Intermediate passages 1 The best recruiting agents

61 Ludwig van Beethoven

The composer of some of the most influential pieces of music ever written, Ludwig van Beethoven created a bridge between the 18th-century classical period and the new beginnings of Romanticism. His greatest breakthroughs in composition came in his instrumental work, including his symphonies. Unlike his predecessor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, for whom writing music seemed to come easily, Beethoven always struggled to perfect his work. In the late 1700s Beethoven began to suffer from early symptoms of deafness. The cause of his disability is still uncertain. By 1802 Beethoven was convinced that the condition not only was permanent, but was getting progressively worse. He spent that summer in the country and wrote what has become known as the "Heiligenstadt Testament." In the document, seemingly intended for his two brothers, Beethoven expressed his humiliation and despair. For the rest of his life he searched for a cure, but by 1819 his deafness had become total. Afterwards, in order to have conversations with his friends, Beethoven had them write down their questions and replied orally.

1. Perhaps the biggest problem in Beethoven's life was

1. 
   the gradual loss of his hearing over a period of about twenty years
   
2. 
   the fact that he had to respond in writing to the questions of his friends
   
3. 
   when he lost his two brothers and wrote the "Heiligenstadt" for them
   
4. 
   his sudden and unexpected deafness in the early nineteenth century
   

2. Unlike Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,

1. 
   Beethoven's music was loved by all sorts of people
   
2. 
   Beethoven wrote music that greatly affected people
   
3. 
   Beethoven refused to perform uncorrected music
   
4. 
   Beethoven had to work very hard to write his music
   

3. Beethoven's music is said to

1. 
   have brought about the end of the classical period of music
   
2. 
   have had a great influence on the works of the composer Mozart
   
3. 
   be among the most romantic music ever composed
   
4. 
   have served as a connection between two different periods of music