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 12 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
Two Rondos, Op.51	1797IMSLP	Op.51	—	Piano	Classical	2
Song, Der Jüngling in der Fremde, WoO 138	1809IMSLP	WoO 138	—	Voice	Classical	2
Song, Lied aus der Ferne, WoO 137	1809IMSLP	WoO 137	—	Voice	Classical	1
String Quartet No. 5	1799Wikidata	—	—	Piano, Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	4
String Quartet No. 7	1806Wikidata	—	—	—	Classical	4
String Quartet No. 9	1806Wikidata	—	—	—	Classical	2
[Benedictus]	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	4
Opus 30, No. 1	—	Opus 30, No. 1	—	Piano, violin	Classical	5
Opus 30, No. 3	—	Opus 30, No. 3	—	Piano, violin	Classical	5
Sonata #3	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Sonata #4	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Romance, Opus 50	—	Opus 50	—	Piano, violin	Classical	4
No. 1 in G Major, Opus 40	—	Opus 40	G major	Piano, violin	Classical	4
Symphony No. 3 In E-Flat Major ('Eroica')	—	—	E-Flat major	Piano, Guitar	Classical	2
Sonata No. 14	—	—	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	6
III. Presto Agitato	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Six Variations (Paisiello theme)	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Sonata No. 4 in Eb Major, Op. 7	—	Op. 7	E-flat major	Piano	Classical	2
Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1	—	Op. 10, No. 1	C minor	Piano	Classical	2
Sonata No. 12 in Ab Major, Op. 26	—	Op. 26	A-flat major	Piano	Classical	4
Nine Variations on a March by Dressler, WoO 63	—	WoO 63	—	Piano	Classical	6
Eight Variations on a Romance by Gretry, WoO 72	—	WoO 72	—	Piano	Classical	5
Thirty-three Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120	—	Op. 120	—	Piano	Classical	3
Allegretto in B Minor, WoO 61	—	WoO 61	B minor	Piano	Classical	3
2 Preludes through all 12 Major Keys, Op. 39	—	Op. 39	—	Piano, Organ	Classical	5
Concerto No. 5 Eb Major (Emperor), Op. 73	—	Op. 73	—	Piano	Classical	2
Sonata #3 - Op. 2, #3	—	Op. 2	—	Piano	Classical	6
Sonata #28 - Op. 101	—	Op. 101	—	Piano	Classical	6
Sonata #35	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonata #7	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
6 Easy variations, G major, WoO 77 (Piano solo)	—	WoO 77	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	3
32 Variations, C minor, Wo0 80 (Piano solo)	—	—	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	3
Lustig, Traurig	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonata #17	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Beethoven: Quartet G major op. 18,2	—	op. 18	—	Piano, Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Adagio From Sonata No. 8 (Pathetique) - 2nd Movement Theme	—	—	—	Piano, Oboe, violin, Recorder, Piccolo	Classical	4
Victory Theme	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Adieu To The Piano	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	4
Beethoven: Sonata c sharp minor op. 27,2	—	op. 27	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	5
Beethoven: Sonata E flat major op. 27,1	—	op. 27	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	4
Left Hand Position	—	—	—	Piano	—	4
German Dance in B-Flat Major, WoO 13, No.2	—	WoO 13, No.2	B-Flat major	Piano	Classical	7
Sonatina in G Major, KH Anh. 5 No.1	—	—	G major	Piano	Classical	3
Beethoven: Romance for Violin and Orchestra G major op. 40	—	op. 40	—	Piano, violin	Classical	6
Piano Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49, No. 2 Second Mvmt.	—	Op. 49, No. 2	G major	Piano	Classical	4
Symphony No. 7 Second Mvmt Theme	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	6
Sonata Op 2 No 1	—	Op 2 No 1	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonata Op 7	—	Op 7	—	Piano	Classical	5

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.