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[[Image:Stieler Portrait Ludwig van Beethoven.jpg|thumb|Joseph Karl Stieler - "Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven when composing the ''Missa Solemnis''.]]

[[Image:Stieler Portrait Ludwig van Beethoven.jpg|thumb|Joseph Karl Stieler - "Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven when composing the ''Missa Solemnis''.]]

'''Ludwig van Beethoven''' (December 1770 - March 26, 1827) was a [[Germany|German]] [[composer]] of the late [[Classical period (music)|Classical]] and early [[Romantic period (music)|Romantic]] eras.  He wrote nine symphonies, his final one between 1822 and 1824. Sickly throughout his life, he wrote, "The Almighty will give me strength to endure my lot, however severe and terrible, with resignation to His will."<ref>https://hollowverse.com/ludwig-van-beethoven#http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hyperhistory.net%2Fapwh%2Fbios%2Fb2beethoven.htm</ref>

'''Ludwig van Beethoven''' (December 1770 - March 26, 1827) was a [[Germany|German]] [[composer]] of the late [[Classical period (music)|Classical]] and early [[Romantic period (music)|Romantic]] eras.  He wrote nine symphonies, his final one between 1822 and 1824. Sickly throughout his life, he wrote, "The Almighty will give me strength to endure my lot, however severe and terrible, with resignation to His will."<ref>https://hollowverse.com/ludwig-van-beethoven#http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hyperhistory.net%2Fapwh%2Fbios%2Fb2beethoven.htm</ref>

Widely considered to be among the greatest, if not the greatest composer of Western music, he was also a [[piano|pianist]] of legendary virtuosity who shaped the future course of piano [[technique (music)|technique]].  Despite his encroaching deafness, which began in early adulthood and left him completely deaf in his last decade, his compositions include some of the most famous and enduring music ever written. Coming at the peak of the Viennese Classical style, Beethoven set a high standard for the composers of the next two generations, especially in the genres of the piano [[sonata]] and the [[symphony]].

Widely considered to be among the greatest, if not the greatest composer of Western music, he was also a [[piano|pianist]] of legendary virtuosity who shaped the future course of piano [[technique (music)|technique]].  Despite his encroaching deafness, which began in early adulthood and left him completely deaf in his last decade, his compositions include some of the most famous and enduring music ever written. Coming at the peak of the Viennese Classical style, Beethoven set a high standard for the composers of the next two generations, especially in the genres of the piano [[sonata]] and the [[symphony]].