December 16, 2020, was Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday. At least, that’s the best guess historians have for the actual date of his birth. If he were still alive, he would have 250 candles on his cake! The beloved composer was born in Bonn, Germany. He was baptized on December 17, 1770. That means his birthday was probably the day before. Beethoven grew up to become one of the greatest music composers of all time.
Life wasn’t easy for little Ludwig (pronounced LOOD-vig). Instruments, practice, and pressure to perform filled his childhood. At age eight, Beethoven gave his first concert. At 12, he took a job as an organist.
When his family struggled financially, Beethoven used his music skills to provide income. He sacrificed his own music lessons to care for his siblings. But he never stopped making music.
In 1792, young Beethoven moved to Vienna, Austria. He stayed there the rest of his life. He studied under two famous musicians. They helped him become a great composer. He wrote classical music for the piano, orchestra, and groups of instruments. At 25 years old, Beethoven composed his first two big works. People loved his music. They wanted to hear more. He began offering concerts as a professional composer.
When Beethoven was 26, something terrible happened. He began losing his hearing. What a loss for a man who relied on his ears to hear music notes! It wasn’t long until Beethoven was completely deaf. But even that didn’t stop him from composing. He wrote his magnificent Ninth Symphony without any hearing! He couldn’t hear the audience’s applause when they heard the symphony. But he could see them clapping.
Legend says that Beethoven would lean his head against a piano to feel the notes vibrate. He knew each note so well that he could tell its sound based on the feel it made, the stories say.
Ludwig van Beethoven brought the gift of music to life. Isaiah 38:20 says, “The Lord will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the Lord.” Beethoven died in Vienna on March 26, 1827. He was 57 years old.
