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The beginning
Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany.
Both his father and grandfather were profes-
sional singers, which is a clear trace of musi-
cianship running in the started learn-
ing piano at the age of 4, taught by his father.
His natural gift was obvious, and he became
a gifted pianist quite quickly. Later in life he
became an assistant organist, and also played
viola for the Prince-Elector’s orchestra. He was
passionate about it, and thrived in the highly
musical environment.
He moved to Vienna when he was 22 to study
with the famous composer Haydn, who Beethoven
thought was the greatest composer of all time.
Because of his enormous piano playing gifts,
Beethoven was surrounded by the curious and in-
terested Viennese social elite from early on in his
career. This included most of the famous musicians
of the day and not only that; aristocrats were im-
pressed by his talents, and supported him. He es-
tablished himself as a famous piano player. But he
wasn’t really known for his compositions just yet!
In his late 20s, he started losing his hearing,
and experiencing a loud ringing in his ears. Since
Beethoven lived for music, his approaching deaf-
ness devastated him completely. Imagine - a divine
gift and his only passion, being slowly taken away
from him thought seriously about sui-
cide. After a catastrophic internal struggle, he de-
cided it was worth it to keep going for his art. The
world thanks him!
When he was 30, he premiered the famous Sep-
tet (Op. 20), one of the most popular pieces created
in his lifetime. He was now starting to become well-
known and highly regarded as a composer, not just
a pianist... the year was 1800.
El principio
Beethoven naciw en el avo de 1770 en Bonn, Alema-
nia. Tanto su Qadre como su abuelo fueron cantantes
Qrofesionales, tra[o claro de Rue la m|sica corría en
las venas de la familia. Comen[w a tocar el Qiano a la
edad de cuatro avos, ensevado Qor su Qadre. Su don
natural era demasiado obvio, así Rue se volviw un ta-
lentoso Qianista de forma rgQida. Mgs tarde se convir-
tiw en asistente de wrgano, tambinn tocw la viola en
la orRuesta del QrínciQe elector. Era sumamente aQa-
sionado Z estos comQonentes de su vida hicieron Rue
fuera eYitoso dentro del ambiente musical.
Cuando se mudw a Viena tenía 22 avos Z estudiw
con el famoso comQositor HaZdn el Koven Beethoven
lo consideraba uno de los comQositores mgs gran-
des de su nQoca. Gracias a sus talentos en el Qiano,
Beethoven estuvo rodeado Qor la curiosidad e interns
de la nlite vienesa desde momentos muZ temQranos
de su carrera esto incluía a m|sicos famosos de aRue-
llos días Z no swlo eso, los aristwcratas tambinn esta-
ban maravillados Qor sus talentos Z lo aQoZaban. Se
estableciw como un famoso concertista de Qiano, Qero
todavía no era conocido Qor sus comQosiciones.
Al ¬nal de sus avos 20, comen[w a Qerder la audi-
ciwn Z emQe[w a eYQerimentar un agudo tintineo den-
tro de sus oídos. :a Rue Beethoven vivía Qor la m|sica,
su constante sordera lo devastw comQletamente. Ima-
ginen: un regalo divino Z su |nica Qasiwn fueron lenta-
mente desintegrgndose, hasta Qerderlas Qor siemQre.
ContemQlw seriamente el suicidio, tras una lucha in-
terna, decidiw Rue valía la Qena continuar viviendo Qor
su arte. –El mundo entero le agradece esto
Cuando tenía 30 avos, estrenw su famoso SeQteto
0Q. 20 , una de las Qie[as mgs reconocidas Rue haZa
creado en su vida. 1ara ese entonces, Za comen[aba a
ser conocido Z era un comQositor resQetado, no swlo
un Qianista… el avo era 1800.
QerToOBKeT •
characters
·amura·
126
1
1.Ludwingvan
Beethoven,el
comQositorclgsico
Rueencarnatoda la
Qasiwndesunatal
Alemania./ Ludwig
vanBeethoven ,the
classicalcomposer
whoembodiesallthe
passionofhisnative
Germany.
2.Retratosde
BeethovenhaZ
muchos,Qerosu
legadoes|nicoe
inmortal./
Portraitsof
Beethoventhere
aremany,buthis
legacyisuniqueand
immortal.
3.A los13avos,
BeethovenZa
trabaKabaQara la
cortedeBonn,
comoQianista,
violinista,organistaZ
clavencista./
Atage13,Beethoven
wasalreadyworking
forthecourtofBonn,
asapianist,violinist
andharpsichordist.
intensidadde
suQersona,aunada
asugenialidadZ
eYcentricidad, lo
conviertenenun
íconodelartede
todos lostiemQos.
/ Theintensityof
hisperson ,coupled
withhisgeniusand
eccentricity ,makes
Beethovenanall
timesarticon.
2
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