Classic Showcase: Beethoven Songs

One of the most influential figures in the Classic and Romantic eras of Western Art music, German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) left his mark on European history with his revolutionary works. With over 30 piano sonatas, 9 symphonies, 5 concerts for piano and many other chamber music compositions and string quartets, the pianist's has an inner passion of music like no other, and he performed and composed music until the very end, when he died of liver disease.

What is most remarkable about Beethoven is the fact that during his career he became completely deaf on both ears, and yet still continued to push on! One of his most well-known works, the 'Ode to Joy' (or his 9th symphony) was produced while he was completely deaf. Though he could still compose, having a hearing loss obviously made performing in public extremely difficult for him and he gave that up soon after the Ode to Joy was performed. No one knows exactly what caused Beethoven to go deaf.

This was one of the very first song series in the Classic genre of Taiko no Tatsujin. Even back during the old days of Taiko when classic compositions have only begun emerging in this rhythm game series, Beethoven's works being used first goes to show how powerful his name is in the world of music.