nephew was the only child of the three van Beethoven brothers. And as his father had done before him, Ludwig van Beethoven viewed the boy as a potential vessel for carrying the van Beethoven musical genius into the future.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“Beethoven refused to accord the aristocratic class the marks of honor which were usually expected from men of his class. He did not step aside for aristocrats, dress to impress them, or address them humbly. At the same time, by reason of his talent, he considered himself above the level of the common people who labored for their living.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“was in 1810 that Beethoven composed Für Elise, a famous piano bagatelle dedicated “for Elise,” a woman whose identity is also unknown. The song was never published during his lifetime.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“Although he had a significant number of romantic interests throughout his life, Beethoven’s pursuit of love would never bring him a wife, home, or family.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“In 1809, Beethoven was offered a permanent place as a musician in the court of Napoleon Bonaparte.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“On March 28, 1801, his only full-length ballet was premiered, The Creatures of Prometheus. Beethoven also completed one of his most famous and enchanting pieces during this year, his Piano Sonata No. 14, which would come to be known and loved as the Moonlight Sonata.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“Many of Beethoven’s relationships followed a rocky path. In fact, it was common for him to become estranged from many of his companions following bitter arguments that often could be traced back to rash words or actions on his part. Naturally impulsive and strong-willed, pushed into a heady society at a young age, Beethoven had never received the type of wise, consistent guidance from his father that would have helped him learn to control his emotions. Even as an adult, Beethoven could be furiously angry one moment and pitifully repentant the next.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“On March 29, 1795, Beethoven made his first appearance at a public concert in Vienna. The concert, organized by Antonio Salieri for the benefit of widows and orphans, featured only two musicians. Antonio Cartellieri, the first young musician, performed an oratorio. Beethoven composed an original concerto and played it on the pianoforte along with orchestral accompaniment.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“In January 1794, Haydn left for London, and Beethoven continued his studies in strict counterpoint composition with Johann Albrechtsberger. It is also thought possible that he received lessons in vocal composition from Antonio Salieri and violin lessons from Ignaz Schuppanzigh during this time as well.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End

“Various musicians consented here and there to give the young boy lessons, but in 1781, Ludwig officially became the pupil of Christian Gottlob Neefe, the new court organist. This relationship opened up Ludwig’s first great responsibility in 1782, when Neefe temporarily traveled elsewhere, leaving his duties as organist for religious services to Ludwig. The boy had to play twice every day for the Catholic masses in addition to other special services. In 1783, the busy Neefe also asked Ludwig to take his place in playing the harpsichord (another instrument similar to a piano) for rehearsals of the court orchestra. Neefe had stretched Ludwig’s capabilities by requiring him to practice the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Now Ludwig would have to read and play a variety of complicated musical pieces, further expanding his musical education. In addition, Beethoven began producing noteworthy compositions of his own. It was not until 1784, however, that Ludwig was officially appointed as Neefe’s assistant as court organist and finally began receiving a small salary. At last, he could help to financially support his family with his music, the purpose toward which his father had groomed him practically from babyhood. In 1787, at 16 years of age, Beethoven was sent to Vienna, Austria, to study under the musical master, Amadeus Wolfgang Mozart. It is not known whether he was able to receive lessons from Mozart, though some say that he was instructed by him in musical composition. Unfortunately, Beethoven’s mother became seriously ill with tuberculosis, and he had to hurry home from Vienna to say goodbye before her death at 40 years of age.”
― Hourly History, Ludwig van Beethoven: A Life from Beginning to End