Ludwig van Beethoven a German composer born in 1770 reacted strongly to the events happening in France.

First public performances at age 7

Wrote many works for piano, string quartets, and the symphony, as well as concertos, an opera, a mass, and other works.

Beethoven believed that music had a moral and humanistic value. As his composing developed, so did this viewpoint.

As a musician he changed the way music was heard, what it meant, what it stood for.

His Third Symphony, the Eroica, was originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte.

Yet when he heard Napoleon had crowned himself Emperor, he angrily tried to obliterate all reference to his name in the dedication (practically tearing through the manuscript paper) and renamed the Symphony.

Why do you think Beethoven reacted as he did to Napoleon’s crowning himself Emperor?