On Air Now
Classic FM Drive with John Brunning 5pm - 7pm
Beethoven's family
Beethoven's family were a powerful influence on him, helping to create both the tension as well as the passion that underlie his greatest music. John will be talking about the influence Beethoven's family had on his music in his 12-part series, Beethoven: The Man Revealed
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1. Ludwig's father Johann van Beethoven
At the age of 22, Johann van Beethoven secured an appointment as court musician, due to his fine tenor voice. To supplement his small income, he gave singing and piano lessons...
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2. Maria Magdalena Keverich Beethoven's mother
Maria Magdalena Keverich was the daughter of Heinrich Keverich, chief overseer of the kitchen at the palace of the Elector of Trèves at Ehrenbreitstein...
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3. Ludwig van Beethoven (1712-73) Beethoven's grandfather
He was born in Malines in Flanders, the son of a master baker. At the age of five he became a student at a choir school, where he stayed for eight years...
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4. Nikolaus Johann van Beethoven (1776-1848) Beethoven's brother
Nikolaus followed his brother Ludwig to Vienna in December 1795, expressing the wish to be known from then onwards as Johann, in memory of the brothers' late father...
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5. Caspar Carl van Beethoven (1774-1815) Beethoven's brother
Carl followed his brother Ludwig to Vienna in May 1794. As a musician of minor talent he earned a meagre living giving piano lessons, trading on the fact that he was Beethoven's brother...
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6. Johanna van Beethoven (c.1784-1868) Beethoven's sister-in-law
Beethoven's brother Carl married Johanna Reiss on 25 May 1806, prompting Ludwig to write many years later, 'My brother's marriage was as much an indication of his immorality as of his folly'...
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7. Therese van Beethoven (1787-1828) Beethoven's sister-in-law
Beethoven's brother Johann, having moved to Linz in 1808 after buying his apothecary shop, lived in a house too large for his needs, and so decided to rent part of it out to a physician from Vienna.
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8. Karl van Beethoven (1806-58) Beethoven's nephew
Karl van Beethoven, son of Carl and Johanna, was the only child of the three Beethoven brothers, and thus the sole Beethoven of the next generation...
