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Beethoven Chronology 1
Beethoven Chronology 1
Part 1 of our Beethoven timeline follows the story of the composer's birth to
his Symphony no. 2.
1773
24 December: Beethoven's beloved grandfather, Kapellmeister Ludwig van
Beethoven, dies.
1774
8 April: Beethoven's brother Caspar Carl baptised.
1776
2 October: Beethoven's brother Nikolaus Johann baptised.
1780
Beethoven begins lessons with Gottlob Neefe, who writes of him in Cramer's
Magazin der Musik: "He plays the clavier very skilfully and with power [and]
reads at sight very well... This youthful genius is deserving of help to enable him
to travel. He would surely become a second Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were he
to continue as he has begun."
1784
Beethoven appointed assistant court organist alongside Neefe.
1789
Beethoven's father, Johann van Beethoven, a tenor singer, is forced to retire
from the electoral choir, after his increased drinking ruined his voice. On one
occasion, after becoming drunk in public, he was arrested - only to be released
after Ludwig had pleaded with the police. Because of his alcoholism, he was
ordered by the Elector to be banished to a village away from Bonn, and half his
salary paid to Ludwig. In fact he remained in Bonn, and for appearance's sake he
received his full retirement salary, making half of it over to his son privately.
1793
Beethoven begins lessons with Haydn. The city's most influential musical
patrons - particularly Prince Lichnowsky - take Beethoven under their wing, and
put him forward to take on the city's piano virtuosos in improvisation contests.
One after the other he defeats them and quickly establishes his reputation as the
finest piano virtuoso in Vienna.
1798 Trios op. 9; the Trio op. 11; the three Violin
Sonatas op. 12
In an extraordinary burst of creativity at the start of the year, Beethoven
completes the Piano Sonatas op. 10, composes the three string Trios op. 9, the
Trio op. 11, and the three Violin Sonatas op. 12. Later in the year he begins work
on the Septet op. 20 and composes the huge Pathétique Sonata op. 13.