Ludwig van Beethoven

1
Ludwig van Beethoven

• THERE IS ONLY ONE BEETHOVEN

2
Early Life

• Baptized on Dec. 17, 1770
• Children at that time were usually baptized the
  day after they were born so it is assumed that he
  was born on Dec. 16, 1770
• Born in the city of Bonn in the country of Germany

3

• Both Beethovens grandfather and father were
  musicians
• Beethoven was named after his grandfather who was
  also called Lugwig
• There were 7 children born in Beethovens family
  but only he and two younger brother survived past
  infancy. The other four died as very young
  children

4
Learning Music

• Beethovens first music teacher was his father
• It is said by many that his father was very harsh
  and "made to stand at the keyboard.. often in
  tears."
• Beethoven went on to have other teachers
  including the famous composers Mozart and Hayden
• He learned piano, violin, French horn and organ

5
Moving to Austria

• In 1792 when he was 22, Beethoven moved to the
  city of Vienna in the country of Austria

6

• Beethoven became known as an incredible piano
  player
• Beethoven worked for several members of nobility
  princes, counts
• Beethoven began composing his own music and is
  especially known for writing symphonies and music
  for the piano

7
Personal Life

• Beethoven was engaged at one time and in love
  with a few other women but he never married
• After Beethovens death, letters were found that
  were written to his Immortal Beloved. It is
  unclear exactly who that was

8

• In 1815 when Beethoven was 45, his brother Karl
  died and Beethoven fought for custody of his 9
  year old nephew (Karl) and won it.

9
Losing His Hearing

• Beethoven began losing his hearing about 1796 (he
  was 26)
• Beethoven used a special rod attached to the
  soundboard on a piano that he could bitethe
  vibrations would then transfer from the piano to
  his jaw
• Beethoven would also lay his head right on the
  piano to feel the vibrations

10

• He is known to have cut the legs off his piano
  and laid it on the floor to better feel the
  vibration of the music
• He used hearing aids known as ear horns or ear
  trumpets
• He kept conversation books to talk with people

11
Still Composing

• Deafness did not keep Beethoven from composing
• Beethoven was completely deaf when he wrote his
  famous 9th Symphony
• He conducted the orchestra when it was performed
  and when the music was over, he had to be turned
  around to see that people were clapping
• The deafness caused great depression in Beethoven

12

• He was known to display a very bad temper
• He would sometimes ignore visitors if he was in
  the middle of composing
• He started to not take care of cleanliness he
  did not bathe regularly but just poor water over
  himself
• He would lose his temper with waiters at
  restaurants

13
Beethovens sickness

• Something terrible happened to him physically
  between the ages of 20 and 24. He became
  extraordinarily ill. And he had tremendous
  abdominal pain and misery. He went to many
  doctors and basically suffered with that
  condition through the rest of his life.
• Scientists, using high powered x-rays and
  fragments of Beethovens bones and hair, now
  believe that Beethoven suffered and died from
  lead poisoning

14

• Still a mystery, however, is the source of
  Beethoven's lead exposure, which evidence now
  suggests occurred over many years. Among the
  possibilities are his diet, liberal indulgence in
  wine consumed from lead cups or perhaps a
  lifetime of medical treatments, which in the 19th
  century were often laced with heavy metals.
• Some scientists also wonder if his body was
  unable to rid itself of the normal lead that
  humans are exposed to but instead kept it in the
  body.
• The exact source of the lead is unknown.

15
Beethovens Death

• Beethoven died March 26, 1827 at 57 years of age
  he died during a thunderstorm
• His funeral was attended by somewhere between 10
  000 and 30 000 people
• He is buried in Vienna, Austria