THE EARLY PERIOD: 1787 (ages 16 - 17 years)

In March, 1787 - at the age of sixteen, Beethoven first left Bonn traveling to Vienna - most likely having been sent there by the Elector, interested in having the wider world assess Beethoven's talents. Beethoven probably hoped to meet and to study with Mozart; whether such a meeting ever occurred is unknown. After only two weeks there, word that Beethoven's mother became severely ill with progressive tuberculosis prompted his rapid return to Bonn. She died shortly thereafter on July 17th. Beethoven's father, grieved, moved more deeply into alcoholism, leaving the care of and responsibility for Beethoven's two younger brothers to the then sixteen-year-old. This new set of responsibilities continued for the next five years.

Beethoven met several people who became lifelong friends during those years: Franz Wegeler, then a medical student, introduced him to the well-off von Breuning family, who offered him affection and support with Beethoven soon providing music lessons to their children.

Beethoven's talent was noticed by Count Ferdinand von Waldstein, who became an important supporter and friend.

It is notable that his early compositions were not followed by significant creative output until several years later, perhaps because of his grieving, his additional responsibilities, and the discouraging reviews his first published works received [See: Solomon's "Beethoven" 1979, ppg 28-29]

image from 1787