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 14 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
Three Marches, Op. 45	—	Op. 45	—	Piano, Oboe	Classical	4
German Folk Song	—	—	—	violin	Classical	6
Quartet No. 6 in Bb Major, Op. 18, No. 6	—	Op. 18, No. 6	B-flat major	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	5
Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3	—	Op. 59, No. 3	C major	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	5
Gross Fugue in Bb Major, Op. 133	—	Op. 133	B-flat major	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2	—	Op. 51, No. 2	A minor	violin	Classical	5
Beethoven: String Quartet B flat major u Grand Fugue op. 133	—	op. 133	—	violin	Classical	1
Quartet #5, Opus 18 #5	—	Opus 18	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Beethoven: Trio (Violin, Viola, Violoncello) G major op. 9,1	—	op. 9	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Beethoven: Serenade D major op. 8	—	op. 8	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	6
Beethoven: String Quartet c sharp minor op. 131	—	op. 131	—	violin	Classical	1
German Dance In G	—	—	—	violin	Classical	6
Quartet #17, Opus 133	—	Opus 133	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Beethoven: String Quartet F major op. 135	—	op. 135	—	violin	Classical	0
Sonata Path?tique	—	—	—	violin	Classical	2
Variations on a Theme by Paisiello WoO 70	—	WoO 70	—	violin	Classical	9
Romanze Op 40 (Vn/Pno) Beethoven	—	Op 40	—	Piano, violin	Classical	3
Sonata F major Op. 5,1	—	Op. 5	—	Cello	Classical	2
Violin Concerto In D, Op. 61	—	Op. 61	—	Horn	Classical	4
Nachtstuck (Mayrhofer) op. 36 no. 2	—	op. 36 no. 2	—	Guitar	Classical	1
Spanish Romance	—	—	—	Guitar	Classical	5
Theme From 9th Symphony	—	—	—	Guitar	Classical	5
Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 37	—	Op. 37	—	Guitar	—	2
Fourth Movement Theme (Symphony No.6)	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar	Classical	4
Piano Concerto No 1 In C Op 15	—	Op 15	—	Piano, Guitar	Classical	5
Oh, How Lovely Is The Evening	—	—	—	Dulcimer	Classical	2
Standin' In The Need Of Prayer	—	—	—	Autoharp	—	1
Piano Sonata In Ab (Andante)	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Piano Trio (Theme)	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Sonata in G Minor, opus 49, #1	—	opus 49	G minor	Piano	Classical	3
Corolian	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Solo Piano	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Variations	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
32 Variations	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Overtures:	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Leonore (Fidelio 1805 and Fidelio 1806)	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Theme From Six Variations	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
March in C Major, Op. 45, No. 1	—	Op. 45, No. 1	C major	Piano	Classical	3
March in D Major, Op. 45, No. 3	—	Op. 45, No. 3	D major	Piano	Classical	3
Sonata in C Minor, op. 13 Grande Sonate Pathetique	—	op. 13	C minor	Piano	Classical	9
Sonata in D major Op. 6	—	Op. 6	D major	Piano	Classical	6
Traurig	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Easy Sonata	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Sonatina - F Major	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	5
Rondo: Allegro	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Performance Suggestions	—	—	—	Piano, Cello, violin	Classical	5
Fifth Symphony - Theme	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
The School Band	1810 (march), 1822 (trio)IMSLP	—	—	Piano	Classical	7

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.