Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn to the son of Johann van Beethoven, a tenor in a choir,and his wife, Maria Magdalena. His first music lessons were from his father, an unstable man whose rough temper and desire to make Beethoven into the next Mozart did not destroy Beethoven's talent or his love for music. He studied and performed successfully, despite becoming the main entertainment source of the family by the time he …

…the last decade of his life include the Diabelli Variations, the last piano sonatas, the last six string quartets, the Mass in D Major, Missa solemnis, and the Choral Symphony, no. 9 in which he set An die Freude (Ode to Joy) by Friedrich von Schiller in the final movement. He died March 26, 1827. His funeral was attended by 20,000 friends and admirers. He has been called one of the greatest and most brilliant composers to ever live.