Ludwig van Beethoven is the most famous classical composer of the Western world. He is known for his powerful music and for continuing to compose after he became deaf.
Born to a musical family in the small German city of Bonn in December 1770, Beethoven was an excellent pianist and violinist as a boy. He soon became the first important composer to earn a successful living without working for the church or court. Beethoven began to lose his hearing in the late 1790s and by 1819 he was totally deaf. When he heard nothing, in order to hear the notes (音符), he cut the legs off the piano so that he could feel the vibrations (震动)as he played.
Beethoven enjoyed taking long walks in the countryside. The villagers respected him a lot and would not bother him when they passed him. He was a strange man with his untidy clothes, wild hair and a bad temper.
For his last 15 years Beethoven was regarded as the world’s best composer. The four-note beginning to his Fifth Symphony is one of the most famous moments in all of music. The notes were described as “Fate knocking at the door”. He wrote the popular Moonlight Sonata in 1801.
Beethoven never married. After his death in March 1827, his friends found his letters to a lover, but they never found out who she was.
Besides lots of concerts and broadcasts, over 200 films use Beethoven’s music. Although he died many years ago, Beethoven is still influencing the music world.
【小题1】Most of Beethoven’s works are of___________.A.light music | B.powerful music |
C.sad music | D.violin music |
A.He was totally deaf at the age of 28. |
B.He didn’t like working for the church or court. |
C.His family had some effect on him in music. |
D.Many of Beethoven’s works were composed for a girl. |
A.Because he continued to compose after his deafness. |
B.Because he never married all his life. |
C.Because he enjoyed taking long walks in the countryside. |
D.Because he didn’t care for his appearance and had a bad temper. |
A.Beethoven, the world’s best composer |
B.Beethoven, a very strange composer |
C.Beethoven, a struggling composer |
D.Beethoven, the world’s most productive composer |