Beginning Years: 1770-1790

13 year old Beethoven in 1783

Portrait courtesy of timelines.com

22 August, 1793

I have finally begun my art of posting. I shall begin by telling of my first few years of life. I myself do not know the exact day of my birth, although it is assumed that I was born on December 16^th because I was baptized on the 17^th of December in 1770. I was born in the city of Bonn in Germany, which was the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and a part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. I have been studying music and playing the organ and piano since I was very young and with my genius, I was definitely one of the most gifted musicians in Europe at the time. Of course, I was also one of the most humble pianists and although others say otherwise, I know I am not as arrogant as they say I am.

I gave my first public performance at the age of seven, but my father announced to the audience that I was only six years old. Ever since then, I’ve always been a bit confused about how old I really am. I wrote and published my first composition for piano at the age of 11, and naturally, my very impressed professor, Neefe, wrote (referring to me) that "if he continues like this he will be, without doubt, the new Mozart." What high praise! Not that I didn’t deserve it.

Beethoven's house of birth in Bonn, Germany

My father taught me everything I knew about music up to this point, but I knew I was destined for a greater future which included great and famous teachers and royalty who would beg to hear my performances. Some of my other teachers include Professor Neefe, and even the great Mozart himself! Of course, only I was worthy enough to be his student since I am without a doubt the best of the best in all of Europe.

My family included a mother, a father, and three sons of whom I was the eldest. My mother is the most kindest woman in the world and she’s my best friend. But my father is a lousy old drunk who was a musician at the Court of Bonn until he lost his position due to his inability to stay sober in order to keep his role at the court. I had six other brothers at a time, but unfortunately, only two of them survived the dreadful childhood. Me with my genius and God-given talent couldn’t have possibly died like my other brothers! I would never have died before showing the world the extent of my skills and abilities and have even kings bow down to me.

Just like I predicted in my earlier years, a monarch named Prince Maximilian Franz recognized my genius and sent me to Vienna, the most cultural and musical of all cities, in order to meet god-like Mozart! Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself became my teacher in 1787. Throughout my studies the great composer and musician, Mozart gave me an all-mighty praise! "Don’t forget his name — you will hear it spoken often!" is what he said! I will never forget those words for as long as I live.

However, this great time in my life was shadowed by the death of my dearest mother. The only person who I truly loved and cared about in my family passed away on July 17^th, 1787. In the end, the call of Vienna to me was too strong, and I returned to the city of wonders after five long years, in 1792, from a grant by Prince Elector who paid for my trip so I could once again pursue my musical education through the teachings of Haydn who was Mozart’s teacher! After traveling to Vienna, I no longer had any wish to return to my home town which held so many painful memories such as beatings from my dad and the death of my mother.

This is where I end my first log. I’ve covered my life up to my early twenties. Don’t worry, I am not planning to die any time soon for too few people in the world still don’t know about my genius.


Sincerely,