Music timeline
-
Beethoven Loses His Hearing
Around 1796, Beethoven began to lose his hearing. He suffered a severe form of tinnitus, a "ringing" in his ears that made it hard for him to... Read more
-
Beethoven Tours Europe
In 1796, Beethoven embarked on a tour of central European cultural centers that was an echo of a similar tour by Mozart in 1789. Accompanied by... Read more
-
Beethoven Matures
Between 1798 and 1802 Beethoven finally tackled what he considered the pinnacles of composition: the string quartet and the symphony. With the... Read more
-
Beethoven Writes His First Symphony
Symphony no. 1, in C major, op. 21 seems simple at first sight, even too simple if we compare it to his last symphony. Remarkable in this sense are... Read more
-
Beethoven Writes His Second Symphony
Symphony No. 2 in D major, op.36 was elaborated in the summer of 1802 in Heilligenstadt when Beethoven was fighting to get control over his life.... Read more
-
Beethoven's Opus 18 Is Published
Ludwig van Beethoven's opus 18, published in 1801 by T. Mollo et Comp in Vienna, consisted of his first six string quartets. They were composed... Read more
-
Beethoven Finishes the Moonlight Sonata
The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2, by Ludwig van Beethoven, popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata... Read more
-
Beethoven Writes the Heiligenstadt Testament
The Heiligenstadt Testament is a letter written by Ludwig van Beethoven to his brothers Carl and Johann at Heiligenstadt (today part of Vienna) on... Read more
-
Beethoven Writes His Third Symphony
Symphony No. 3 in flat E major, op. 55 represents a new stage in Beethoven’s, being one of the most discussed symphonies throughout time. The... Read more
-
Beethoven Composes His Fourth Symphony
Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B Flat Major, Op. 60, was written in 1806. It was premiered in March of 1807 at a private concert of the... Read more
-
Beethoven Finishes His Sixth Symphony
Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F major (Op. 68), known as the Pastoral Symphony, was completed in 1808. One of Beethoven's few works of... Read more
-
Beethoven Finishes His Fifth Symphony
The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1804–08. This symphony is one of the most popular and best-known... Read more
-
Beethoven Writes His Seventh Symphony
Ludwig van Beethoven began to work on his Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, in 1811, while he was staying in the Bohemian spa town of Teplice in... Read more
-
Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 Is Played for the First Time
The Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 by Ludwig van Beethoven, popularly known as the "Emperor Concerto", was his last piano concerto.... Read more
-
Beethoven Composes His Eighth Symphony
Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 is a symphony in four movements composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1812. Beethoven fondly referred to it as "my... Read more
-
Beethoven Writes His Letter To the "Immortal Beloved"
It is likely that Beethoven was at Teplitz when he wrote three love letters to an "Immortal Beloved". While the identity of the intended recipient... Read more
-
Beethoven Writes the Diabelli Variations
The 33 Variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120, commonly known as the Diabelli Variations, is a set of variations for the piano written... Read more
-
Beethoven Finishes His Ninth Symphony
The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral" is the final complete symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, the symphony is one of... Read more
-
The Grand Academy
Another important event of this period is Beethoven’s grand " Academy " during which Symphony No. 9 and three movements of the Missa solemnis were... Read more
-
Beethoven Dies From Illness
The Death of Ludwig van Beethoven on 26 March 1827 followed a prolonged illness. It was witnessed by his sister-in-law and by his close friend... Read more
-
"Blind Tom" Wiggins is born
Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins was born on May 25, 1849 on the Wiley Edward Jones Plantation in Harris County, Georgia. Blind at birth, he was sold in... Read more
-
Tom Wiggins (and his parents) sold to General James Neil Bethune
Tom Wiggins was sold in 1850 along with his slave parents, Charity and Mingo Wiggins, to Columbus, Georgia lawyer, General James Neil Bethune. The... Read more
-
"Blind Tom" Wiggins composes first song, "The Rain Storm"
By age five Tom reportedly had composed his first tune, The Rain Storm, based on his aural impressions of a torrential downpour. Read more
-
"Blind Tom" Wiggins performs for first time before a large public audience
In October 1857, General Bethune rented a concert hall in Columbus and for the first time "Blind Tom" performed before a large audience that had... Read more
-
General James Bethune hires Perry Oliver to promote and tour "Blind Tom" Wiggins around the country
Slaves with musical talent meant income for their owners and in 1858 James Bethune "hired out" Tom to concert promoter Perry Oliver for a period of... Read more