beethoven, ludwig van

A German composer of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, whose works spanned the classic and romantic musical traditions (see romanticism). Considered one of the greatest composers of all time, he is particularly well known for his Moonlight Sonata and other sonatas for piano; for his string quartets; for his concertos; and for his nine symphonies. The Third Symphony (Eroica), Fifth Symphony, and Ninth Symphony (“Choral”) are the most famous.