1770 |
When was Beethoven born? December 16th uncertain in Bonn, Germany December 17th: Baptized at Bonn |
1774 |
April 8th: Baptism of his brother Caspar Anton Carl Ludwig learns music with his father
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1776 |
October 2nd: Baptism of his brother Nikolaus Johann
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1778 |
March 26th: Ludwig’s first known public performance, at Cologne
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1779 |
February 23rd: Baptism of his sister Anna Maria Franziska (died four days later) October: Neefe pursues Ludwig’s musical training |
1781 |
January 17th: Baptism of his brother Franz Georg (died two years later) |
1782 |
Publication of first work in Beethoven life known as the Dressler Variations |
1783 |
October 14th: Publication of three sonatas and other works |
1784 |
June: Ludwig is appointed organist to the Choir of Maximilian Franz. He is 14 year old.
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1786 |
May 5th: Baptism of his sister Maria Margaretha (died one year later) |
1787 |
Visited Vienna, studied with Mozart July 17th: death of his mother
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1789-1792 |
Played for four seasons as violinist at the Opera of Bonn Numerous Beethoven compositions
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1791 |
December 5th: Death of Mozart |
1792 |
November 2nd: Left for Vienna November 10th: Arrived at Vienna Musical studies with Haydn December 18th: Death of his father |
1794 |
May: His brother Carl arrives at Vienna January 19th: Haydn returns to London. Ludwig studies with Albrechtsberger Composition of his first major work: Trios for Piano (opus 1) |
1795 |
March 29th: First public appearance at Vienna; he played his own works July: Finished his studies with Albrechtsberger August: Trios for Piano (opus 1) published September: Haydn returns to Vienna and meets Ludwig December 26th: His brother Johann arrives in Vienna Proposes to Magdalena Willmann, but she refuses him
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1796 |
Numerous Beethoven compositions and a concert given at Prague July: Returns to Vienna after Prague, Dresden, Leipzig, and Berlin before leaving for a concert in Budapest
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1797 |
Probably the year of a serious illness, which triggered his deafness |
1797-1799 |
Composition and publication of works
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1799 |
Instruction by Salieri Began composing the first symphony |
1800 |
Concert at Vienna, playing of his first symphony End of the year: Composition of his second symphony
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1802 |
February: Finished his second symphony April: left for Heiligenstadt in the hope that his hearing would improve. Returned to Vienna in October
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1803 |
January: Ludwig became the composer of the Theatre of Vienna, where he lived with his brother Carl June-October: Composed the Eroica symphony August 6th: The piano maker Sébastien Erard sent him a new piano, as a present. This allowed for bigger intervals – like the pianos we have today. |
1804 |
April: His contract with the theatre finishes |
1805 |
April 7th: First public performance of the Eroica symphony Numerous workings on Leonore, with a premiere on November 20
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1806 |
May 25th: Marriage of his brother Caspar Carl Journey with the Prince Lichnowsky, and composition of the fourth symphony |
1807 |
Composition of the Coriolan Overture March: First performance of the fourth symphony Autumn: Composition of the fifth symphony |
1808 |
Spring-Summer: Composition of the sixth symphony – The Pastoral December: Playing of the sixth symphony
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1809 |
April 9th: War is declared against France May 10th: French army surrounds Vienna May 11th-12th: France takes possession of Vienna Beethoven teaches music to Archduke Rudolphe |
1810 |
April 27th: Beethoven presents ‘The Letter for Elise’ to Thérèse Malfatti |
1811 |
October: Beethoven begins writing the seventh symphony |
1812 |
March 2nd: Presentation of ‘To the Beloved’ to Antonie Brentano May: Writing of the seventh symphony Writing of the letter to “The Immortal Beloved”…
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1813 |
December 8th: First public presentation of the eighth symphony |
1814 |
February 27th: Playing of the eighth symphony May 23rd: First presentation of Fidelio |
1815 |
November 15th: Ludwig’s brother, Carl, dies. After several court cases, Ludwig is given guardianship of his nephew. |
1816 |
October: Beethoven becomes ill |
1817
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Beginning of the year: Beethoven is still ill September 10th: Writing of the first bars of the ninth symphony |
1818 |
February 14th: Beethoven and Salieri recommend the metronome in the Viennese press. February: Beethoven’s deafness is such that he has to use a notebook and pencil to converse with visitors. December 3rd: Karl runs away to his mother’s home, but Beethoven demands that the police bring him back. |
1819 |
January 11th: The guardianship of Karl is taken away from Beethoven on grounds of his deafness. November: Composition of ‘Missa Solemnis’ |
1820 |
April 8th: Beethoven becomes Karl’s tutor again, with Karl Peters. |
1821 |
January and the following months: Beethoven becomes regularly ill |
1822 |
October: Pursues the composition of the ninth symphony and the beginnings of the tenth |
1823 |
March 6th: Beethoven names Karl as his heir Works on the ninth symphony |
1824 |
Works on the tenth symphony (only the first movement was written in detail) February: Finished writing the ninth symphony May 7th: Public playing of the ninth symphony |
1825 |
May 7th-October 15th: Beethoven installs himself at Baden |
1826 |
August 6th: Karl attempts suicide by shooting himself in the head. He’s only injured. December: Beethoven’s health starts to decline. He undergoes an operation. |
1827 |
He undergoes three further operations in the first two months of the year…
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