Works & Life Events

1770

1770, December 16, Bonn: Born. Second child of Maria Magdalena and Johann van Beethoven, court singer.

1770, December 17, Bonn: Baptized

1775

1775, Bonn: Begins music lessons with his father, a severe and cruel teacher, who is said to have often beaten his son.

1778

1778, March 26, Köln: Performed his first public recital. Billed as a "little son of 6 years," (Mozart's age when he debuted for Empress Maria Theresia) although he was in fact 7, Beethoven played impressively, but his recital received no press whatsoever

1779

1779, Bonn: Took composition lessons with Chris Gottlieb Neefe

1781

1781, Bonn: Withdrew from school to study music full time with Christian Gottlob Neefe, the newly appointed Court Organist. Neefe introduced Beethoven to Johann Sebastian Bach.

1782

1782, Bonn: At the age of 12 Beethoven published his first composition, a set of piano variations on a theme by an obscure classical composer named Dressler.

1782, Bonn: Became Neefe's unsalaried assistant court organist

1782, Bonn: Formed close relationship with the Breuning family and with Franz Gerhard Wegeler.

1782, October-November, Holland: Traveled to Holland with his mother.

1783

1783, April, Bonn: Assumes some of Kapellmeister Andrea Lucchesi's duties as organist during Lucchesi's leave. He also replaces Neefe as cembalist at theatrical rehearsals.

1783, November 23, The Hague: Played at a concert at the court of Prince William of Orange-Nassau.

1784

1784, June, Bonn: Appointed deputy court organist, at a salary of 150 florins. The appointment had been recommended by court chamberlain Count Salm prior to Elector Maximilian Freidrich's death.

1785

1785, Bonn: Befriended Antoine Reicha, who moved to Bonn with his uncle Josef, cellist and appointment the leader of the court orchestra. Later, Reicha will state that he and Beethoven had been constant companions at Bonn and afterwards in Vienna, 'like Orestes and Pylades'.

1787

1787, March-May, Vienna: Travelled to Vienna, at his employer's expense, for the first time, apparently in the hope of studying with Mozart. He went via Munich, where he stayed on April 1 on the outward and on April 25 on the return journey. Returned quickly to Bonn after learning that his mom became ill.

1787, July, Bonn: His mother dies.

1788

1788, February 1, Bonn: Count Waldstein arrived in Bonn, where, on June 17, he was made a knight of the Teutonic Order. He was one of Beethoven's important early patrons; he later helped arrange Beethoven's study with Haydn in Vienna.

1789

1789, Bonn: Plays viola in court theater orchestra. The repertory include Mozart's "Die Entführung aus dem Serail", and in the second season (1790) "Le Nozze di Figaro" and "Don Giovanni".

1789, May 14: Matriculates at the University of Bonn, at the same time as Antoine Reicha.

1789, November 20, Bonn: Beethoven's father retires. It was decreed that one half of his 200-thaler salary should henceforth be paid to Beethoven for the support of his two younger brothers. (However, to keep up appearances, Johann van Beethoven will continue to draw his full salary, of which he than hands one-half to his son.)

Two Preludes on all keys for Piano or Organ, Op. 39

1790

1790, February 20, Bonn: Emperor Joseph II died. When the news reaches Bonn, Beethoven is invited to set a text by Severin Anton Averdonk, for performance at a ceremony on March 19. However, his cantata (WoO 87) is not ready in time. He will later set another text by Averdonk to celebrate the elevation of his Joseph's brother Leopold to the rank of emperor (WoO 88).

1790, December 25, Bonn: Haydn and Johann Peter Salomon arrived at Bonn on their to London. The following day they dined with several of the city's leading musicians. It is not known if Beethoven was introduced to Haydn during this visit or in 1792.

1792

Fourteen Variations for Piano Trio on a theme from Dittersdorf’s "Das rote Käppchen" in E-flat major, Op. 44

1793

Octet for Oboes, Clarinets, Horns and Bassoons in E-flat major, Op. 103

Eight Songs, Op. 52

1794

Three Piano Trios, Op. 1

String Trio No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 3

Allegretto for Piano in C minor, Hess 69

1795

1795, March 29, Vienna: He premiered his Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 19 at Vienna's Burgtheater in a concert marking his public debut. Prior to that, he had performed only in the private salons of the Viennese nobility at Burgtheater

Rondo à capriccio "The Rage over a Lost Penny" in G major, Op. 129

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19

Three Piano Sonatas, Op. 2

String Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 4

"Adelaïde" in B-flat major, Op. 46

9 Variations for Piano in A major: on Giovanni Paisello’s air "Quant’ è più bello" from "La Molinara" in A major, WoO 69

Sextet for Horns, Violins, Viola and Cello in E-flat major, Op. 81b

Trio for Oboes and English Horn in C major, Op. 87

1796

1796: Prince Lichnowsky traveled to Prague, taking Beethoven with him. The composer was on his way to Berlin

Two Sonatas for Piano and Cello, Op. 5

"Ah! Deceiver", scene and Aria for soprano with orchestra, Op. 65

Twelve Variations for Piano and Cello on "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen" from Mozart’s "The Magic Flute" in F major, Op. 66

Sextet for Clarinets, Bassoons, and Horns in E-flat major, Op. 71

1797

Quintet for Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon in E-flat major, Op. 16

