Composer

Ludwig van Beethoven

German composer (1770-1827)

1770–1827

6,206 works in the index

Born: 1770
Died: 1827
Birthplace: Bonn
Place of death: Vienna
Citizenship / historical state: Electorate of Cologne; Austrian Empire
Period (estimated from birth year): Classical

Biography

Beethoven sits on the hinge between the Classical style he inherited and the Romantic one he made possible, and the catalogue spans both: thirty-two piano sonatas, sixteen string quartets, nine symphonies, five piano concerti and a large body of songs and chamber music.

The piano sonatas are the most-bought and the most misjudged. The famous ones — the Moonlight, the Pathétique, the Waldstein — are advanced works, and the first movement of the Moonlight being playable early does not make the rest of it so. The genuine starting points are the two sonatas of Op. 49 and the bagatelles, including the one everyone knows as Für Elise.

He revised heavily and his manuscripts are difficult, so editions disagree about specific notes and markings more than you might expect from a composer this recent. If you are working with a teacher, use theirs.

Life and musical career

Occupations: composer
Teachers: Christian Gottlob Neefe; Joseph Haydn; Antonio Salieri; Johann Baptist Schenk; Johann Georg Albrechtsberger; Gilles van der Eeden; Muzio Clementi; Andrea Luchesi
Recorded memberships: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Instruments played: piano; violin
Genres: classical music; art music; opera; symphony; sonata
Movements: Classical period; Romantic music
Notable works: Für Elise; Symphony No. 9; Piano Sonata No. 14; Missa Solemnis; Piano Sonata No. 8; Symphony No. 5; Symphony No. 6; Piano Sonata No. 21; Piano Sonata No. 23; Violin Sonata No. 9; Symphony No. 3; Fidelio
Awards: Bröckemännche Award
Official website: https://beethoven.de
Native languages: German
Languages used: German
VIAF ID: 32182557
ISNI: 0000000121268987
GND ID: 118508288
Library of Congress ID: n79107741
MusicBrainz ID: 1f9df192-a621-4f54-8850-2c5373b7eac9

Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments: Piano, violin, Cello, Orchestra, Voice
Genres represented: Classical, pop, Jazz, Pop, Christmas
Works with composition dates: 358 of 6,206

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works page 11 of 130

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
Work	Year composed	Catalogue / opus	Key in title	Listed instruments	Genre	Editions
Six Songs, Op. 75 - 6. Der Zufriedene	—	Op. 75	—	—	Classical	5
Three Songs, Op. 83 - 3. Mit einem gemalten Band	—	Op. 83	—	—	Classical	5
Das Gluck der Freundschaft, Op. 88	1803IMSLP	Op. 88	—	Piano, Voice, Low Voice	Classical	5
6 Songs, Op. 48 - Die Liebe des Nachsten	1808IMSLP	Op. 48	—	Low Voice	Classical	6
6 Songs, Op. 48 - Gottes Macht und Vorsehung	1808IMSLP	Op. 48	—	Low Voice	Classical	6
8 Songs, Op. 52 - Urians Reise um die Welt	—	Op. 52	—	Low Voice	Classical	6
8 Songs, Op. 52 - Mailied Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	Op. 52	—	Low Voice	Classical	5
8 Songs, Op. 52 - Lied Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	Op. 52	—	Low Voice	Classical	5
6 Songs, Op. 75 - Mignon	1808IMSLP	Op. 75	—	Low Voice	Classical	6
6 Songs, Op. 75 - Aus Goethe's Faust	1808IMSLP	Op. 75	—	Low Voice	Classical	6
6 Songs, Op. 75 - Der Zufriedene	1808IMSLP	Op. 75	—	Low Voice	Classical	6
3 Songs, Op. 83 - Trocknet nicht	—	Op. 83	—	Low Voice	Classical	6
3 Songs, Op. 83 - Mit einem gemalten Band	—	Op. 83	—	Low Voice	Classical	6
Der Mann von Wort, Op. 99	1816IMSLP	Op. 99	—	Piano, Voice, Low Voice	Classical	7
Romance in G Major	1800-01IMSLP	—	G major	Flute, violin	Classical	5
Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47	—	Op. 47	A major	violin	Classical	3
Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2	—	Op. 102, No. 2	D major	Cello	Classical	3
Symphony No. 4 in Bb Major, Op. 60 - Third Movement	—	Op. 60	B-flat major	—	Classical	5
Rondo Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	5
Andante in G	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	5
Violin Sonata No. 7, op. 30, no. 2 Performed by Mario Hossen; Sung-Suk Kang;	1801-02IMSLP	op. 30, no. 2	—	violin	Classical	3
Rondo A Capriccio , Theme from Op.129	—	Op.129	—	Piano	Classical	6
Allegro In F	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
May Song 2	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Menuett From Septet Op.20	—	Op.20	—	Piano	Classical	4
Adagio Sonatina In C	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica"	—	—	—	Cello, violin, bass, Orchestra, Viola	Classical	7
Beethoven: A First Beethoven Book	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	7
Beethoven: Seven Easy Pieces	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	7
Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica", mvt. 1 excerpts	—	—	—	—	Classical	7
Sonata for Piano no. 8 in C minor, op. 13 "Pathétique"	—	op. 13	C minor	Piano	Classical	3
Große Fugue for 2 Violins, Viola, and Cello in B-flat major, op. 133: Overtura. Allegro - Fuga. Meno mosso e moderato - Allegro molto e con brio - Meno mosso e moderato - Allegro molto e con brio - Allegro	1825–26IMSLP	op. 133	B-flat major	Piano	Classical	4
Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus, op. 43: Ouverture	1800-01IMSLP	op. 43	—	Piano, Orchestra	Classical	3
6 Ecossaises in E-flat major, WoO 83	—	WoO 83	E-flat major	Piano	Classical	4
Quartet for 2 Violins, Viola, and Cello no. 14 in C-sharp minor, op. 131	—	op. 131	C-sharp minor	String Quartet	Classical	0
Quartet for 2 Violins, Viola, and Cello no. 13 in B-flat major, op. 130	—	op. 130	B-flat major	String Quartet	Classical	0
String Quintet No.2, Op.29	1801IMSLP	Op.29	—	—	Classical	4
String Trio No. 2 in G, Op.9 No.1	1797IMSLP	Op.9 No.1	—	violin	Classical	4
Six variations for piano on an original theme in F major, Op.34	1802IMSLP	Op.34	F major	Piano	Classical	5
Violin Sonata No.1	1797-98Wikidata	—	—	—	Classical	2
Violin Sonata No.2	1797-98IMSLP	—	—	—	Classical	3
Violin Sonata No.9	1802-04IMSLP	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	2
Allegretto quasi Andante, WoO 61a	1825-09-27IMSLP	WoO 61a	—	Piano	Classical	2
Piano Sonata No.6	1796-98Wikidata	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
Piano Sonata No.12	1800–01Wikidata	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Piano Sonata No.14	1802Wikidata	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Piano Sonata No.29	1817–18Wikidata	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
Piano Trio No.2	1794/1795IMSLP	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	2

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. The biography above is our own. Authority record: VIAF 32182557. Portrait: Joseph Karl Stieler, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.