Beethoven was born on Dec. 15 or 16, 1770, in Bonn, Germany. He held the job of a court organist at the age of 14. His father was a drunken singer, and scarcely took care of his family. Therefore, the money young Beethoven made helped his family. He went to Vienna in 1787, where he met Wolfgang A. Mozart, who immediately recognized his genius, He returned to his home town, however, because of his mother's illness. She died shortly after Beethoven returned, and he had to support his brothers.

Ludwig Van Beethoven, (1770-1827), was one of the most famous and influential German composers of the 1800's. He is generally regarded as the "emancipator of music," because he established the vocation of composer as a dignified profession. He brought new force and flexibility to music. Many of the characteristics of music written today stem in part from his creative genius.

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