BEETHOVEN THE HUMAN LUDWIG..HIS LIFE

BEETHOVEN TAKING A STROLL ALONG THE STREETS OF VIENNA.

• Beethoven used to take strolls in the streets of Vienna.In one of these strolls he was walking together with the famous author JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE.It seems that the Emperor`s cart passed near by them and Goethe stopped and bowed.Beethoven stood looking and soon the vehicle stopped and thePrince opened the window and said good morning to Beethoven first and then to Goethe.Later Beethoven said to Goethe:They should bow in front of you.
• Beethoven`s father used to wake young Ludwig at 12 o`clock at night to practice the piano.If he played a false note he used to beat him on his hands with a stick.This caused young Ludwig to nearly hate the piano playing.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was convinced to give piano lessons to young Ludwig.He never accepted to play himself in front of his pupil though.
• He liked to eat in small taverns where he listened to popular tunes sung by everyday people.Some of these motives can be found in his works.
• He was a loud person full of life.When he was washing himself he used to play with the water for hours,singing with a loud voice and spilling the water everywhere.
• Rossini offered a copy of his IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA opera to the master and Beethoven send him a reply letter, saying that he enjoyed the work and he amused himself .Rossini was very proud of this.
• He used to walk long walks ,he prefered the country,but the city as well.He was always holding a notebook and having his hands back was stopping everynow and then to note something.
• The problem with his hearing was a minor problem with today`s medical progress,it would require a very small operation to be cured
• He had o nephew whom he loved and whom he supported with most of his income.It seems that his relative let him down many times.
• Beethoven was the first musician who turned his back to the audience as by that time the maestros were conducting facing the audience and not the orchestra.

In July 1812 Beethoven wrote a letter to an unidentified lady whom he addressed as The Immortal Beloved. It was as eloquent of love as his 'Heligenstadt Testament' had been of despair. The following is a summary of the letter (follow the above link for more):

My angel, my all, my very self - a few words only today, and in pencil (thine). Why such profound sorrow when necessity speaks? Can our love endure but through sacrifice - but through not demanding all - canst thou alter it that thou art not wholly mine, I not wholly thine?