Beethoven House facts for kids
Ludwig van Beethoven birthplace at Bonngasse (center) in Bonn, Germany
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| Location | Bonn |
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| Type | Museum, cultural institution, memorial site |
| Visitors | 100,000 |
The Beethoven House (in German: Beethoven-Haus) in Bonn, Germany, is a special place. It's a museum, a memorial, and a cultural center all about the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven. It was started in 1889 by a group called the Beethoven-Haus association. Their goal is to learn and share everything about Beethoven's life and his amazing music.
The most important part of the Beethoven-Haus is Beethoven's actual birthplace at Bonngasse 20. This is where the museum is located. Nearby buildings hold a research center, a library, and a concert hall. Here, music fans and experts from all over the world can come together. The Beethoven-Haus gets its money from the association and from public funds.
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History of Beethoven's Birthplace
The House in the 1700s
The house at Bonngasse 20 was built around 1700. It has a stone front and was one of the few middle-class homes left from that time. It was in a popular area for people who worked for the local ruler, called the prince elector. The house was close to the castle, the town hall, and the Rhine River. Today, this area is a pedestrian zone, near Bonn's Beethoven Hall and the opera house.
Changes in the 1800s
Later, in the early 1800s, a smaller wooden house was added behind the main building. Many families and even some shops were in these buildings. Around 1840, Beethoven's friend Franz Gerhard Wegeler helped confirm that the back part of the house was where Beethoven was born. In 1873, a restaurant called "Beethoven's Birthplace" opened on the ground floor.
In 1889, the Beethoven-Haus association was formed to save the house from being torn down. They bought it and spent years fixing it up to become a memorial. They wanted to keep the house looking as it did in the 1700s. They even bought the house next door in 1893 to protect Beethoven's birthplace.
The House in the 1900s
In 1907, the association bought another nearby house, Bonngasse 18. This house is also very old, from the 1700s. Beethoven's godmother, Gertrud Baum, lived there. It's believed Beethoven was baptized there on December 17, 1770. This house once had a figure on its front called "Im Mohren." This figure showed ideas from the 1800s that are now seen as negative stereotypes.
In 1927, the Beethoven archive, a research center, moved into Bonngasse 18. Both houses were renovated in the 1930s and became protected historical buildings in 1985.
The Beethoven-Haus was lucky and survived both World Wars without much damage. During World War II, a fire bomb hit the roof, but quick action by staff saved the building. The damages were fixed in the early 1950s. The house was renovated again in the late 1960s and then a big renovation happened from 1994 to 1996. For this work, the Beethoven-Haus won a special award for cultural heritage in 1998.
The House Today
In 2003, the German postal service, Deutsche Post AG, even put the Beethoven-Haus on a postage stamp!
Beethoven Family Homes
In 1767, Beethoven's father, Johann van Beethoven, moved into the house at Bonngasse 20 with his wife, Maria Magdalena Keverich. Ludwig's grandfather, also named Ludwig van Beethoven, lived across the street.
Ludwig van Beethoven was likely born in one of the small attic rooms on December 16 or 17, 1770. He was baptized on December 17, 1770, and named after his grandfather. The family grew quickly, but only Ludwig and two of his brothers, Kaspar Anton Karl and Nikolaus Johann, survived childhood.
Around 1774, the family moved to another house. Young Beethoven joined the court orchestra in 1784. He also gave music lessons. During his time in Bonn, he made many important friends who helped him with his education. The house at Bonngasse is the only one of Beethoven's childhood homes that still stands today.
The Museum Experience
The museum first opened on May 10, 1893. It has grown over time and now holds the world's largest collection of items related to Beethoven.
Museum Building
The museum is made up of two buildings that were once separate: the front house and the back house where Beethoven lived. They were connected to create the museum. The old rooms, low ceilings, and creaky stairs give visitors a real sense of what life was like in the 1700s.
Permanent Exhibition
The main exhibition has been updated many times. In 2019, for Beethoven's 250th birthday, it was completely redesigned. Instead of showing things in order of time, it now groups them by themes. Multimedia displays and carefully chosen items help visitors connect with Beethoven's life and music.
You can see amazing things like Beethoven's baptism record and a poster from his first public concert in 1778. There's also his first printed music from 1783 and a portrait of his grandfather. Paintings of his employers and his viola show his work as a court musician. A special organ console that Beethoven played when he was ten is also on display.
