Where to start with Beethoven
5 essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralPiano Concerto no. 5 in E flat major, op. 73, "Emperor"
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KeyboardPiano Sonata no. 21 in C major, op. 53, "Waldstein"
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ChamberPiano Trio no. 7 in B flat major, op. 97, "Archduke"
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VocalChoral Fantasy in C minor, op. 80 — For piano, choir and orchestra
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KeyboardPiano Sonata no. 23 in F minor, op. 57, "Appassionata"
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 344
- Orchestral
- ● Piano Concerto no. 5 in E flat major, op. 73, "Emperor"
- ● Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67
- ● Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125, "Choral"
- ● Violin Concerto in D major, op. 61
- ● Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68, "Pastoral"
- Leonore Overture no. 3, op. 72b
- Piano Concerto no. 3 in C minor, op. 37
- Piano Concerto no. 4 in G major, op. 58
- Symphony no. 3 in E flat major, op. 55, "Eroica"
- Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92
- Consecration of the House, op. 124 — Overture
- Contredanses for Orchestra, WoO 14
- Coriolan, op. 62 — Overture
- Ecossaise in D major, WoO 22 — For wind ensemble
- Fidelio Overture, op. 72c
- German Dances for Orchestra, WoO 13
- German Dances for Orchestra, WoO 8
- Gratulations: Menuet for Orchestra in E flat major, WoO 3
- Leonore Overture no. 1, op. 138
- Leonore Overture no. 2, op. 72a
- March in C major, WoO 20
- March in D major, WoO 24 — For wind ensemble
- March in F major, WoO 18, "Für die Böhmische Landwehr" — For wind ensemble
- March in F major, WoO 19 — For wind ensemble
- Minuets for Orchestra, WoO 7
- Movement for Violin and Orchestra in C major, WoO 5
- Piano Concerto in D major, op. 61a — Version for piano and orchestra of the Violin Concerto
- Piano Concerto in E flat major, WoO 4
- Piano Concerto no. 1 in C major, op. 15
- Piano Concerto no. 2 in B flat major, op. 19
- Polonaise in D major, WoO 21 — For wind ensemble
- Romance cantabile in E minor, Hess13 — For flute, bassoon and orchestra
- Romance for Violin and Orchestra no. 1 in G major, op. 40
- Romance for Violin and Orchestra no. 2 in F major, op. 50
- Rondo for Piano and Orchestra in B flat major, WoO 6
- Symphony no. 1 in C major, op. 21
- Symphony no. 10 in E flat major — Version completed by Barry Cooper
- Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 36
- Symphony no. 4 in B flat major, op. 60
- Symphony no. 8 in F major, op. 93
- Triple Concerto in C major, op. 56 — For violin, cello, piano and orchestra
- Triumphal March in C major, WoO 2a, "Tarpeja"
- Wellington's Victory, op. 91
- Zur Namensfeier, op. 115 — Overture
- Keyboard
- ● Piano Sonata no. 21 in C major, op. 53, "Waldstein"
- ● Piano Sonata no. 23 in F minor, op. 57, "Appassionata"
- ● Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor, op. 13, "Pathétique"
- ● Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59, "Für Elise"
- ● Piano Sonata no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 27 no. 2, "Moonlight"
- Piano Sonata no. 17 in D minor, op. 31 no. 2, "Tempest"
- Piano Sonata no. 26 in E flat major, op. 81a, "Les Adieux"
