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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<ref>Only his date of baptism is known: December 17, 1770.</ref> - March 26, 1827) was a [[Germany|German]] [[composer]] of the late [[Classical period (music)|Classical]] and early [[Romantic period (music)|Romantic]] eras, and the survivor of [[abortion]] temptations of his mother. 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 Ludwig van Beethoven's religion and political view | Hollowverse]</ref>

'''Ludwig van Beethoven''' (December 1770<ref>Only his date of [[baptism]] is known: December 17, 1770.</ref> - March 26, 1827) was a [[Germany|German]] [[composer]] of the late [[Classical period (music)|Classical]] and early [[Romantic period (music)|Romantic]] eras, and the survivor of [[abortion]] temptations of his mother. 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 Ludwig van Beethoven's religion and political view | Hollowverse]</ref>

Widely considered to be among the greatest composers 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 composers 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]].

The short YouTube film ''Crescendo'' explores the idea that Beethoven’s mother had considered aborting him, which Jason Jones,  producer of the film, claimed  "Beethoven’s mother had written in her diary".<ref>Nancy Flanders, [https://www.liveaction.org/news/crescendo-circumstances-beethovens-birth-250-years/" ‘Crescendo’: The circumstances of Beethoven’s birth 250 years ago shows the value of all preborn children"], Live Action, Dec 18, 2020. [https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/pro-life-film-crescendo-could-impact-millions/ Jason Jones, the producer of the film, claimed that "Beethoven’s mother had written in her diary that she wanted an abortion and she was suicidal and depressed".]</ref> The film was co-directed by the mother of [[Justin Bieber]], who had rejected aborting her musician son.{{fact}}

The short YouTube film ''Crescendo'' explores the idea that Beethoven’s mother had considered aborting him, which Jason Jones,  producer of the film, claimed  "Beethoven’s mother had written in her diary".<ref>Nancy Flanders, [https://www.liveaction.org/news/crescendo-circumstances-beethovens-birth-250-years/" ‘Crescendo’: The circumstances of Beethoven’s birth 250 years ago shows the value of all preborn children"], Live Action, Dec 18, 2020. [https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/pro-life-film-crescendo-could-impact-millions/ Jason Jones, the producer of the film, claimed that "Beethoven’s mother had written in her diary that she wanted an abortion and she was suicidal and depressed".]</ref> The film was co-directed by the mother of [[Justin Bieber]], who had rejected aborting her musician son.{{fact}}

Born in [[Bonn]], Germany, Beethoven's early musical training was on the violin, and later in composition, keyboard, and [[organ]]. At first he was taught by his father, Johann, and then by C.G. Neefe, a court organist. At 11 he is recorded as filling in for Neefe as an organist. Neefe, a son of the [[Enlightenment]] who was also a member of the Bavarian [[Illuminati]], also influenced the young genius's education, and Beethoven is known to have frequented lectures at the university. Having caught the attention of Maximilian Frederick, the Elector of Bonn, he published his first works in 1783. In 1787 he traveled to [[Vienna]] in the hope of studying with [[Mozart]], but quickly returned on hearing that his mother was dying. He continued to produce ever larger compositions for the Bonn court, culminating in the grand ''[[Cantata]] on the Death of Emperor Joseph II'', written when Beethoven was 20. His father having turned to alcoholism after his mother's death, Beethoven was in charge of caring for his younger brothers, and was not able to return to Vienna until 1792, after which he was to settle for life.  

Born in [[Bonn]], Germany, Beethoven's early musical training was on the violin, and later in composition, keyboard, and [[organ]]. At first he was taught by his father, Johann, and then by C.G. Neefe, a court organist. At 11 he is recorded as filling in for Neefe as an organist. Neefe, a son of the [[Enlightenment]] who was also a member of the Bavarian [[Illuminati]], also influenced the young genius's education, and Beethoven is known to have frequented lectures at the university. Having caught the attention of Maximilian Frederick, the Elector of Bonn, he published his first works in 1783. In 1787 he traveled to [[Vienna]] in the hope of studying with [[Mozart]], but quickly returned on hearing that his mother was dying. He continued to produce ever larger compositions for the Bonn court, culminating in the grand ''[[Cantata]] on the Death of Emperor Joseph II'', written when Beethoven was 20. His father having turned to alcoholism after his mother's death, Beethoven was in charge of caring for his younger brothers, and was not able to return to Vienna, [[Austria]], until 1792, where he settled for the rest of his life and is buried in its main cemetery. Similar to his idol [[Mozart]], Beethoven made Vienna his hometown.

Newly arrived in the bustling musical capital, Beethoven made his mark almost immediately as a pianist, and pursued his studies in composition, first with [[Joseph Haydn]], and later with contemporaries Johann Schenk, Johann-Georg Albrechtsberger and [[Antonio Salieri]]. To all appearances, the first years in Vienna were marked by creative fits and starts: Beethoven's Opus 1 (published in 1795), a set of three piano trios, was already mostly finished when he arrived in Vienna; and while many of his first great works were begun in these first five years, Beethoven had nothing new to send back to his benefactor in Bonn. Maximilian Franz, then the elector of Bonn, was still financing the young composer's education, corresponding frequently and impatiently with both Beethoven and Haydn, and threatening to cut off funding if he did not begin to show results. Finally, in 1797, Beethoven's Opus 2, a bold set of three piano sonatas written in an unprecedentedly original style, was published and dedicated to Haydn. Five more opuses were published that year, and a flood of finished compositions followed in 1798. By the time his first symphony was finished and performed in 1800, Beethoven had thoroughly made his mark as a composer of powerful originality.

Newly arrived in the bustling musical capital, Beethoven made his mark almost immediately as a pianist, and pursued his studies in composition, first with [[Joseph Haydn]], and later with contemporaries Johann Schenk, Johann-Georg Albrechtsberger and [[Antonio Salieri]]. To all appearances, the first years in Vienna were marked by creative fits and starts: Beethoven's Opus 1 (published in 1795), a set of three piano trios, was already mostly finished when he arrived in Vienna; and while many of his first great works were begun in these first five years, Beethoven had nothing new to send back to his benefactor in Bonn. Maximilian Franz, then the elector of Bonn, was still financing the young composer's education, corresponding frequently and impatiently with both Beethoven and Haydn, and threatening to cut off funding if he did not begin to show results. Finally, in 1797, Beethoven's Opus 2, a bold set of three piano sonatas written in an unprecedentedly original style, was published and dedicated to Haydn. Five more opuses were published that year, and a flood of finished compositions followed in 1798. By the time his first symphony was finished and performed in 1800, Beethoven had thoroughly made his mark as a composer of powerful originality.