The Life and Times of Ludwig van Beethoven

Early Life

House of birth, Bonn, Bonngasse 20, now the Beethoven-Haus museum

•Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770. 
•His family, in particular his father, was  hoping he would be the next great child prodigy like Mozart was.   
•Much to the disappointment of his father, Beethoven was not to be the next famous child prodigy.

•A young Beethoven decided to move to Vienna, Austria to study music with Franz Joseph Haydn.

•Beethoven earned his living composing and teaching music lessons. 

Heiglnstadt Testament.

While still a young man, Beethoven noticed he was losing his hearing.  He became rather depressed and wrote a compelling letter about his situation called the Heiglnstadt Testament.

 Eventually Beethoven was able to find ways to deal with his deafness and would compose some of his greatest works.