- Piano Sonata no. 29 in B flat major, op. 106, "Hammerklavier"
- Piano Sonata no. 32 in C minor, op. 111
- Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, op. 120
- Allegretto in B minor, WoO 61
- Allegretto in C major, WoO 56, "Bagatelle"
- Allegretto in C minor, Hess69
- Allegretto in C minor, WoO 53
- Allegretto quasi andante in G minor, WoO 61a
- Allemande in A major, WoO 81
- Andante favori in F major, WoO 57
- Bagatelle in B flat major, WoO 60
- Bagatelle in C major, Hess57
- Bagatelle in C major, Hess73
- Bagatelle in C major, WoO 54, "Lustig-Traurig"
- Bagatelle in C minor, WoO 52
- Bagatelle in E flat major, Hess74
- Bagatelles, op. 119
- Bagatelles, op. 126
- Bagatelles, op. 33
- Concert Finale in C major, Hess65
- Contredanses, WoO 14
- Ecossaise in E flat major, WoO 86
- Ecossaises, WoO 83
- Fantasy in G minor, op. 77
- Fugue in B flat major, op. 134 — Version for piano 4 hands of the Grosse Fuge, op. 133
- Fugue in C major, Hess 64
- Fugue in D major, WoO 31 — For organ
- German Dances, Hess 67
- Grandes Marches for 2 Pianos, op. 45
- Ländler, WoO 11
- Minuet in E flat major, WoO 82
- Minuets, WoO 10
- Piano Sonata in C major, WoO 51
- Piano Sonata in D major, op. 6 — For piano 4 hands
- Piano Sonata in F major, WoO 50
- Piano Sonata no. 1 in F minor, op. 2 no. 1
- Piano Sonata no. 10 in G major, op. 14 no. 2
- Piano Sonata no. 11 in B flat major, op. 22
- Piano Sonata no. 12 in A flat major, op. 26
- Piano Sonata no. 13 in E flat major, op. 27 no. 1, "Quasi una fantasia"
- Piano Sonata no. 15 in D major, op. 28, "Pastoral"
- Piano Sonata no. 16 in G major, op. 31 no. 1
- Piano Sonata no. 18 in E flat major, op. 31 no. 3, "Hunt"
- Piano Sonata no. 19 in G minor, op. 49 no. 1
- Piano Sonata no. 2 in A major, op. 2 no. 2
- Piano Sonata no. 20 in G major, op. 49 no. 2
- Piano Sonata no. 22 in F major, op. 54
- Piano Sonata no. 24 in F sharp major, op. 78
- Piano Sonata no. 25 in G major, op. 79
- Piano Sonata no. 27 in E minor, op. 90
- Piano Sonata no. 28 in A major, op. 101
- Piano Sonata no. 3 in C major, op. 2 no. 3
- Piano Sonata no. 30 in E major, op. 109
- Piano Sonata no. 31 in A flat major, op. 110
- Piano Sonata no. 4 in E flat major, op. 7
- Piano Sonata no. 5 in C minor, op. 10 no. 1
- Piano Sonata no. 6 in F major, op. 10 no. 2
- Piano Sonata no. 7 in D major, op. 10 no. 3
- Piano Sonata no. 9 in E major, op. 14 no. 1
- Piano Sonatas, WoO 47, "Kurfürsten Sonatas"
- Piano Sonatina in G major, Anh.5 no. 1
- Polonaise in C major, op. 89
- Prelude in F minor, WoO 55
- Preludes, op. 39
- Rondo a capriccio in G major, op. 129, "Rage over a Lost Penny"
- Rondo in A major, WoO 49
- Rondo in C major, WoO 48
- Rondos, op. 51
- Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme, op. 35, "Eroica Variations"
- Variations on God Save the King, WoO 78
- Variations on Ich denke dein, WoO 74
- Variations on Rule Britannia, WoO 79
- Variations on a March by Dressler, WoO 63
- Variations on a Minuet by Haibel, WoO 68
- Variations on a Russian Dance, WoO 71
- Variations on a Swiss Air, WoO 64
- Variations on a Theme by Dittersdorf, WoO 66
- Variations on a Theme by Grétry, WoO 72
- Variations on a Theme by Paisiello, WoO 69
- Variations on a Theme by Paisiello, WoO 70
- Variations on a Theme by Righini, WoO 65
- Variations on a Theme by Salieri, WoO 73
- Variations on a Theme by Sussmayr, WoO 76
