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 27 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
--Volkslied aus Kleinrussland	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	0
Largo From Sonata In B-Flat	—	—	—	Clarinet	Classical	2
II. Adagio 6'20"	—	—	—	Saxophone	Classical	4
Theme from Variations on a Russian Dance	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	3
Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1	—	Op. 59, No. 1	F major	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Quartet No. 10 in Eb Major, Op. 74	—	Op. 74	E-flat major	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95	—	Op. 95	F minor	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No. 14 in C# Minor, Op. 131	—	Op. 131	C-sharp minor	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	4
Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135	—	Op. 135	F major	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1	—	Op. 51, No. 1	C minor	violin	Classical	2
Quartet #9	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet #10	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No.3, Op.18, No.3	—	Op.18, No.3	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No.5, Op.18, No.5	—	Op.18, No.5	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	5
Quartet No.8, Op.59, No.2	—	Op.59, No.2	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Quartet No.9, Op.59, No.3	—	Op.59, No.3	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No.12, Op.127	—	Op.127	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No.13, Op.130	—	Op.130	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Quartet No.14, Op.131	—	Op.131	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Beethoven: Trio (Violin, Viola, Violoncello) D major op. 9,2	—	op. 9	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	0
Beethoven: Quartet F major op. 59,1 [Rasumowsky] F major op. 59,1	—	op. 59	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Beethoven: Quartet C major op. 59,3 [Rasumowsky] C major op. 59,3	—	op. 59	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Beethoven: Quartet f minor op. 95	—	op. 95	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Beethoven: Quartet E flat majeur op. 74 [Harp Quartet] E flat major op. 74	—	op. 74	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Missa Solemnis, op. 123 - Sanctus	—	op. 123	—	violin	Classical	2
Contredance	—	—	—	violin	Classical	2
Beethoven: String Quartet E flat major op. 127	—	op. 127	—	violin	Classical	2
Romance for Violin and Orchestra, Op.50, F Major	—	Op.50	—	violin	Classical	5
Quartet No 18#3	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No 18#4	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No 18#5	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	1
Quartet No 18#6	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Quartet No 74	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet No 95	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Quartet No 130	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Quartet No 131	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	1
Quartet No 133	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Quartet No 135	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	1
String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, op. 18, no. 4	—	op. 18, no. 4	C minor	Cello, violin, String Quartet	Classical	3
String Quartet No. 1 in F major, op. 18, no. 1	—	op. 18, no. 1	F major	Cello, violin, String Quartet	Classical	1
String Quartet in A minor, op. 132	—	op. 132	A minor	Cello, violin	Classical	1
Duet for Two Violoncelli in B-flat major	—	—	B-flat major	Cello	Classical	1
Sonata for Violoncello and Piano in A major, op. 5, no. 2	—	op. 5, no. 2	A major	Cello	Classical	3
Sonata D major Op. 102,2	—	Op. 102	—	Cello	Classical	2
Brian Boru's March	—	—	—	Harp	—	2
Beethoven Overture (The Creatures Of Prometheus, O	—	—	—	Horn	Classical	2
Beethoven Symphony No. 1 Op. 21	—	Op. 21	—	Horn	Classical	2
Piano Concerto #5 In Eb Major Op.73	—	Op.73	E-flat major	Horn	Classical	3

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.