Ludwig von Beethoven 1770-1827

Timeline

16 Dec 1770: Birth of Ludwig van Beethoven
26 Mar 1778: Young Beethoven Plays in Cologne
1783: Nine Variations on a March by Dressler, the first extant composition by Beethoven (who is only 12 years old), is published in Mannheim, Germany.
1783: Beethoven is appointed continuo player to the Bonn opera.
1787: Beethoven Studies with Mozart
1789: Beethoven becomes a violinist for the Bonn court chapel.
1790: Beethoven Impresses Haydn
1790: Beethoven composes cantatas for death of Joseph II and coronation of Leopold II
1792: Beethoven leaves Bonn to study with Haydn in Vienna
1793: Joseph Haydn writes to Beethoven's patron, the archbishop-elector of Cologne, that "Beethoven will one day be considered one of Europe's greatest composers, and I shall be proud to be called his teacher."
29 Mar 1795: Beethoven makes first public appearance in Vienna
Jul 1795: Printed copies of Beethoven's Opus 1 (three Piano Trios) are distributed in Vienna by subscription.
Feb 1796: Beethoven performs on tour in Prague.
May 1796: Beethoven performs in Berlin.
1801: Beethoven Composes the Moonlight Sonata
5 Apr 1803: Beethoven premieres new works in Vienna
Aug 1806: Beethoven lodges with Prince Lichnowsky, one of his important patrons, at his castle in GrÃ¤tz, Silesia.
1807: Beethoven composes the Mass in C Major op. 86 for Prince Esterhazy in Eisenstadt.
22 Dec 1808: Beethoven premieres the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies and other works
4 May 1809: The Emperor's family leaves Vienna due to another occupation of the city by French troops. The departure of his patron Archduke Rudolph inspires Beethoven to write the Piano Sonata op. 81a, "Das Lebewohl."
1810: Beethoven writes the music for Goethe's "Egmont."
1812: Beethoven travels from Vienna to Teplitz for his health, where he writes the letter to the "Immortal Beloved" and meets Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
8 Dec 1813: Beethoven composes "Wellington's Victory or the Battle of Vittoria," op. 91, upon hearing of a decisive victory over Napoleon. It is first performed on this day along with the Seventh Symphony.
15 Nov 1815: Death of Beethoven's brother, Kaspar Karl
1818: Beethoven is by now very deaf, and must communicate with people in writing via "conversation books."