- Variations on a Theme by Waldstein, WoO 67 — For piano 4 hands
- Variations on a Theme by Winter, WoO 75
- Variations on an Original Theme, WoO 77
- Variations on an Original Theme, WoO 80
- Variations on an Original Theme, op. 34
- Variations on an Original Theme, op. 76
- Waltz in D major, WoO 85
- Waltz in E flat major, WoO 84
- Chamber
- ● Piano Trio no. 7 in B flat major, op. 97, "Archduke"
- ● String Quartet no. 7 in F major, op. 59 no. 1, "Razumovsky"
- ● Violin Sonata no. 9 in A major, op. 47, "Kreutzer"
- ● Violin Sonata no. 5 in F major, op. 24, "Spring"
- Cello Sonata no. 4 in C major, op. 102, no. 1
- Grosse Fuge, op. 133 — For string quartet
- Piano Trio no. 5 in D major, op. 70 no. 1, "Ghost"
- String Quartet no. 10 in E flat major, op. 74, "Harp"
- String Quartet no. 11 in F minor, op. 95, "Serioso"
- String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131
- String Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132
- String Quartet no. 16 in F major, op. 135
- Violin Sonata no. 7 in C minor, op. 30 no. 2
- Adagio for Mandolin and Piano in E flat major, WoO 43, no. 2
- Allegretto in B flat major, WoO 39 — For piano trio
- Allegretto in E flat major, Hess48 — For piano trio
- Andante and Variations in D major, WoO 44 no. 2 — For mandolin and piano
- Canon in 2 parts in A flat major, Hess 275
- Canon in 2 parts in A major, WoO 35
- Canon in 2 parts in G major, Hess 274
- Cello Sonata in E flat major, op. 64 — Version for cello and piano of the String Trio, op. 3 (tr. unknown)
- Cello Sonata no. 1 in F major, op. 5 no. 1
- Cello Sonata no. 2 in G minor, op. 5 no. 2
- Cello Sonata no. 3 in A major, op. 69
- Cello Sonata no. 5 in D major, op. 102, no. 2
- Clarinet Trio in B flat major, op. 11, "Gassenhauer"
- Clarinet Trio in E flat major, op. 38 — Version for clarinet, cello and piano of the Septet, op. 20
- Duo for 2 Flutes in G major, WoO 26
- Duo for 2 Violins in A major, WoO 34
- Duo for Clarinet and Bassoon in C major, WoO 27 no. 1
- Duo for Clarinet and Bassoon in F major, WoO 27 no. 2
- Duo for Clarinet and Bassoon in F major, WoO 27 no. 3
- Duo for Viola and Cello in E flat major, WoO 32
- Equali, WoO 30 — For 4 trombones
- Flute Sonata in B flat major, Anh.4
- Fugue for String Quartet in B flat major, Hess 36
- Fugue for String Quintet in D mahor, op. 137
- German Dances, WoO 42 — For violin and piano
- Grenadier March in F major, Hess107 — For mechanical clock
- Horn Sonata in F major, op. 17
- Ländler, WoO 15 — For 2 violins and double bass
- Mandolin Sonatina in C minor, WoO 43a
- Mandolin Sonatina in C minor, WoO 44a
- March for Wind Sextet in B flat major, WoO 29
- Minuet for string quartet in A flat major, Hess 33
- Minuets, WoO 9 — For 2 violins and double bass
- Mödlinger Tänze, WoO 17 — For 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 violins and double bass
- National Airs with Variations, op. 105 — For flute and piano
- National Airs with Variations, op. 107 — For flute and piano
- Notturno in D major, op. 42 — Version for viola and piano of the the String Trio, op. 8
- Piano Quartet in E flat major, op. 16b — Version for piano and strings of the Quintet for piano and winds, op. 16
- Piano Trio in D major, Anh.3
- Piano Trio in E flat major, WoO 38
- Piano Trio no. 1 in E flat major, op. 1 no. 1
- Piano Trio no. 2 in G major, op. 1, no. 2
- Piano Trio no. 3 in C minor, op. 1 no. 3
