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 9 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
1. Kyrie	—	—	—	Voice, Orchestra, Choir, Voice Tenor	Classical	8
4. Sanctus	—	—	—	Voice, Orchestra, Choir, Voice Tenor	Classical	5
Sonata, A minor, op. 23 (Violin and piano)	—	op. 23	—	Piano, violin	Classical	3
Adagio Ma Non Troppo	—	—	—	Piano, Mandolin	Classical	5
Performance Tracks	—	—	—	Choir, Voice Tenor	Classical	7
Sonata No. 9	—	—	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	3
Dance	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	6
Ecossaise in G Major, WoO 23	—	WoO 23	G major	Piano	Classical	17
Sonata No. 8 in C Minor (Pathetique), Op. 13	—	Op. 13	C minor	Piano	Classical	5
Twelve Variations on a dance by Wrantizky, WoO 71	—	WoO 71	—	Piano	Classical	4
Six Ecossaises, WoO 83	—	WoO 83	—	Piano	Classical	6
Seven Landler, WoO 11	—	WoO 11	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonata #14 - Op. 27, #2	—	Op. 27	—	Piano	Classical	7
Sonata #21 - Op. 53	—	Op. 53	—	Piano	Classical	6
Sonata #24 - Op. 78	—	Op. 78	—	Piano	Classical	6
Beethoven: Piano Piece B flat major WoO 60	—	WoO 60	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	4
Beethoven: Rondo G major op. 51,2	—	op. 51	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	3
Allegretto from Symphony No. 7	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
Little German Dance - Beethoven	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	7
Oh! Susanna	—	—	—	Piano, Flute, Recorder, Autoharp	Classical	3
Sonata Op 2 No 3	—	Op 2 No 3	—	Piano	Classical	7
Sonata Op 10 No 1	—	Op 10 No 1	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonata Op 10 No 2	—	Op 10 No 2	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonate Pathetique Op 13	—	Op 13	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonata Op 14 No 2	—	Op 14 No 2	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonata Op 27 No 1	—	Op 27 No 1	—	Piano	Classical	7
12 Variations on a theme by Mozart (The Magic Flute) - Op. 66	—	Op. 66	—	Piano, Cello	Classical	3
Symphony No. 4 in Bb Major, Op. 60	—	Op. 60	B-flat major	Piano, Harp, Organ, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Timpani, Trumpet	Classical	3
Overture	—	—	—	Piano, Harp, Organ, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Timpani, Trumpet	Classical	3
German Dance in G Major	—	—	G major	Piano	Classical	7
Country Dance (Finale from Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica')	—	—	—	Piano	—	6
An die Geliebte	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
German Dance in F Major	—	—	F major	Piano	Classical	5
Pathetique Sonata - Complete	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Six Easy Variations On An Original Theme	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	2
opening)	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonata B flat major Op. 22	—	Op. 22	—	Piano	Classical	4
Andante, F major, WoO 57 (Piano solo)	—	WoO 57	—	Piano	Classical	2
"Sonata in E, Op. 14 No. 1"	—	Op. 14 No. 1	—	Piano	Classical	5
"Sonata in Eb, Op. 7"	—	Op. 7	—	Piano	Classical	5
Sonata in G, Op. 79Presto alla tedesca / Andante / Vivace	—	Op. 79P	—	Piano	—	3
Sonata in G Major	—	—	G major	Piano	Classical	3
Menuett No. 2	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	5
Six Variations on Nel cor piu non mi sento, WoO 70	—	WoO 70	—	Piano	Classical	10
Quartet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2	—	Op. 18, No. 2	G major	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	5
Quartet #4, Opus 18 #4	—	Opus 18	—	Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	5
May Song	—	—	—	Piano, violin, Recorder	Classical	7
Quartet #12, Opus 127	—	Opus 127	—	Cello, violin, Viola	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.