Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven, a major composer of the nineteenth century, overcame many personal problems to achieve artistic greatness.
Born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770, be first studied music with the court organist, Gilles van der Eeden. His father was excessively strict and given to heavy drinking. When his mother died, Beethoven, ____(1)____, was named guardian of his two younger brothers. Appointed deputy court organist to Christian Gottlob Neefe at a surprisingly early age in 1782, Beethoven also played the harpsichord and the viola. In 1792 he was sent to Vienna by his patron, Count Ferdinand Waldstein, to study music under Haydn.
Beethoven remained unmarried. Because of irregular payments from his publishers and erratic support from his patrons, ____(2)____. Continually plagued by ill health, he developed an ear infection which led to his tragic deafness in 1819.
In spited of this handicap, ____(3)____. He completed mature masterpieces of great musical depth: three piano sonata, four string quartets, the Missa Solemnis, and the 9th Symphony. He died in 1827. His life was marked ____(4)____.
Noting that Beethoven often flew into fits of rage, Goethe once said of him, "I am astonished by his talent, but he is unfortunately an altogether untamed personality."
Although Beethoven’s personality ____(5)____, his music shows great discipline and control, and this is how we remember him best.
A however, he continued to write music
B he was troubled by financial worries throughout his adult life
C by a passionate dedication to independence
D then a young man
E may have been untamed
F his music has been loved over the past centuries
KEYS: DBACE