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 5 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 #25 - Op. 79	—	Op. 79	—	Piano	Classical	11
Sonata #31 - Op. 110	—	Op. 110	—	Piano	Classical	12
Sonata #32 - Op. 111	—	Op. 111	—	Piano	Classical	7
6 Variations, D major, op. 76 (Piano solo)	—	op. 76	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	9
3. Rondo (Allegro)	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar, Cello, Flute, violin, Double Bass, Clarinet, Trumpet, Viola	Classical	7
Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral) - 3rd Movement Theme	—	—	—	Piano, Oboe, violin, Recorder, Piccolo	Classical	10
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1, C major, op. 15 (2 pianos, 4-hands)	—	op. 15	—	Piano	Classical	9
Sonata, E minor, op. 90 (Piano solo)	—	op. 90	—	Piano	Classical	5
Cavatina	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	9
Piano Concerto No. 3, 3rd Movement	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	10
Piano Sonata No. 19, 1st Movement	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	9
Quintet For Piano And Winds: Andante	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	9
Fidelio Overture, Op. 72	1804IMSLP	Op. 72	—	Piano, Harp, Organ, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Timpani, Trumpet	Classical	9
Waltz in E-flat Major	—	—	E-flat major	Piano	Classical	10
First Movement (Symphony No 8)	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	11
Farewell to the Piano	—	—	—	Piano, Guitar	Classical	10
Rondo A Capriccio (In Hungarian Style) 'Rage Over A Lost Penny', Opus 129 - Posthumous	1795IMSLP	Opus 129	—	Piano	Classical	11
Symphony No. 6 in F Major ("Pastoral"), Op. 68, Fifth Movement Excerpt	—	Op. 68	F major	Piano	Classical	8
Menuet in G major, WoO 10, No. 2	—	WoO 10, No. 2	G major	Piano	Classical	14
Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 18, No. 3	—	Op. 18, No. 3	D major	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	11
Quartet No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4	—	Op. 18, No. 4	C minor	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	11
Country Waltz (Landler)	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	6
Polonaise, Op. 889	—	Op. 889	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	10
Capesong (Schubart)	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	8
Little Menuet In G	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	11
Hunting Song [Woo 1]	—	Woo 1	—	Piano	Classical	11
Symphony #7	1811-1812IMSLP	—	—	violin	Classical	9
SONG OF THE FLEA, THE	—	—	—	Voice	Classical	10
Sonata in Ab Op. 26 Movement I: Andante with variations	—	Op. 26	—	Piano	Classical	10
Ninth Symphony	1822-1824IMSLP	—	—	—	Classical	10
The Wonder-Blossom	—	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	9
Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 "Pastorale"	—	op. 68	F major	Piano, Harp, Organ, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Orchestra, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Timpan	Classical	8
Rondo for Piano in C major, op. 51 no. 1: Moderato e grazioso	—	op. 51 no. 1	C major	Piano	Classical	14
Symphony No.9	1822-1824Wikidata	—	—	Piano, Cello, violin, Bassoon, Horn, Trombone, Triangle, Tuba, Piccolo, Cymbals	Classical	10
Violin Sonata No.10	1812IMSLP	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	6
Cello Sonata No.3	1808Wikidata	—	—	Piano, Cello	Classical	7
Diabelli Variations Op.120	1819-23IMSLP	Op.120	—	Piano	Classical	9
Fantasia in G Minor / Bb Major, Op.77	1809IMSLP	Op.77	—	Piano	Classical	6
12 German Dances, WoO 13	1792-97IMSLP	WoO 13	—	Piano, Orchestra	Classical	10
Piano Concerto No.1	1798-1800Wikidata	—	—	violin, strings, Timpani	Classical	9
Piano Concerto No.5	1809-10Wikidata	—	—	Piano, Cello, violin, strings, Timpani	Classical	9
String Quartet No. 6	1800IMSLP	—	—	Piano, Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	7
Sonata No. 8	1798IMSLP	—	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	9
Sonata #12 - Op. 26	—	Op. 26	—	Piano	Classical	7
Sonata #23 - Op. 57	—	Op. 57	—	Piano	Classical	11
German Dance in G Major, WoO8, No.6	—	WoO8, No.6	G major	Piano	Classical	10
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37	—	Op. 37	C minor	Piano, Harp, Organ, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Timpani, Trumpet	Classical	12
King Stephan (Konig Stephan), Op. 117	1811 (August-September)IMSLP	Op. 117	—	Piano, Harp, Organ, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Timpani, Trumpet	Classical	9

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.