Happy Birthday, Ludwig

[jayem]

Beethoven was born 250 years ago this month. The exact day isn't known with certainty, but he was baptized Dec. 17, 1770. So Dec. 16 is usually considered his birthday. Aside from composing the 9 greatest symphonies ever written, his piano concertos, sonatas, and string quartets are also masterpieces. His one opera and his theater music are not heard quite as often. The overture he wrote for the play Egmont is one of my favorites. A great piece of dramatic music.

And an interesting version of the Moonlight Sonata arranged for piano and orchestra.