Second trio to the Scherzo for String Trio, Op. 9 No. 1, Hess 28

Two Piano Sonatas, Op. 49

Two Rondos for Piano, Op. 51

Allegretto for Piano in C minor, WoO 53

Sonata for Piano Duet in D major, Op. 6

Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 7

Serenade for String Trio No. 2 in D major, Op. 8

1798

Three Piano Sonatas, Op. 10

Piano Trio No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 11

Three Sonatas for Piano and Violin, Op. 12

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13

Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in F major, Op. 50

Three String Trios, Op. 9

1799

Two Piano Sonatas, Op. 14

Septet for Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello and Bass in E-flat major, Op. 20

String Quartet in F major, Hess 32

1800

1800-1806, Vienna: Lichnowsky gave Beethoven an annual allowance of 600 florins until such time as he found a regular appointment as a musician. The stipend continued until 1806, when a furious quarrel erupted between the two, terminating their friendship: Beethoven, staying at Lichnowsky's country estate, had refused to play for visiting French officers. Later, arriving home in Vienna, Beethoven smashed a bust of the Prince.

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in C major, Op. 15

Sonata for Piano and Horn in F major, Op. 17

Six String Quartets, Op. 18

Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21

Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-flat major, Op. 22

Piano Trio, Hess 47

1801

Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23

Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 5 in F major, Op. 24

Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola in D major, Op. 25

Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat major, Op. 26

Two Piano Sonatas, Op. 27

Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28

String Quintet in C major, Op. 29

The Creatures of Prometheus, Overture and Ballet in C major, Op. 43

Ballet music for piano from "The Creatures of Prometheus", Hess 90

1802

1802, April-October, Heiligenstadt: Tried to come to terms with his hearing condition. Here he wrote his Heiligenstadt Testament, dated October 6

Three Sonatas for Piano and Violin, Op. 30

Three Piano Sonatas, Op. 31

Bagatelles for Piano, Op. 33

String Quartet after Piano Sonata No. 9 in F major, Hess 34

Six Variations with Fugue on an original Theme for Piano in F major, Op. 34

Fifteen Variations with Fugue on an original Theme for Piano in E-flat major, Op. 35

Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36

Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in G major, Op. 40

Six Songs based on poems by Gellert, Op. 48

1803

1803-1804, Vienna: Lived in rooms inside the theatre, at Schikaneder's invitation, during part of the period he was composing his opera Fidelio

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37

Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in E-flat major, Op. 38

Serenade for Piano and Flute in D major, Op. 41

Three Marches for Piano Duett, Op. 45

Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 9 in A major, Op. 47

Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra in C major, Op. 56

"The Joy of Friendship/Life's Joy", Op. 88

1804

Nocturne for Piano and Viola in D major, Op. 42

Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53

Piano Sonata No. 22 in F major, Op. 54

Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55

Andante favori in F major, WoO 57

Christ on the Mount of Olives, Op. 85

1805

1805: In a letter, the composer called him "one of my most loyal friends and promoters of my art."

"To Hope" from Christoph August Tiedge’s "Urania" in E-flat major, Op. 32 (1st setting)

Piano Trio after Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36

Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57

Leonora, or The Triumph of Married Love, Op. 72 (1805)

1806

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G major, Op. 58

Three String Quartets, Op. 59

Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 61

Leonora, or The Triumph of Married Love, Op. 72 (1806)

1807

Overture "Leonore I" in C major, Op. 138

Overture "Coriolan" in C minor, Op. 62

Mass in C major, Op. 86

1808

1808, December 22 18:30-22:30, Vienna: Beethoven held an Akademie which lasted about 4 hours, featuring the world premiere of Symphony No. 5 and 6, a piano fantasia, and his Choral Fantasy at Theater an der Wien

Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68

Sonata for Piano and Cello No. 3 in A major, Op. 69

Two Piano Trios, Op. 70

1809

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73

String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat major, Op. 74

Six Songs, Op. 75

Six Variations for Piano on a original theme in D major, Op. 76

Fantasia for Piano in G minor, Op. 77

Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp major, Op. 78

Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79

Fantasia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80

1810

Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a

Four Ariettas and a Duet, Op. 82

Three Songs, Op. 83

"Egmont", Incidental Music to Goethe’s Tragedy in F minor, Op. 84

1811

Music to August von Kotzebues’s festival play "The Ruins of Athens" in G minor, Op. 113

Music to August von Kotzebues’s festival play "King Stephen or Hungary’s First Benefactor" in E-flat major, Op. 117

String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95

1812

1812, July, Vienna: Over the course of two days, wrote Antonie Brentano a long and beautiful love letter that he never sent. Addressed "to you, my Immortal Beloved," the letter said in part, "My heart is full of so many things to say to you — ah — there are moments when I feel that speech amounts to nothing at all — Cheer up — remain my true, my only love, my all as I am yours."

Piano Trio No. 8 in B-flat major, WoO 39

Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92

Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93

Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 10 in G major, Op. 96

1813

Wellington’s Victory, or the Battle of Vitoria in E-flat major, Op. 91

1814

Tremate, empi, tremate! in B-flat major, Op. 116

Elegiac Song in E major, Op. 118

"The Glorious Moment", Op. 136

Fidelio, or The Triumph of Married Love, Op. 72

Polonaise for Piano in C major, Op. 89