Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven; baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Mass the Missa solemnis and an opera, Fidelio...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionComposer
Date of Birth16 December 1770
CityBonn, Germany
CountryGermany
I alter some things, eliminate and try again until I am satisfied. Then begins the mental working out of this material in its breadth, its narrowness, its height and depth.
I change many things, discard others, and try again and again until I am satisfied; then, in my head, I being to elaborate the work in its breadth, its narrowness, its height, its depth...I hear and see the image in front of me from every angle as if it had been cast and only the labour of writing it down remains.
Off with you! You're a happy fellow, for you'll give happiness and joy to many other people. There is nothing better or greater than that!
Recommend virtue to your children; it alone, not money, can make them happy. I speak from experience.
Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.
I have always reckoned myself among the greatest admirers of Mozart, and shall do so till the day of my death.
There ought to be only one large art warehouse in the world, to which the artist could carry his art-works and from which he could carry away whatever he needed. As it is one must be half a tradesman.
Music is like a dream. One that I cannot hear.
It is the power of music to carry one directly into the mental state of the composer.
Men are not only together when they are with each other; even the distant and the dead live with us.
The foundation of friendship demands the greatest likeness of human souls and hearts.
In praise of Thy goodness I must confess that Thou didst try with all Thy means to draw me to Thee. Sometimes it pleased Thee to let me feel the heavy hand of Thy displeasure and to humiliate my proud heart by manifold castigations. Sickness and misfortune didst Thou send upon me to turn my thoughts to my errantries.-One thing, only, O Father, do I ask: cease not to labor for my betterment. In whatsoever manner it be, let me turn to Thee and become fruitful in good works.
When I open my eyes I must sigh, for what I see is contrary to my religion, and I must despise the world which does not know that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.
Handel is the greatest composer that ever lived... I would uncover my head and kneel down on his tomb.