Composer

Ludwig van Beethoven

German composer (1770-1827)

1770–1827

6,206 catalog entries

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
Entries with composition dates: 358 of 6,206

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Grouped works and collections

Find collection editions and individual pieces together on one page.

Browse 71 grouped works and collections

"Sonata in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1" (1 listed pieces)
(Simplified) (1 listed pieces)
Adagio Cantabile (6 listed pieces)
Bagatelle (4 listed pieces)
Bagatelles, Op. 119 (10 listed pieces)
Bagatelles, Op. 126 (6 listed pieces)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 4 in G major, op. 58 (2 listed pieces)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, op. 61 (2 listed pieces)
Dances, WOO 11 (2 listed pieces)
Dances, WOO 13 (4 listed pieces)
Dances, WOO 14 (3 listed pieces)
Dances, WOO 42 (4 listed pieces)
Dances, WOO 8 (5 listed pieces)
Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus Op.43 (1 listed pieces)
Die Ruinen von Athen Op.113 (2 listed pieces)
Ecossaise in G (1 listed pieces)
Egmont, Op.84 (3 listed pieces)
Etudes, Op. 49 (2 listed pieces)
Fidelio, Op.72 (1 listed pieces)
Minuet in G (8 listed pieces)
Moonlight Sonata Op.27 No.2 (1 listed pieces)
Op.49, No.2 (1 listed pieces)
Overture (1 listed pieces)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15 (5 listed pieces)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19 (6 listed pieces)
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 (4 listed pieces)
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58 (7 listed pieces)
Piano Concerto No.5 (1 listed pieces)
Piano Sonata No.5 (1 listed pieces)
Prometheus (1 listed pieces)
Quartet No.13, Op.130 (1 listed pieces)
Rondo (2 listed pieces)
Rondo a Capriccio Op.129 (1 listed pieces)
Rondo in A Major, WoO 49 (1 listed pieces)
Septet (1 listed pieces)
Serenade in D Major, Op. 8 (1 listed pieces)
Seven Bagatelles, Op. 33 (7 listed pieces)
Sextet in E-Flat major, Op. 71 (1 listed pieces)
Sonata In D Op.12 No.1 (1 listed pieces)
Sonata No. 19 (1 listed pieces)
Sonata No. 8 (1 listed pieces)
Sonata Op 10 No 3 (6 listed pieces)
Sonata Op 14 No 1 (1 listed pieces)
Sonata Op 26 (1 listed pieces)
Sonata Op 49, No 2 (1 listed pieces)
Sonata Pathetique (1 listed pieces)
Sonata, Op. 13 ("Pathetique") (2 listed pieces)
Sonate Pathetique Op 13 (1 listed pieces)
Sonatina In D (1 listed pieces)
Sonatine (1 listed pieces)
Songs, Op. 48 (6 listed pieces)
Songs, Op. 52 (8 listed pieces)
Songs, Op. 75 (6 listed pieces)
Songs, Op. 83 (3 listed pieces)
Symphony No 7, 2nd Movement (9 listed pieces)
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major (1 listed pieces)
Symphony No. 3 In E-Flat Major ('Eroica') (1 listed pieces)
Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60 (4 listed pieces)
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 (4 listed pieces)
Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 (3 listed pieces)
Symphony No. 9, Fourth Movement (27 listed pieces)
Symphony No. 9, Op. 125 (1 listed pieces)
Symphony No.1 - Score and Parts (1 listed pieces)
Symphony No.1 - Tuba 1 (1 listed pieces)
Symphony No.1 - Tuba 2 (1 listed pieces)
Symphony No.1 - Tuba 3 (1 listed pieces)
Symphony No.1 - Tuba 4 (1 listed pieces)
Symphony No.6 (7 listed pieces)
Symphony No.8 (3 listed pieces)
Symphony No.9 (20 listed pieces)
Violin Concerto (1 listed pieces)