- Piano Trio no. 4 in B flat major, op. 11
- Piano Trio no. 6 in E flat major, op. 70 no. 2
- Pieces for Musical Clock, WoO 33
- Prelude and Fugue at the octave, Hess 30 — For string quartet
- Prelude and Fugue in E minor, Hess29 — For 2 violins and cello
- Quintet for Piano and Winds in E flat major, op. 16 — For piano, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon
- Rondo for Violin and Piano in G major, WoO 41
- Rondo for Wind Octet in E flat major, WoO 25, "Rondino"
- Septet in E flat major, op. 20 — For clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and double bass
- Serenade in D major, op. 25 — For flute, violin and viola
- Serenade in D major, op. 41 — Version for flute and piano of the Serenade, op. 25
- Serenade in D major, op. 8 — For string trio
- Sextet for 2 Horns and Strings in E flat major, op. 81b
- Sonatina for mandolin and piano in C major, WoO 44 no. 1
- Sonatina for mandolin and piano in C minor, WoO 43 no. 1
- String Quartet in F major, Hess 34 — Version for string quartet of the Piano Sonata, op. 14, no. 1
- String Quartet no. 1 in F major, op. 18 no. 1
- String Quartet no. 12 in E flat major, op. 127
- String Quartet no. 13 in B flat major, op. 130
- String Quartet no. 2 in G major, op. 18 no. 2
- String Quartet no. 3 in D major, op. 18 no. 3
- String Quartet no. 4 in C minor, op. 18 no. 4
- String Quartet no. 5 in A major, op. 18 no. 5
- String Quartet no. 6 in B flat major, op. 18 no. 6
- String Quartet no. 8 in E minor, op. 59 no. 2, "Razumovsky"
- String Quartet no. 9 in C major, op. 59 no. 3, "Razumovsky"
- String Quintet in C major, op. 29
- String Quintet in C minor, op. 104 — Version for string quintet of the Piano Trio, op. 1 no. 3
- String Quintet in E flat major, op. 4 — Version for string quintet of the Octet, op. 103
- String Trio no. 1 in E flat major, op. 3
- String Trio no. 3 in G major, op. 9, no. 1
- String Trio no. 4 in F major, op. 9 no. 3
- String Trio no. 5 in D major, op. 9 no. 2
- Trio in C major, op. 87 — For 2 oboes and english horn
- Trio in G major, WoO 37 — For flute, bassoon and piano
- Variations on Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu, op. 121a — For piano trio
- Variations on La ci darem la mano, WoO 28 — For 2 oboes and english horn
- Variations on Se vuol ballare, WoO 40 — For violin and piano
- Variations on a Theme by Handel, WoO 45 — For cello and piano
- Variations on a Theme from The Magic Flute, WoO 46 — For cello and piano
- Variations on a Theme from The Magic Flute, op. 66 — For cello and piano
- Variations on an Original Theme, op. 44 — For piano trio
- Violin Sonata no. 1 in D major, op. 12 no. 1
- Violin Sonata no. 10 in G major, op. 96
- Violin Sonata no. 2 in A major, op. 12 no. 2
- Violin Sonata no. 3 in E flat major, op. 12 no. 3
- Violin Sonata no. 4 in A minor, op. 23
- Violin Sonata no. 6 in A major, op. 30 no. 1
- Violin Sonata no. 8 in G major, op. 30 no. 3
- Wind Octet in E flat major, op. 103
- Wind Quintet in E flat major, Hess 19 — For oboe, 3 horns and bassoon
- Wind Sextet in E flat major, op. 71
- Vocal
- ● Choral Fantasy in C minor, op. 80 — For piano, choir and orchestra
- Missa Solemnis, op. 123
- Abendlied unterm gestirnten Himmel, WoO 150
- Abschiedsgesang an Wiens Bürger, WoO 121
- Adelaide, op. 46 — Song
- Ah! perfido, op. 65 — Aria for soprano and orchestra
