Beethoven

Contains the Ode to Joy , which has become the Anthem of Europe [36, 9].

A series of passionate, unsent love letters found after his death, addressed to an unknown woman [2, 12]. Famous Quotes

Beethoven is widely regarded as one of the greatest musical geniuses in history [31]. His career is typically divided into three periods: an early stage where he followed the traditions of Haydn and Mozart, a middle "heroic" period characterized by grand struggles, and a late period of profound introspection [34, 25]. Despite his increasing deafness , he produced masterpieces like the Ninth Symphony , which was the first to use vocal parts to express a universal message of human brotherhood [31, 7].

"Pity, pity—too late!" (Attributed as his final words upon receiving a gift of wine) [28, 19].

"Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine ." [27]

One of his most recognizable and beloved compositions for piano [36].

Beethoven's life was a testament to the conquest of personal tragedy through art [30]. At age 28, he contemplated suicide as his hearing failed, a despair he recorded in the Heiligenstadt Testament [16, 18]. He famously wrote that his art was the only thing that kept him from ending his life , believing he must first deliver all the music he felt born to create [16, 18].