This children's biography of Beethoven focuses on the youth of the great composer, a period of hardship due mainly to the abuse his family suffered at the hands of his talented, but violent and alcoholic father. Beethoven's genius was apparent from an early age, and he received support from friends and admirers, yet his life included many struggles and much sadness. His tremendous achievements were a result of prodigious effort, resolve, and courage as well as talent, and this short biography covers just those dramatic episodes most likely to be of interest to young people. Show All     Download:     PDF       EPUB

WHEN THE CHILD SAW HIM HE SHRANK BACK AFRAID, AND HID HIS FACE IN HIS MOTHER'S DRESS.

Translator's Preface

The life-story of Beethoven, contained in these pages, is a résumé of the events of his childhood and youth, those of his maturer years being merely indicated in order to give symmetry to the narrative. It covers just that period of his life in which young readers are likely to be interested. Those who have the leisure and inclination to study the details of his entire career will find them in the biographies of Schindler, Ries, Marx, Thayer, and others, but it is questionable whether any of these will bring the reader as closely to the actual man and musician as this little story. And this is so not only because it is a story, but because it is a story true to life, with actual, not imaginary, personages, set in a social, domestic, and musical environment which is accurately reproduced, and dealing with historical events which are correctly stated. In a strict sense, therefore, it is not fiction, far less is it rhapsody; and to this extent it is valuable not alone for facts charmingly set forth, but for effects, which are realistic and which seem to bring the actual Beethoven before the reader.

It is the story of a sad struggle against obstacles which sometimes appeared almost insuperable; but its lesson for youth is the reward of world-wide fame which followed the exercise of industry, courage, honesty, self-respect, and self-devotion to his calling. The translator has endeavored to reproduce the story in an English setting without sacrificing its charming German characteristics.

G. P. U.

CHICAGO, September 1, 1904.

Appendix

The following is a chronological statement of the principal events in the life of Ludwig van Beethoven, which was mostly spent in Vienna, and mainly devoted to composition:

1770	Born at Bonn, Prussia, Dec. 16.
1783	First composition, "Variations on a March."
1785	Appointed Court Organist.
1787	Sent to Vienna by Elector of Cologne to study with Mozart.
1792	Second visit to Vienna to study with Haydn.
1795	Composed three trios in Vienna, marked Opus 1, indicating that he regarded all he had previously produced as of no consequence.
1796	Made an artistic tour in North Germany.
1797	First Symphony.
1798	Deafness began, and increased during the remainder of his life.
1802	Second Symphony.
1803	Oratorio of Mount of Olives "performed in Vienna.
1804	Third Symphony ("Eroica").
1805	Composed "Fidelio," his only opera.
1806	Fourth Symphony.
1808	Fifth Symphony.
1808	Sixth Symphony ("Pastoral").
1812	Seventh Symphony.
1812	Eighth Symphony ("The Little").
1822	Mass in D.
1823	Ninth Symphony ("Choral") .
1827	Died in Vienna, Dec. 26.