You can also see portraits of people who were important to Beethoven, like his teachers and friends. There are instruments, including his last piano. You can see famous images of Beethoven, like a bust and his death mask. Items like his ear trumpets and conversation booklets show how he dealt with his hearing loss. Letters and daily items give a glimpse into his life.
In the back of the museum, the Beethoven family's living area has also been updated. A diorama shows what Bonn looked like in Beethoven's time. On the second floor, a new sound room lets you listen to five of Beethoven's early works.
The most special room is the "birth room," believed to be his parents' bedroom. It now has a large mirror displaying Beethoven's music, creating a unique and poetic atmosphere.
Treasury and Music Room
In the basement of the next-door house, there's a "treasury." This is a special, safe place to display very old and important items from the collection. Above it is a new music room used for small concerts. Musicians often play on old instruments from Beethoven's time, making the concerts extra special.
Special Exhibitions
The museum also hosts special exhibitions several times a year. These often focus on new items the museum has bought or important anniversaries. For example, they've shown the original manuscript of his Diabelli Variations.
Other exhibitions have featured people important to Beethoven, like his teacher Christian Gottlob Neefe. They also explore how other musicians like Johannes Brahms and artists like Joseph Beuys were inspired by Beethoven. These exhibitions often go along with the Bonn Beethoven festival.
The Garden
The garden at the Beethoven-Haus is a peaceful place. It has a collection of busts (sculptures of heads and shoulders) of Beethoven, some dating back to the early 1900s.
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A bust by Pierre-Felix Masseau (1902)
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A bust by Naoum Aronson (1905)
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A bust by Fernando Cian (early 1900s)
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A bust by Wilhelm Hüsgen (1927/1929)
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A bust by Eduard Merz (1945/1946)
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A bust by Lewon Konstantinowitsch Lasarew (1981)
Digital Beethoven-Haus
The "studio for digital collections" is across the street. Here, visitors can see, read, and even listen to digitized documents. These include manuscripts, letters, and pictures. The official website, launched in 2004, has won awards for its design and content.
The Chamber Music Hall
The Beethoven-Haus association has always loved organizing concerts. In 1989, for the association's 100th birthday, a new chamber music hall was opened. It's named after Hermann Josef Abs, who helped make it happen. The hall has 199 seats and is known for its great sound and cozy feel. Its architects won several awards for their design.
This hall is perfect for concerts, meetings, and other events.
Concerts and Educational Events
Concert Series
The chamber music hall hosts about 40 events each year. These include classic chamber music by famous groups and young artists. Some concerts use historical instruments, giving a taste of Beethoven's era. There are also jazz concerts, family concerts, and events for elementary schools. These help children and parents explore classical music.
Helping Young Musicians
The Beethoven-Haus helps young musicians and music experts. Since 2007, it has offered a study program for students. Master classes, started by Kurt Masur in 2006, help young musicians improve. Famous artists work with them on Beethoven's music in public rehearsals. Students can also study original manuscripts and get advice on how to play Beethoven's pieces.
Composers and Mentors
Since 2013, the Beethoven-Haus uses Villa Wasmuth as a guesthouse. It supports young researchers, musicians, composers, and artists. Young composers can work there for a month with mentors, and their new pieces are performed at the end.
The Beethoven-Haus also has a mentoring program. Young music experts and musicians can stay at Villa Wasmuth. They get to use the Beethoven-Haus's resources and receive support from staff and honorary members. Many talented individuals have been part of this program.
Music and Museum Education
The Beethoven-Haus offers guided tours, workshops, and activities for children and teenagers. Children who play instruments can meet to learn and perform Beethoven's music. There are also concerts and projects for elementary schools. Each year, about 1,000 elementary school children attend "scenic school concerts."
In 2007, a special website for children called "Hello Beethoven" was launched. It has information about Beethoven's family, friends, school, daily life, and the world he lived in. It's a great resource for kids and schools.
Researching Beethoven
The Beethoven-Haus has several important jobs. It collects and takes care of Beethoven's manuscripts, pictures, and original music. It also supports research through projects, publications, and conferences. The house organizes exhibitions and events, and helps share Beethoven's music.
Beethoven Collection
Collecting documents about Beethoven is one of the oldest tasks of the Beethoven-Haus. It now has the largest and most varied Beethoven collection in the world. This includes over 1,000 original manuscripts, like his notes and letters. There are also musical instruments, personal items, and over 3,000 pictures. These include three-quarters of all real portraits of Beethoven.
The collection keeps growing thanks to gifts and loans. Important recent additions include the original manuscript of his Missa Solemnis and the Diabelli Variations. These valuable items are stored safely in special rooms. Every month, the museum highlights a special "object of the month."
