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Beethoven's birth
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn,Germany to his parents, Johann van Beethoven and Maria Magdalena Keverich. His family originated from Brabant in Belgium. Ludwig was the oldest of seven children, but only three, including him, survived from birth. His father and grandfather were also famous musicians ("Ludwig van Beethoven Biography"). -
World Event: James Cook crosses the Antarctic Circle
As captin of the ship 'Reolution' James Cook was one of the first known Europeans to visit the waters of Antarctica. He would have gone farther that year but the packed ice of the area down south prevented him to. Later within the next year Cook had gotten beyond that point but he ran into trouble with ice once again. Still though this was the furthest south and closest to the South Pole that any known person had ever been (Beaglehole). -
World Event: Boston Tea Party
This protest was brought on by american patriots that were resisting the monopoly that was set on American tea importation from the East India Company. This was one of the patriots more important revolts because they began to work together as a stronger force. On this night they threw over 342 chests of tea into the ocean as a symbol for Parliament that they are not afraid to revolt (Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, Editors). -
World Event: Articles of Confederation written
This document was created by the Continental Congress in the United States. It was serving as their 'constitution' before it actually existed in 1789. The Articles were ratified by all 13 states, and it made it so each state had one vote in Congress, bringing them closer together (Santa). -
Beethoven's first work and teacher
Within this year Beethoven had gotten a new teacher by the name of Gottlob Neefe, as seen in the picture. This musician thought that if Ludwig continued to go where he was headed he would be the new Mozart. Beethoven's first work was written when he became twelve. He called this piece,"9 Variations in C Minor for Piano" ("Ludwig van Beethoven Biography"). -
Ludwig gets appointed as an organist
When his teacher Neefe had been called away Ludwig took his place as the orgainst at the Electoral Chapel. He began to study the "Forty-eight Preludes and Fugues" of Johann Sabastian Bach. When he became fourteen, he became second court organist and even got a salary! (Burch 57) -
Ludwig goes to Vienna
In the beginning of 1787, Prince Maximillian Franz sent him to meet Mozart in Vienna, which at the time was like the music center of the world. When he met Mozart, he deeply impreseed him and he thought Ludwig would be quite successful in his music. Eventually Beethoven settled down in Vienna with the execption of going back for his mother's death. When he came back again he took lessons from Haydn,Albrechtsberger, and Salieri who were also famous musicians ("Ludwig van Beethoven Biography"). -
World Event: George Washington as President
George Washington took office on this date as our beloved first president of the United States. Since it all started with him he had to set up the precedence that would fall down the line to our current presidents today. Also he was not only just our first real leader but he also spent much of his time in government and the army, as a general that gave a hidden strength to his troops (Michael Beschloss and Hugh Sidey). -
Beethoven composes his first symphony
After making his first public appearence in Vienna, Beethoven had organized and composed his first symphony too.This symphony was said to be a debt to Haydn and Mozart for their great teachings. Yet Beethoven had already started to push the boundaries to music because symphonies were thought to be strange or out of the ordinary at the time.This is also around the time when Beethoven admitted he was going deaf and thought that it was quite unfair (Jacobs 61) ("Ludwig van Beethoven Biography"). -
World Event: Louisiana Purchase
On this day the current president was Thomas Jefferson, and he bought 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River from France. This cost roughly about $283 million in the present day's dollars. By doing this America got more land that could potentially serve as more farming/town areas that earn more money for the country (Stief). -
World Event: Lewis And Clark Expedition starts
On this date the two famous frontiersman that set foot out from St.Louis to the new wilderness of the Louisiana Purchase that Thomas Jefferson had just a year ago purchased. By sending them out the president hoped that Lewis and Clark would find a water route linking the Columbia and Missouri rivers. This way leaving them with good port towns for the country (Perry). -
Beethoven composed the "Eronica"
This was also better known as beethoven's third symphony. This one was in honor of Napoleon Bonaparte that was seen as a liberator for people in the French Revolution. It's opening was thought to be quite violent and scolding, but it summed up the feeling of war and bravery that Napoleon possesed (Jacobs 61). -
Beethoven's preformane of "Leonore"
This was Beethoven's first and only opera that he ever wrote. The name of it was changed to Fidelio against his wishes, but in favor of others. It was played for french officers because Napoleon had conquered Vienna not to long ago. This opera was mainly known for its abundant energy and its theatricalness ("Ludwig van Beethoven Biography"). -
Beethoven's Immortal Beloved
In 1812 when Beethoven went for hydrotherapy in Teplitz he wrote a famous letter to a women.This note that Ludwig had sent was quite the mystery, and no one ever really did find out who the recipient was. What was sure was that he was in love with this girl and she probably didn't love him that much. Later he met a poet named Goethe and they admired eachother very much but never could understand one another. Nethertheless, Ludwig put music to many of his poems ("Ludwig van Beethoven Biography"). -
The last symphony
This was the date of Beethoven's first playing of his ninth symphony. This symphony was mainly a choral, but it was truly stunning, and saddening with us knowing that this was his last final public appearence. At the end of it Beethoven had tears streaming down his cheeks beacuse he was still beating the time when the song was over.Only when a singer turned him around to face the crowd did he realize that they were already applauding (Kaufmann 9). -
Ludwig's death
In the summer of 1826, Beethoven had caught a cold and after no real treatment pneumonia had set in. This sickness along with many other problems led to his death in Vienna. His symphonies from life would leave a mark in history forever though and become known as the eternal symphonies that will ever be playing in our hearts (Burch 60).
