a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Mass the Missa solemnis, and one opera, Fidelio.
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I kept hearing the opening motif of Beethoven’s Fifth—three short and one long buzz, repeated again and again in varying volume,
Ralph Ellison. The Invisible Man (1952)
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He could see the pianist sitting down to play the Moonlight Sonata, and the grimaces of Mme. Verdurin, in terrified anticipation of the wrecking of her nerves by Beethoven's music. "Idiot, liar!" he shouted, "and a creature like that imagines that she's fond of Art!"
Marcel Proust. In Search of Lost Time [volume 1]
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No one who was tone deaf ever loved music so much. I think his shortcoming increased his appreciation; he loved it all indiscriminately— Beethoven, the latest love ditty, jazz, a hymn—it was all profoundly musical to Phineas.
John Knowles. A Separate Peace, pp.200-1 (1959)
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A panel of judges looked on, frowning thoughtfully, as though they were listening to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (actual lyric: "Dum dum dum DUM").
Dave Barry. Dave Barry Is Not Taking This Sitting Down, p.184 (2000)
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He was fond of talking about Shakespeare, Raphael, Beethoven, of the significance of new schools of poetry and music, all of which were classified by him with very conspicuous consistency.