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 98 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
Theme from the Choral Symphony	—	—	—	—	—	0
Minuet & Trio	—	—	—	—	—	0
Variations On A Russian Theme	—	—	—	Piano, Cello, violin, Viola	Classical	0
Minuetto and Trio	—	—	—	—	—	0
3. Fugue in E minor	—	—	E minor	Organ	Classical	0
Overture "Prometheus"	—	—	—	violin, Clarinet	Classical	2
Overture "Egmont"	—	—	—	—	—	0
Ballet Music from "Prometheus"	—	—	—	Cello	Classical	1
Symphony No. 1 In C, Opus 21	—	Opus 21	—	Clarinet	Classical	1
Symphony No. 2 In D, Opus 36	—	Opus 36	—	Clarinet	Classical	1
Symphony No. 4 In Bb, Opus 60	—	Opus 60	—	Clarinet	Classical	1
Symphony No. 6 In F Major, Opus 68 "Pastorale"	—	Opus 68	F major	Clarinet	Classical	1
Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Opus 125	—	Opus 125	D minor	—	—	1
Sonata Op. 12 No. 1 in D	—	Op. 12 No. 1	—	violin	Classical	1
Sonata Op. 12 No. 3 in Eb	—	Op. 12 No. 3	—	violin	Classical	1
Shepherds' Song' from Symphony No. 6	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 17 d-Moll op. 31; 2 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	op. 31	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 21 C-Dur op. 53 "Waldstein-Sonate" Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	op. 53	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 22 F-Dur op. 54 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	op. 54	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 24 Fis-Dur op. 78 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	op. 78	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 27 e-Moll op. 90 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	op. 90	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 28 A-Dur op. 101 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	op. 101	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 30 E-Dur op. 109 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	op. 109	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 32 c-Moll op. 111 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	op. 111	—	Piano	Classical	0
Sonata Op. 30 No. 1 in A	—	Op. 30 No. 1	—	violin	Classical	1
Sonata Op. 30 No. 3 in G	—	Op. 30 No. 3	—	violin	Classical	1
Beethoven Metronome	—	—	—	Bassoon, Tuba	Classical	0
The Olympians [Arranged by Joseph Compello] Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	—	—	Piano, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Horn, Tuba, percussion, Euphonium, Tenor Saxophone	Classical	0
Emperor Concerto Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Lesson 5 Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	—	—	Piano, Organ	Classical	0
2nd Movt: Andante con moto	—	—	—	—	Classical	1
3rd Movt: Allegro	—	—	—	—	Classical	1
Minuet in G, Wo0, No. 2	—	—	—	—	—	0
Mondscheinsonate, Op. 27 no. 2	—	Op. 27 no. 2	—	—	—	1
Bagatelle, WoO 56	—	WoO 56	—	—	—	0
The Black Velvet Band	—	—	—	Tin Whistle	Classical	0
Ecossaises in E Flat	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Bagatelle, Op. 119, No. 11	—	Op. 119, No. 11	—	—	—	0
Variations on 'God Save the King'	—	—	—	—	—	0
Turkish March Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	—	—	—	—	0
Country Dance Performed by Ludwig van Beethoven	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	0
Rosemary's Baby: Fur Elise	—	—	—	—	—	0
Pastoral Sympathy	—	—	—	Piano	Classical, pop	1
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 E flat major op. 73	—	op. 73	—	Piano	Classical	2
Air	—	—	—	Piano, Flute	Classical	0
German Dance 1	—	—	—	—	Classical	0
German Dance 2	—	—	—	—	Classical	0
Kontretanz in G Major	—	—	G major	Cello	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.