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Ludwig Beethoven was born in Bonn, in the Rhineland. His father was a professional musician in the Court of The Elector of Cologne; he was often drunk, and he was a hard task-master to his son. Ludwig began learning violin and piano when he was only 5, and by the time he was 8 years old the began giving public concerts. He received very little education apart from music, but he was fortunate in having a good music teacher, the court organist, who recognized  his abilities and taught him well. When he was 14, Ludwig was appointed second court organist, a post which gave him some opportunity to travel. He visited Vienna, where Mozart heard him play and said, "Watch that young fellow; he is going to cause a stir in the world." When he was 16 his mother died, and three years later his father was dismissed from his post at Court. Ludwig, with characteristic loyalty and devotion to his family, accepted responsibility both for his father and his two younger brothers.
    Throughout his life Beethoven produced numerous musical works. First and foremost, Beethoven was a composer of extended music, that is, long works in several movements. His masterpieces remain the greatest and most personal compositions of one of the world’s greatest musical thinkers. No composer has put more of himself into his music; everything  he left, from anger to tenderness, from misery to hope is found there.