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 15 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
Syncopation	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Hat man nicht auch Gold beineben	—	—	—	Low Voice	Classical	0
Ha, welch ein Augenblick	—	—	—	Low Voice	Classical	2
Overture: Leonore No 3	1809-10IMSLP	—	—	Cello, violin, Piccolo	Classical	5
Vocalise	—	—	—	Clarinet, Saxophone	Classical	3
Cavatine from Quartet, op. 130	—	op. 130	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	7
Three Country Dances	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	5
Allemande in A	1793IMSLP	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
When Johnny Comes Marching Home	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
SCHUBERT Symphony No. 8 , First Movement Excerpt	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
O Tobias	—	—	—	Flute, Bassoon	Classical	5
Waltz In D	—	—	—	Piano, Flute, Bassoon	Classical	4
6 Variations on 'Nel Cor Piu Non Mi Sento'	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	5
Praise Ye Jehovah's Goodness	—	—	—	Voice	Classical	2
Contradanse	—	—	—	Flute, Horn, Trombone, Tenor Saxophone	Classical	6
Piano Trio No. 11 in G major , op. 121a Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	1794/1795IMSLP	op. 121a	G major	Piano, Cello, violin	Classical	4
Sonata in F major, op. 17: III. Rondo	—	op. 17	F major	Horn	Classical	5
Piano Sonata Theme Op 90	—	Op 90	—	—	Classical	6
Viennese Waltz [Woo, No. 17, No. 10]	1824IMSLP	—	—	Piano	Classical	7
Sonata Quasi un Fantasia [Op. 27, No. 2]	—	Op. 27, No. 2	—	Piano	Classical	3
Menuet in F Major [Anhang]	—	—	F major	Piano	Classical	3
Romanza	1798IMSLP	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	4
Joyful-Sorrowful [Woo 54]	—	Woo 54	—	Piano	Classical	6
Sonatine In D Minor	—	—	D minor	Flute	Classical	5
Romance From The Pearl Fishers	—	—	—	Flute	Classical	4
Themes from Piano Concerto No. 1, Op.15 - Third Movement	—	Op.15	—	—	Classical	6
Variation I From 6 Variationen Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Pathetique Sonata Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
1st Movt: Allegro con brio	—	—	—	—	Classical	7
Pretty Minka	—	—	—	—	Classical	3
Variation	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Andante from the First Symphony	1804-08IMSLP	—	—	Piano	—	6
Six Variations on the song "Ich Denke Dein," WoO 74	1803Wikidata	WoO 74	—	Piano	Classical	4
Six Songs, Op. 48 - 3. Vom Tode	—	Op. 48	—	—	Classical	4
Eight Songs, Op. 52 - 7. Marmotte	—	Op. 52	—	—	Classical	3
Six Songs, Op. 75 - 4. Gretels Warnung	—	Op. 75	—	—	Classical	4
Four Ariettas and a Duet, Op. 82 - 3. L'amante impaziente	1809 ca.IMSLP	Op. 82	—	—	Classical	3
Danse Villageoise	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	5
Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69	—	Op. 69	A major	Cello	Classical	4
Duo No. 2 for Clarinet and Bassoon: Rondo	1790-92IMSLP	—	—	—	Classical	3
Beethoven: Three Duets for Violin and Cello	—	—	—	—	Classical	6
Beethoven: Sonatinas, Complete	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	6
Beethoven: Ten Violin Sonatas, Volume I (Nos. 1	—	—	—	—	Classical	6
Overture "Leonore", no. 1 in C major, op. 138	—	op. 138	C major	Piano, Harp, Organ, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Orchestra, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Timpan	Classical	2
Rondino	1793IMSLP	—	—	Horn	Classical	3
Sonata for Violin and Piano no. 4 in A minor, op. 23	1800-01IMSLP	op. 23	A minor	Piano, violin	Classical	2
String Quintet No.1, Op.4 (after the Octet Op.103)	1795-96Wikidata	Op.4; Op.103	—	—	Classical	3
String Quintet No.3, Op.104	1817 (August)IMSLP	Op.104	—	—	Classical	4

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.