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 40 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
Sonata #18	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
Beethoven: Allegretto c minor WoO 53	—	WoO 53	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	2
Beethoven: 2 Sonatinas (F and G major) Anh. 5	—	—	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	2
Beethoven: 12 Variations on a Russian Dance by Wranitzky WoO 71	—	WoO 71	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	2
Six Variations On A Theme From 'La Molinara' By Giovanni Paisiello	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Beethoven: Sonata [Pastorale] D major op. 28	—	op. 28	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	4
Beethoven: Sonata c minor op. 10,1	—	op. 10	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	3
Song of the Cello	—	—	—	Piano	—	0
Menuet in B-Flat Major, WoO7, No.8	—	WoO7, No.8	B-Flat major	Piano	Classical	2
Sonata, Op. 13 ("Pathetique")	—	Op. 13	—	Piano	—	1
Clarinet trio for Piano, Clarinet (or Violin) and Violoncello, B flat major, op. 11 (Chamber music with winds)	—	op. 11	—	Piano	Classical	1
Ecossaise, WoO 83	—	WoO 83	—	Piano	Classical	2
Piano Concerto No. 5 - Second Mvmt. Theme	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
English Jig - Telemann	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Go Tell Aunt Rhody	—	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	0
Long, Long Ago	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Old Folks At Home	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Old French Air	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Quartet for Violin, Viola, Violoncello and Piano, E flat major, WoO 36,1 (Piano quartets)	—	WoO 36	—	Piano	Classical	1
Quartet for Violin, Viola, Violoncello and Piano, D major, WoO 36,2 (Piano quartets)	—	WoO 36	—	Piano	Classical	2
Beethoven: Quartet for Violin, Viola, Violoncello and Piano E flat major op. 16	—	op. 16	—	Piano	Classical	0
Symphony No. IV in Bb Major	—	—	B-flat major	Piano	Classical	2
Sonata No. 8, C Minor, Op 13 (Pathetique)	—	Op 13	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar	Classical	2
Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major (Sonata quasi una fantasia)	—	—	E-flat major	Piano	Classical	2
One Note Samba	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Piano Sonata No. 30, 3rd Movement	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
Sonata, F minor, op. 2,1 (Piano solo)	—	op. 2	—	Piano	Classical	1
Stodola Pumpa	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
Moscow Nights (Traditional)	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Beethoven: Trio [Variations on the Song 'Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu'] G major op. 121a	—	op. 121a	—	Piano, Cello, violin	Classical	1
Beethoven: Trio [Ghost-Trio] D major op. 70,1	—	op. 70	—	Piano, Cello, violin	Classical	1
God, Thy Great Goodness Never Ends	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
The Glory Of God In Nature	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonata 22 in F Major (Op. 54)	—	Op. 54	F major	Piano	Classical	2
Beethoven: 12 German Dances WoO 13	—	WoO 13	—	Piano	Classical	0
Beethoven: Ecossaise E flat major WoO 86	—	WoO 86	—	Piano	Classical	0
Der Mann vom Wort	—	—	—	Piano, Voice	Classical	2
An einen S?ugling	—	—	—	Piano, Voice	Classical	0
Als die Geliebte sich trennen wollte	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Der J?ngling in der Fremde	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Der Bardengeist	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
So oder so	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
Seufzer eines Ungeliebten und Gegenliebe	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Lustig und Traurig	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 9 E-Dur op. 14; 1 (1798/99)	—	op. 14	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 8 c-Moll op. 13 "Pathetique" (1800/01)	—	op. 13	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 3 C-Dur op. 2; 3 (1795)	—	op. 2	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 12 As-Dur op. 26 (1800/01)	—	op. 26	—	Piano	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.