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 42 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
6 Var. On Theme By Paisiello	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
"Lustig und Traurig (Merry and Sad), WoO 54"	—	WoO 54	—	Piano	—	0
Marsch C-Dur op. 45; 1 -fur Klavier zu 4 Handen-	—	op. 45	—	Piano	Classical	2
The Consecration of the House of Overture (excerpt), opus 124	—	opus 124	—	Piano	Classical	0
Gloria from Mass in C Major, opus 86	—	opus 86	C major	Piano	Classical	1
Rondo a Capriccio in G Major - 'Rage over a lost penny'	—	—	G major	Piano	Classical	1
Wellington's Victory - Themes, opus 91	—	opus 91	—	Piano	Classical	0
Fidelio - Ouverture E-Dur op. 72 -Bearbeitung fur Klavier-	—	op. 72	—	Piano	Classical	0
Waltz in D, WoO 85	—	WoO 85	—	Piano	Classical	2
Lustig und Traurig / Happy and Sad, WoO 54	—	WoO 54	—	Piano	Classical	1
Theme From 2nd Movement, Sonata In D (Woo 47/3)	—	Woo 47/3	—	Piano	Classical	2
No. 2 (Trio) From 6 Menuette (Woo 10)	—	Woo 10	—	Piano	Classical	0
Variation Iv From 6 Variationen (Woo 70)	—	Woo 70	—	Piano	Classical	0
No. 11 (1st Section) From 12 Deutsche Tanze (Woo 1	—	Woo 1	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonatine in G Kinsky-Halm Anhang 5	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
Sonate fur Klavier c-Moll op. 13 "Pathetique"	—	op. 13	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier As-Dur op. 26 "Trauermarsch"	—	op. 26	—	Piano	Classical	1
Funeral March From Sonata Op.26	—	Op.26	—	Organ	Classical	3
Poeme	—	—	—	Organ	Classical	1
Finale	—	—	—	Piano, Cello, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet	Classical	4
Be Quiet Now	—	—	—	Flute	Classical	1
Santa Lucia	—	—	—	Flute	Classical	1
Song Of The Lark	—	—	—	Flute	Classical	2
A Little Bit Of Beethoven	—	—	—	Flute	Classical	2
"Sonata in D, Op. 6: 1st movt, Allegro molto (Concert Repertoire for Flute)"	—	Op. 6	—	Flute	—	0
--A Schusserl and a Reindl	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	2
--The last rose of summer	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	2
10 Varied Themes, Op. 107	—	Op. 107	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	1
3. Duo in B-flat, WoO 27/3	—	WoO 27/3	—	Bassoon, Clarinet	Classical	1
Variations in C major, WoO 67	—	WoO 67	C major	Piano, Oboe	Classical	2
3. Rondo, WoO 41	—	WoO 41	—	Piano, Oboe	Classical	1
I. Allegro 2'30"	—	—	—	Saxophone	Classical	2
III. Prestissimo 5'08"	—	—	—	Saxophone	Classical	1
One More River	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	2
Winter Song	—	—	—	violin	Classical	2
The Hippo Song	—	—	—	violin	Classical	1
Down at the Station	—	—	—	violin	Classical	0
Changing Between High and Low Finger Positions	—	—	—	violin	Classical	0
Bear Dance	—	—	—	violin	Classical	2
Double Stops	—	—	—	violin	Classical	2
Horn Call with Echo	—	—	—	violin	Classical	1
Cuckoo	—	—	—	violin	Classical	1
Children's Dance	—	—	—	violin	Classical	2
Quartet No. 12 in Eb Major, Op. 127	—	Op. 127	E-flat major	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132	—	Op. 132	A minor	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	1
Quartet #7	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2
Quartet No.15, Op.132	—	Op.132	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	3
Quartet #3, Opus 18 #3	—	Opus 18	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	2

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.