Musical Notes

Introduction to Beethoven

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In this episode, we give a quick introduction to the life and music of composer Ludwig Van Beethoven, one of the most important composers in Western classical music.

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Suggested works for listening (to help you get started, we suggest starting with his early and middle works...his late works can be tough for newcomers to get into):

  • Early Period: Piano Sonatas #8 & 14, Symphony #1, String Quartets #1 - 6, Violin Sonata #5, Romance in F major
  • Middle Period: Piano Sonatas #21, 23, & 26, Symphonies #3, 5, 6, & 7, String Quartets #7 - 9, Piano Concerto #5, Violin Concerto
  • Late Period: Piano Sonatas #28 - 32, Symphony #9, String Quartets #12 - 16 (including the Grosse Fugue), Diabelli Variations, Missa Solemnis


    • Music used (all pieces were composed by Beethoven):

    • Piano Trio No. 1 (performed by Beaux Arts Trio)
    • Eroica Variations (performed by Emil Gilels)
    • Piano Sonata No. 8 "Pathetique" (performed by Yundi Li)
    • Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight" (performed by Jenö Jandó)
    • Symphony No. 5 (Herbert von Karajan with the Berlin Philharmonic)
    • Symphony No. 6 (Herbert von Karajan with the Berlin Philharmonic)
    • Symphony No. 9 (Günter Wand with the NDR Symphony Orchestra)
    • 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126 (Performed by Wilhelm Kempff)


      • If you want to explore more: most of the information comes from Beethoven by Barry Cooper. Some additional sources used are listed below.

      • A Brief History of Beethoven
        • Concise History of Western Music
          • Karl van Beethoven
          • Keeping Score: Eroica
            • ...more
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