- Als die Geliebte sich trennen wollte, WoO 132 — Song
- An Laura, WoO 112 — Song
- An Minna, WoO 115 — Song
- An die Geliebte, WoO 140 — Song
- An die Hoffnung, op. 32 — Song
- An die Hoffnung, op. 94 — Song
- An einen Säugling, WoO 108 — Song
- Andenken, WoO 136 — Song
- Ariettas and a Duet, op. 82
- Birthday Cantata for Prince Lobkowitz, WoO 106 — For soprano, choir and piano
- British Folk Songs, WoO 158b
- Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, op. 112 — Cantata
- Cantata on the Accession of Emperor Leopold II, WoO 88
- Christ on the Mount of Olives, op. 85 — Oratorio
- Das Geheimnis, WoO 145 — Song
- Das Glück der Freundschaft, op. 88 — Song
- Das liebe Kätzchen, Hess133 — Song
- Der Bardengeist, WoO 142 — Song
- Der Gesang der Nachtigal, WoO 141 — Song
- Der Jüngling in der Fremde, WoO 138 — Song
- Der Knabe auf dem Berge, Hess134 — Song
- Der Kuss, op. 128 — Song
- Der Liebende, WoO 139 — Song
- Der Mann von Wort, op. 99 — Song
- Der Wachtelschlag, WoO 129 — Song
- Der edle Mensch, WoO 151 — Song
- Der freie Mann, WoO 117 — Song
- Der glorreiche Augenblick, op. 136 — Cantata
- Des Kriegers Abschied, WoO 143 — Song
- Die Laute Klage, WoO 135 — Song
- Ein Selbstgespräch, WoO 114 — Song
- Elegiac Song, op. 118 — Song, for 4 voices and string quartet
- Elegie auf den Tod eines Pudels, WoO 110 — Song
- Es ist vollbracht, WoO 97 — Finale chorus for the collective singspiel Die Ehrenpforten
- Four Ariettas and a Duet, op. 82
- Funeral cantata on the Death of the Emperor Joseph II, WoO 87
- Gedenke mein!, WoO 130 — Song
- Germania, WoO 94 — Aria with chorus for voice and orchestra
- Hochzeitslied, WoO 105 — Aria with chorus for voice and piano
- In questa tomba oscura, WoO 133 — Song
- Irish Songs, WoO 152
- Irish Songs, WoO 153
- Irish Songs, WoO 154
- Klage, WoO 113 — Song
- Kriegslied der Österreicher, WoO 122 — Song
- La partenza, WoO 124 — Song
- La tiranna, WoO 125 — Song
- Lied aus der Ferne, WoO 137 — Song
- Man strebt die Flamme zu verhehlen, WoO 120 — Song
- Mass in C major, op. 86
- Merkenstein, WoO 144 — Song
- Merkenstein, op. 100 — Song
- Mit Mädeln sich vertragen, WoO 90 — Aria for bass and orchestra
- Neue Liebe, neues Leben, WoO 127 — Song
- No, non turbarti, WoO 92a — Aria for soprano and orchestra
- Oh care selve, WoO 119 — Song
- Opferlied, WoO 126 — Song
- Plaisir d'aimer, WoO 128 — Song
- Punschlied, WoO 111 — Song
- Que le temps me dure, WoO 116 — Song
- Resignation, WoO 149 — Song
- Ruf vom Berge, WoO 147 — Song
- Schilderung eines Mädchens, WoO 107 — Song
- Scottish Songs, WoO 156
- Scottish Songs, op. 108
- Sehnsucht, WoO 134 — Song
- Sehnsucht, WoO 146 — Song
- So oder so, WoO 148 — Song
- Songs of Various Nationalities, WoO 157
- Songs of Various Nationalities, WoO 158a
- Songs of Various Nationalities, WoO 158c
- Songs, WoO 118
- Songs, op. 48
- Songs, op. 52
- Songs, op. 75
- Songs, op. 83
- To the distant beloved, op. 98 — Song cycle
- Trinklied, WoO 109 — Song
- Two Arias, WoO 91 — For a singspiel by Ignaz Umlauf
- Welsh Songs, WoO 155
- Zärtliche Liebe, WoO 123 — Song
- Stage
- Egmont, op. 84 — Incidental music
- Fidelio, op. 72 — Opera
- King Stephen, op. 117 — Incidental music
- Leonore Prohaska, WoO 96 — Incidental music
- Musik zu einem Ritterballet, WoO 1 — Ballet
- The Creatures of Prometheus, op. 43 — Ballet
- The Ruins of Athens, op. 113 — Incidental music