Composer Study: Beethoven
Resources
Recommended Listening
Beethoven’s music is grouped into three periods, early, middle, and late.
Note: You might wonder what “Op.” means – this stands for “Opus” and the numbers refer to the order in which a composer wrote his works. So, Op. 1 would mean the first piece he wrote. The higher the number, the later in his life the piece was composed.
Early Period
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 - “Pathétique”
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 - “Moonlight”
Middle Period
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, Op. 61
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 – “Fate”
Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 – “Pastoral”