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 88 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
Trio No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 11	—	Op. 11	B-Flat major	Piano	Classical	0
Minuet in F	—	—	—	—	—	0
Ode To Joy From Symphony No 9	—	—	—	—	—	0
"Bagatelle in G minor, Op. 126 No. 2"	—	Op. 126 No. 2	G minor	—	—	0
"Bagatelle in C, Op. 119 No. 2"	—	Op. 119 No. 2	—	—	—	0
Anglaise	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Two Bagatelles	—	—	—	—	—	0
Minuet In F Major	—	—	F major	—	—	0
Minuet In C Major	—	—	C major	—	—	0
Bagatelle In C Major	—	—	C major	—	—	0
"Rondo (Allegro): Sonatina in F, Anh. 5/2: second movement"	—	—	—	—	—	0
Adagio Cantabile from the Pathetique Sonata, opus 13	—	opus 13	—	—	—	0
"Allegro, First movement from Sonata in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1"	—	Op. 2 No. 1	F minor	—	—	0
Klavierstuck in B flat, WoO 60	—	WoO 60	—	Piano	Classical	1
Sinfonie Nr. 1 C-Dur op. 21 -Bearbeitung fur Klavier zu 2 Handen-	—	op. 21	—	Piano	Classical	0
9 Variations on a March by E. C. Dressler WoO 63	—	WoO 63	—	Piano	Classical	1
12 Variations on the Minuet a la Vigan" by J. Haibel WoO 68	—	WoO 68	—	—	—	0
9 Variations on "Quant e pi	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Russian Folk Dance	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonata Op 49, No 2	—	Op 49, No 2	—	Piano	Classical	0
Symphony No 7, 2nd Movement	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Country Dance in D Major	—	—	D major	Piano	Classical	0
Russian Folk Song in G Major	—	—	G major	Piano	Classical	0
Three Cadenzas For The 'Concerto In D Major', Op.61	—	Op.61	D major	violin	Classical	0
Menuet, No.2 In G	—	—	—	Cello	Classical	1
Adagio "Moonlight" Sonata	—	—	—	—	—	0
Trio for 2 Oboes	—	—	—	Oboe, Saxophone	Classical	2
Minuet, Andante And Variations, Op.25	—	Op.25	—	—	—	1
Variations, Op.18 No.5	—	Op.18 No.5	—	Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Horn, Clarinet	Classical	1
Scherzo and Trio	—	—	—	Flute	Classical	0
The 9 Symphonies, Leonore No. 3, Violin Concerto	—	—	—	Oboe	Classical	1
Variations On A Scotch Air, Op.105	—	Op.105	—	Flute	Classical	0
Variations On A Austrian Air, Op.105	—	Op.105	—	Flute	Classical	0
Variations On A Russian Air, Op.107	—	Op.107	—	Flute	Classical	0
Bagatelle in D, Op.119, No. 3	—	Op.119, No. 3	—	—	—	0
Six Variations on Nel Cor piu non mi sento	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Six Variations On An Original Theme in G Major	—	—	G major	Piano	Classical	1
Sonatina in F MajorAllegro / Rondo	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Rehearsal Schedule Planner	—	—	—	Piano, Cello, violin	Classical	0
Sonata, Op. 13 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	Op. 13	—	Piano, Organ	Classical	0
Minuet from Septet	—	—	—	—	—	0
The Dotted Eighth Note in Four-Four	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Melody in Inner Voice	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
The Lily Pond	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	1
Bird Song	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Jam Session	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
The Heavens Are Telling	—	—	—	Organ	Classical	0
Air and Variation	—	—	—	Organ	Classical	1

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.