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 37 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
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 26 Es-Dur op. 81a "Les Adieux" Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	op. 81a	—	Piano	Classical	3
Sonaten aus: Sonate E-dur op. 14 Nr. 1	—	op. 14 Nr. 1	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	0
6 Variationen uber ein Schweizer Lied, WoO 64	—	WoO 64	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	0
Symphony No.9 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	1806IMSLP	—	—	Piano	Classical, pop	2
Marcia funebre Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	1803-04IMSLP	—	—	Flute	Classical	2
"Presto alla tedesca: Sonata in G, Op. 79, first movement"	—	Op. 79	—	Piano	Classical	2
The Monk of Bangor's March	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Seven Variations, WoO 46 on "Bei Mannern" from Die Zauberflote	1801IMSLP	WoO 46	—	Cello	Classical	2
Fantasie Op.80 in C minor, Finale	—	Op.80	C minor	—	Classical	3
Symphony No 7 - Allegretto Theme	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
Symphony No 9 - 'Choral'	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Andante Sonata Op.26	—	Op.26	—	Piano	Classical	3
1st Movement Themes Piano Concerto No.3 Op.37	—	Op.37	—	Piano	Classical	3
Slow Movement Piano Sonata Op.2 No.14	—	Op.2 No.14	—	Piano	Classical	2
Op. 132, Movement 3 - Score	—	Op. 132	—	String Quartet	Classical	0
Op. 95, Movement 2 - Score	—	Op. 95	—	String Quartet	Classical	0
Op. 74, Movement 1 - Score	—	Op. 74	—	String Quartet	Classical	0
Piano Trio No. 2 in G Major, Op. 1, No. 2 - Cello	—	Op. 1, No. 2	G major	—	Classical	0
Piano Trio No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 1, No. 1 - Cello	—	Op. 1, No. 1	E-flat major	—	Classical	0
Missa Solemnis, No. 2: Gloria	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Six Songs, Op. 75, No. 5: An den fernen Geliebten	—	Op. 75, No. 5	—	Piano, Voice	Classical	0
12 Variations WoO 45 - Cello	—	WoO 45	—	Piano, Cello	Classical	0
7 Variations WoO 46 - Cello	—	WoO 46	—	Piano, Cello	Classical	0
Sonata No. 1 f minor Op. 2 No. 1 - Piano	—	Op. 2 No. 1	—	—	Classical	0
Sonata No.13 Eb Major Op.27 No. 1 Fantasie - Piano	—	Op.27 No. 1	—	—	Classical	0
Sonata No.15 D Major Op.28 Pastorale - Piano	—	Op.28	—	—	Classical	0
Sonata No.17 d minor Op.31 No. 2 - Piano	—	Op.31 No. 2	—	—	Classical	0
Sonata No.21 C Major Op.53 Waldstein - Piano	—	Op.53	—	—	Classical	0
Sonata No.23 f minor Op.57 Appassionata	—	Op.57	—	—	Classical	0
Sonata No.25 G Major Op.79	—	Op.79	—	—	Classical	0
Variations on a Theme by Mozart - Score	—	—	—	Piano, Double Bass	Classical	0
Sonata No. 6 F Major Op.10 No. 2 - Piano	—	Op.10 No. 2	—	—	Classical	0
Sonata No.26 Eb Major Op.81a Les adieux - Piano	—	Op.81a	—	—	Classical	0
Adelaide - Einsam wandelt dein Freund, Op.46 - Score	—	Op.46	—	Piano	Classical	0
Three Equali WoO 30	—	WoO 30	—	—	Classical	2
Trio in B-flat Major, Op. posth. - Violin	—	—	B-flat major	—	Classical	0
Hail to the Lord's Anointed	—	—	—	Piano, Vocal	Classical	1
Missa Solemnis, No. 3: Credo	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonata No.20 G Major Op.49 No. 2 - Piano	—	Op.49 No. 2	—	—	Classical	0
Sonatina No. 1 G Major Anh. 5 - Piano	—	—	—	—	Classical	0
Sonata No. 8 c minor Op.13 Pathetique - Piano	—	Op.13	—	—	Classical	0
Missa Solemnis, No. 4: Sanctus	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonata No. 2 A Major Op. 2 No. 2	—	Op. 2 No. 2	—	—	Classical	2
Sonata No.12 Ab Major Op.26 Marche Funebre	—	Op.26	—	—	Classical	0
Andante favori F Major WoO 57 - Organ/Piano	—	WoO 57	—	—	Classical	0
Sonata No.10 G Major Op.14 No. 2 - Piano	—	Op.14 No. 2	—	—	Classical	0
Missa Solemnis, No. 5: Benedictus	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonata No.14 c# minor Op.27 No. 2 - Piano	—	Op.27 No. 2	—	—	Classical	0

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.