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 8 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
Symphony No 1 in C Op 21	1799-1800IMSLP	Op 21	—	Piano	Classical	8
Sonata in C# Major Op. 27 No. 2 1st mvt	—	Op. 27 No. 2	C-sharp major	Piano	Classical	9
Allegro from Violin Concerto in D	1806IMSLP	—	—	Flute, violin	Classical	5
Sonata in G Minor, Op. 49, No. 1	—	Op. 49, No. 1	G minor	Piano	—	6
"German Dance No. 6, WoO8"	—	WoO8	—	Piano, Clarinet	Classical	7
"Sonatina in G, Anh. 5/1: 2nd movement, Romance"	—	—	—	Piano, Organ	Classical	6
"Sonata in Eb, WoO 47/1" Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	WoO 47/1	—	Piano	Classical	5
Allegretto Theme Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	—	—	Flute, violin, Clarinet	Classical, pop	7
Mineut in C	—	—	—	—	Classical	6
Sonata No. 26 In Eb Major , Op. 81a Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	Op. 81a	E-flat major	Piano	Classical	6
Four Ariettas and a Duet, Op. 82 - 5. Lebens-Genuss	1809 ca.IMSLP	Op. 82	—	—	Classical	5
Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12, No. 1	—	Op. 12, No. 1	D major	violin	Classical	5
Sonata No. 6 in A Major, Op. 30, No. 1	—	Op. 30, No. 1	A major	violin	Classical	6
Symphony No. 4 in Bb Major, Op. 60 - First Movement	—	Op. 60	B-flat major	—	Classical	5
Violin Sonata No. 2, op. 12, no. 2 Performed by Mario Hossen; Sung-Suk Kang;	1797-98IMSLP	op. 12, no. 2	—	violin	Classical	4
Violin Sonata No. 5, op. 24 Performed by Mario Hossen; Sung-Suk Kang;	1800-01IMSLP	op. 24	—	violin	Classical	3
Symphony No.6 , 5th Movement	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	7
Themes from Symphony No. 3	—	—	—	Orchestra	Classical	0
Beethoven Overtures	—	—	—	Piano, Hands	Classical	6
Beethoven: Six German Dances, Allemande and Waltz	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	8
The King's Speech	—	—	—	Organ, Choir	—	8
Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 18 No. 1	—	Op. 18 No. 1	—	violin, Viola	Classical	8
Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 18 No. 4	—	Op. 18 No. 4	—	violin, Viola	Classical	8
Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 18 No. 2	—	Op. 18 No. 2	—	violin, Viola	Classical	8
Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 18 No. 3	—	Op. 18 No. 3	—	violin, Viola	Classical	8
Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 18 No. 5	—	Op. 18 No. 5	—	violin, Viola	Classical	8
Polonaise for Piano in C major, op. 89: Alla polacca, vivace	1814IMSLP	op. 89	C major	Piano	Classical	6
Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125 "Choral", S. 464 no. 9: IV. Presto – Allegro assai "Ode to Joy"	—	op. 125; S. 464 no. 9	D minor	Piano, violin, Recorder, Viola	Classical	8
String Trio, Op.3	1792–96IMSLP	Op.3	—	Cello, violin	Classical	2
Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano	1804IMSLP	—	—	Piano, violin, strings, Timpani	Classical	4
Thirty-two variations in C minor on an original theme	1806IMSLP	—	C minor	—	Classical	3
Violin Concerto	1806IMSLP	—	—	violin, strings, Bassoon, Timpani	Classical	4
Violin Sonata No.6	1801-02Wikidata	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	2
Cello Sonata No.2	1796Wikidata	—	—	Piano, Cello	Classical	4
Ecossaises WoO 83	1806IMSLP	WoO 83	—	Piano	Classical	4
Fantasia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra	1808IMSLP	—	—	strings, Timpani	Classical	7
12 German Dances, WoO 8	1795IMSLP	WoO 8	—	Piano, Orchestra	Classical	8
Leonora Overture No. 1	1807IMSLP	—	—	Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Clarinet, Timpani, Trumpet	Classical	4
Name Day Overture, Op.115	1814 (October) - 1815 (March)IMSLP	Op.115	—	Piano, Harp, Organ, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Timpani, Trumpet	Classical	2
Piano Sonata No.27	1814Wikidata	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Piano Trio No.3, Op.1 No.3	1793-95IMSLP	Op.1 No.3	—	Piano, Cello, violin	Classical	3
Piano Trio No.8, Op.38	1803IMSLP	Op.38	—	violin	Classical	2
Two Preludes through all twelve major keys for piano, Op.39	1789IMSLP	Op.39	—	Piano	Classical	3
Serenade for Flute, Violin & Viola, Op.25	1795-96IMSLP	Op.25	—	Flute, violin	Classical	5
Sonatina in C	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
Eight Songs, Op.52	1790–1805 ca.IMSLP	Op.52	—	Piano, Voice	Classical	1
String Quartet No. 13	1825, rev.1825-26Wikidata	—	—	—	Classical	3
Joyful, Joyful	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Flute, Choir	Classical	4

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.