[bey-toh-vuh
n; Ger. beyt-hoh-fuhn] 
| Ludwig van [van; Ger. fuhn] , 1770–1827, German composer. |
[bey-toh-vee-uhn] , Bee⋅tho⋅ve⋅ni⋅an [bey-toh-vee-nee-uhn, -veen-yuhn] , adjective | Bee·tho·ven (bā'tō'vən) German composer. Among the greatest composers in history, he began to lose his hearing in 1801 and was deaf by 1819. His music, which formed a transition from classical to romantic composition, includes 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, a violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, several other sonatas, 2 Masses, and an opera. |