JOSEPH HAYDN
Everywhere in Vienna Beethoven was a welcome guest. He was proud (but in the right way), very honest, always straightforward and independent. But, like his mother, he was warm-hearted and as true as could be. There was nothing in his nature that was mean, or cruel, or wrong in any way. He took pride in his talent and worked hard to perfect himself in it.
Here is what Beethoven's handwriting looked like.
BEETHOVEN'S HANDWRITING [Listen]
Bit by bit, the great power of Beethoven as a pianist became known. He played much among his friends, but he did not like to perform in public.
A story is told that once he was to play his C major Concerto at a concert. When he arrived at the hall he found the piano was tuned so low that he had to play the Concerto in C# major.
You know how hard it is to transpose a simple piece, but think of transposing a Concerto and playing it with orchestra without time for practice!
Do you sometimes wonder what the great composer looked like? Beethoven lived outside of Vienna and often took long walks in the country. Once a little boy ten years of age was taken by his father to visit Beethoven. The boy must have been a very observant boy for he wrote out a description of how Beethoven looked. This is the little boy's picture as a man: