An Ode to Beethoven

     Beethoven  is a name I have often heard throughout my life. Besides that ever famous Symphony No.5 in C minor

, I have always wondered what made Ludwig Van Beethoven the most revered and famous musician of all time. I have discovered the reasons for this while studying his life before recognition and  the early, heroic, and late periods of his recognition.
     Before his fame began he was born in Bonn, Germany towards the end of the Classical Music Era. Though he came from a family of musicians, his grandfather being a well respected one, his father was an alcoholic. Due to his father’s incompetence, Beethoven was burdened with the responsibility of managing the family’s financial affairs.
     By 1792, at the age of 22, the early period of his musical recognition began. He became a fantastic piano virtuoso and performed often. He moved to Vienna, Austria to study with Joseph Hadyn. Because his early compositions contained unusual elements contrary to the musical tradition of the time he did not succeed as Hadyn’s pupil. In spite of this, the string quartets he wrote owe a great debt to Hadyn’s teachings. He also wrote board and chamber music and by age 32, as the Romantical Music Era began to develop,
he was writing much larger works.
     During the heroic middle years of his career spanning from 1802 to 1812, Beethoven learned that he was going deaf, thus he composed much music. His brother died and he battled for custody of his nephew Karl. Beethoven’s manner of strictness caused Karl to attempt suicide. After this, he brokenheartedly relinquished custody of the boy.
     By 1817, the late years of his music career develop, and Beethoven is completely deaf. In spite of his deafness, he would not lose his passion for music. He audiated compositions inside his head and created more symphonies and string quartets. But, because of his deafness, he could not play or conduct.
     Despite the hardships of his life, coupled with a handicap that is practically mandatory for a musical trade, Beethoven did not cease to pursue his passion. I can feel his passion as well as his pain and sorrow over his unfair losses when I hear his music. One composition that stands out to me is his “Six Easy Variations on a Swiss Tune”

for his beloved piano. Each tune hammers the strings of my heart. As I listen I grieve with a strong admiration and honor for, not only a fabulous magical musician, but for a man whose life and music expresses the passion of sorrows that I myself face in this dying world.