If he was still alive, he’d be 240 years old today. He is believed to have been born on December 16, 1770, although no actual record exists (we only know he was baptized on the 17th).
I’ve been really getting into Beethoven since earlier this summer, and although I lack enough knowledge of musical criticism to say anything original about him (and really, is it even possible to say anything original about Beethoven anymore), I will say that he’s as great as his reputation…240 years hasn’t aged the music a bit.
For those unfamiliar with his work, I recommend:
- Symphony #3 “Eroica”
- Piano Concerto #5 “Emperor”
- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
- Piano Sonata no. 8 “Pathetique”
- Piano Sonata no. 23 “Appassionata”
You can download various Beethoven piano works for free from Piano Society. Also, you can download all of Beethoven’s symphonies at Amazon for just eight bucks–less than a dollar a symphony!
(Cartoon by Charles Schulz. But you knew that.)