Beethoven Archive
The buildings next to Beethoven's birthplace house the Beethoven archive. This is the scientific part of the institution. It was started in 1927 to be a main center for information on Beethoven's life and music. The archive collects copies of all his original music, letters, and documents. It also gathers everything needed to study Beethoven's art and his time.
Today, the collection has over 11,000 items, including autographs, music sheets, and letters. These come from more than 200 libraries and archives worldwide. This collection is vital for research. Experts from the Beethoven-Haus also attend international events about Beethoven.
Library
The Beethoven-Haus library adds to the archive's collection with books and sheet music. It's mainly a research library for the Beethoven-Haus staff. It also has its own collection of original sources. The library manages the Digital Archive and the Beethoven-Haus website.
The library holds original and early prints of Beethoven's music and works by his friends. It has scientific books, magazines, and recordings. This helps document Beethoven's music and his historical world. With almost 100,000 items, it's the largest public library dedicated to Beethoven. People from all over the world come to study in its reading room.
Publishing House
The Beethoven-Haus has its own publishing house. It publishes books and music related to Beethoven research. Many of the archive's editions are part of different series. One series focuses on Beethoven's sketches and drafts. Another, the Bonner Beethoven-Studien, publishes articles about Beethoven's life and music.
The publishing house has won awards for its facsimile editions, which are exact copies of original manuscripts. These include the Pastoral Symphony and the Moonlight Sonata. They also publish books for children and music lovers, as well as CDs. The publishing house works closely with G. Henle publishing house in Munich.
Audio Documentation
To let people hear Beethoven's original instruments, the Beethoven-Haus started a CD series. Famous musicians play Beethoven's compositions on his own string instruments and pianos. The series also includes recordings of legendary visits by cellist Pablo Casals to the Beethoven-Haus in the 1950s.
The Beethoven-Haus Bonn Association
History and Activities
In 1888, the city of Bonn wasn't interested in keeping Beethoven's birthplace. So, on February 24, 1889, twelve art-loving citizens created the Beethoven-Haus association. They bought the house to turn it into a memorial. They wanted to rebuild the birthplace as it was when Beethoven was young. They also aimed to collect all his music, letters, pictures, and anything else related to him.
They paid 57,000 marks for the house and another 24,000 marks for renovations. To get support, they invited famous people to be honorary members. These included politicians like Otto von Bismarck and artists like Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann. By 1890, the association had 344 members, many from other countries.
Violinist Joseph Joachim, famous for playing Beethoven's violin concerto, was the honorary president. In 1890, the association started the Beethoven-Haus chamber music festivals. These concerts helped raise money to maintain the buildings. The first festival included the largest Beethoven exhibition ever, with 360 items from all over Europe.
On May 10, 1893, the Beethoven-Haus opened as a museum and memorial. Its goal was to keep Beethoven's memory alive through the museum, collections, events, and publications. Over the years, the association organized many festivals and built up its collection. They also started to focus more on research. In 1927, the Beethoven archive was founded to support this research.
The Beethoven-Haus has been praised for combining a museum, research site, and new media. In 2006, former German president Horst Köhler gave it an award for its innovative approach.
How it's Organized
The Beethoven-Haus association became a legal organization in 1896. It has a general meeting for its members and a board of directors. The board includes 5 to 12 people chosen by the members. The director of the Beethoven-Haus is the chief executive officer and manages the daily business.
The association has about 1,000 members today. Many famous musicians have been given honorary memberships. About half of the association's money comes from the German government and the city of Bonn. The other half comes from donations, sponsors, and other activities. The non-profit Beethoven-Haus Bonn Foundation, started in 1999, also supports projects.
Chairmen of the association have included:
- 1889–1903 Carl Alfred Ebbinghaus
- 1903 Dittmar Finkler
- 1912–1923 Ernst Zitelmann
- 1923–1929 Ferdinand August Schmidt
- 1929–1932 Friedrich Knickenberg
- 1932–1945 Ludwig Schiedermair
- 1945–1960 Theodor Wildeman
- 1960–1994 Hermann Josef Abs
- 1994–2004 Friedrich Wilhelm Christians
- 2004–2012 Kurt Masur
- Since 2012 Tabea Zimmermann
The tradition of having an artist as chairman was brought back with Kurt Masur and continues with violist Tabea Zimmermann.
See also
In Spanish: Beethoven Haus para niños
- List of music museums
