
audiobook
This charming little volume invites young listeners to become the book’s creator, even guiding them to bind the pages and paste illustrations themselves. As the story unfolds, a child discovers how a shy boy named Ludwig grew up in the Rhine town of Bonn, under a demanding father who insisted on relentless piano practice. The narrative paints a vivid picture of his modest home, his mother’s warm devotion, and the early lessons that set the stage for a remarkable musical journey.
By the age of eight Beethoven already performed in public, and by ten his first composition was printed, a milestone that thrilled his teacher, Christian Gottlob Neefe. Neefe’s encouragement replaces harsh discipline with genuine mentorship, showing how the boy’s talent blossomed through organ duties, violin study, and endless sketching of musical ideas. The book closes with blank pages where listeners are encouraged to write their own Beethoven story, turning the listening experience into a personal creative project.
Language
en
Duration
~13 minutes (13K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Ernest Schaal and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-12-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1864–1958
Best known for making music history approachable for young readers, this American writer and educator spent decades sharing the lives of great composers in clear, lively prose.
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