After much organization by Bettina von Arnim, who was a great admirer of both Goethe and Beethoven, the two finally met in Teplitz (or Töplitz), in the summer of 1812. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was the greatest, and probably also the most influential German-language writer. Not only that, but a significant scientist, theatre …
This is the biography of Maria Magdalena van Beethoven, mother of Ludwig van Beethoven. Maria Magdalena Keverich was born on 19 December 1746, and after a short and difficult life, died at the age of only 40, in 17 July 1787. She was born in Ehrenbreitstein, a small village overlooking Koblenz (today part of it). Her birth place is a …
One of the least documented tours of Beethoven is the one he made as a young boy to Rotterdam, Holland. This article will cover the story! It all started with the sudden and tragically early death of Franz Georg Rovantini. He was a court musician in Bonn, just as his father, Johann Conrad before him. Young Rovantini lived in the …
Take a showman and inventor, add a grumpy genius composer, shake it well and see what happens! Read on to discover this friendship and the achievements they realized together! Who was Johann Maelzel? Maelzel (sometimes Mälzel, August 15, 1772 – July 21, 1838) was a German inventor, born in Regensburg. His father was an organ builder who made sure …
Ear trumpets had helped people with hearing difficulty for centuries. It helped Beethoven, too! What is this aid and how it works? Beethoven loosing his hearing Beethoven first experienced troubles in his ears in 1798, at the age of 27. Until that point he had perfect hearing, something a musician should have! Initially, he kept his problems a secret …
This is the story of Baron de Trémont, a French diplomat in Vienna, who approached Beethoven and against all odds managed to tame the bear. Who was Baron de Trémont? Louis-Philippe-Joseph Girod de Vienney, Baron de Trémont (born 2 October 1799, died 1 July, 1852) was a French officer and diplomat. For us, more importantly he was a musical …