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Birth date and place
Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770 in Germany. His family consisted of his father, Johann van Beethoven and his mother Maria Magdalena van Beethoven. He also had two younger brothers, Caspar and Johann. Ludwig also had a grandfather who was also his godfather, Kapellmeister Ludwig van Beethoven.
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Philadelphia Museum founded
The Philadelphia Museum was founded in 1773 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Some artworks that are held here come from artists such as Monet, Duchamp, Cézanne, and many others. (Grun) -
The beginning of music practice
Ludwig's father began teaching him music brutality and with an extraordinary rigor. He was forced into practicing for hours in the basement and was beaten for each mistake or hesitation Beethoven did. He was also always deprived of sleep since he was practicing at all times. (Biogrpahy.com Editors) -
James Cook discovers Hawaii
This English explorer became the first European to find the Hawaiian Islands when sailing past the island of Oahu on January 18, 1778. One year later, he was killed by an inhabitant of the islands. (Grun) -
American Revolution ended
France and the American colonies won against the British in the American Revolution. The thirteen colonies wanted freedom from the British Empire and with the win of the Revolution, they gained their freedom. (Grun) -
Marquis Pierre Simon de Laplace: “Laws of the Planetary System”
Marquis Pierre Simon de Laplace was a French scholar who had work important to the development of physics astronomy, engineering, mathematics, and statistics. Mécanique Céleste was one of his books that summarized and extended his works. (Grun) -
Reign of Terror begins
With Maxmilien Robespierre as the leader of the Reign of Terror, thousands of French citizens were excuted by the guillotine for reasons that were out of suspicion or just absolute randomness. -
Vienna
Beethoven could move an audience to tears more easily than any other pianist at the time. This was the reason why the Viennese aristocracy had taken him up from the moment he almost set foot in Vienna. In the year 1795, Ludwig had his first public appearance as a pianist in Vienna. (Knapp and Budden) -
Ger. inventor Aloys Senefelder invented lithography
Johann Alois Senefelder was a German playwriter and actor who invented the printing technique of lithography. Lithography is printing from a metal or stone plate with a smooth surface. -
Approaching deafness
Beethoven first noticed the symptoms before 1800 but for the next few years after that he seem unchanged. In 1802, though, he no longer be in doubt that his malady was both progressive and permanent. Ludwig became fully deaf in 1819 and his playing became more and more degenerated as he was losing his hearing.(Knapp and Budden) -
Eroica
This symphony was a huge part of the history of music, it was a landmark. It is associated inseparably with Napoleon Bonaparte. Some say it is a "musical portrait" of the once emperor of France. This piece of music was an announcement of "arrival" for for Beethoven. It was of major importance to him. (Jacobs) -
Fidelio
Beethoven's one and only opera was Fidelio, composed in 1805. In the Second Act, Fidelio is a heroine and Rocco's assistant, who is the chief prison keeper. His friends realized that they needed to persuade Ludwig to shorten the cumbersome score. They did this with by creating a conspiracy. (Jacobs) -
Job opening
In 1808, Ludwig received an invite to be the music director at Kassel. His wealthy Viennese friends were alarmed and three of them bribed him to stay in Vienna for 1,400 florins for salary and he took that offer. He became the first musician in history to be enabled potentially to live as an independent artist-although and to be freed form menial service. (Gale) -
Second period of development
The time between Beethoven's second and third period is a kind of twilight area that is a separation of the two periods. His extreme deafness and his difficulties with his nephew are onsets that were marked but his preparations for the musical tasks of unparalleled complexity at this time as well. (Gale) -
Family Issues
Beethoven's nephew was left in his care after his brother Kasper van Beethoven died. Ludwig's life was unhappy after this because of the many lawsuit and complications regarding his nephew, Karl. (Burch and Wolcott) -
Death
Beethoven died on March 26, 1827. He had caught pneumonia on his return to Vienna which he never fully recovered from. Ludwig remained bedridden and died from cirrhosis of the liver. His funeral was three days after his death. 200,000 people attended the ceremony. (Biography.com Editors)
