BEETHOVEN

Ludwig Van Beethoven was one of the greatest composers in the history of music and also the most celebrated pianist of his time. What a wonderful life he must have led.

His mother died when he was sixteen. He father was an alcoholic which made him responsible for raising his two younger brothers.

Before he was 30 years old, he began to go deaf. He lived until he was 56 years old and continued to compose music even after he become totally deaf. He was sick for a number of years before his death.


Beethoven fell in love with several women but they were of aristocratic families not permitted to marry him or were already married. He wrote a long love letter to a lady he identified only as his "eternally beloved". He never did marry. Out of misfortune comes genius. My life has been a lot more fortunate and, obviously, I have a lot less genius.