Catalogue

Works page 53 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
Seven Landler, Wo0 11	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Piano Piece (Happy & Sad), Wo0 54	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Allegretto, Wo0 61	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Rondo, Wo0 48	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Rondo, Opus 53, #2	—	Opus 53	—	Piano	Classical	1
Andante 'Andante Favori', Wo0 57	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Romanza from Sonatina in G	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
"Sonata in C, Op. 53 (Waldstein)"	—	Op. 53	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 21 C-Dur op. 53 "Waldstein-Sonate" (1795/96)	—	op. 53	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 26 Es-Dur op. 81a "Les Adieux" (1809/10)	—	op. 81a	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 27 e-Moll op. 90 (1814)	—	op. 90	—	Piano	Classical	1
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 28 A-Dur op. 101 (1816)	—	op. 101	—	Piano	Classical	0
"Sonata in C, Op. 2 No. 3"	—	Op. 2 No. 3	—	Piano	Classical	1
Old French Gavotte	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
7 Var. Kind,Willst Du Ru/Winter	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
6 Eash Var. On A Swiss Song	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
5 Var. On Rule Britannia	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
3 Piano sonatas WoO 47 [Kurfursten sonatas], WoO 47 (Piano solo)	—	WoO 47	—	Piano	Classical	0
24 Variations on "Venni amore" WoO 65	—	WoO 65	—	Piano	Classical	2
Beethoven: 3 Sonatas [Kurf!rsten-Sonatas] WoO 47	—	WoO 47	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sinfonie Nr. 3 Es-Dur op. 55 "Eroica" -Bearbeitung fur Klavier zu 4 Handen-	—	op. 55	—	Piano	Classical	1
Sinfonie Nr. 4 B-Dur op. 60 -Bearbeitung fur Klavier zu 4 Handen-	—	op. 60	—	Piano	Classical	1
Rondo in G Major, opus 51 #2	—	opus 51	G major	Piano	Classical	0
Leonore-Ouverture Nr. 1 C-Dur op. 138 -Bearbeitung fur Klavier-	—	op. 138	—	Piano	Classical	0
Zur Namensfeier - Ouverture C-Dur op. 115 -Bearbeitung fur Klavier-	—	op. 115	—	Piano	Classical	1
Konig Stephan - Ouverture Es-Dur op. 117 -Bearbeitung fur Klavier-	—	op. 117	—	Piano	Classical	1
Die Weihe des Hauses - Ouverture C-Dur op. 124 -Bearbeitung fur Klavier-	—	op. 124	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sinfonien Nr. 9 d-Moll op. 125 -Bearbeitung fur Klavier zu 2 Handen-	—	op. 125	—	Piano	Classical	2
Sinfonien Nr. 8 F-Dur op. 93 -Bearbeitung fur Klavier zu 2 Handen-	—	op. 93	—	Piano	Classical	2
Allemande in A, WoO 81	—	WoO 81	—	Piano	Classical	3
Variation I From 6 Variationen (Woo 64)	—	Woo 64	—	Piano	Classical	0
Variation Iii From 6 Variationen (Woo 64)	—	Woo 64	—	Piano	Classical	0
Variation Vi From 13 Variationen (Woo 66)	—	Woo 66	—	Piano	Classical	0
Ecossaise in Es WoO 83 Nr. 1	—	WoO 83 Nr. 1	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sechs Variationen in F uber ein Schweizer Lied WoO 64	—	WoO 64	—	Piano	Classical	0
"Schone Minka" (Air russe) aus op. 107 Nr. 7	—	op. 107 Nr. 7	—	Piano	Classical	0
Equale	—	—	—	Organ	Classical	1
3. Heroischer Marsch	—	—	—	harpsichord	Classical	0
When I Was On Ialomita	—	—	—	Flute	Classical	0
Tram, Take Me Home	—	—	—	Flute	Classical	0
IV. Rondo	—	—	—	Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Horn, Clarinet	Classical	1
Joy Of Friendship	—	—	—	Flute	Classical	0
6 Varied Themes, Op. 105	—	Op. 105	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	0
--Chiling OGuirg	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	0
--Paddy whack	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	0
--A Madel, ja a Madel	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	0
--Peggys daughter	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	0
--Schone Minka	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	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.