Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) was a German composer and pianist, and arguably the most famous composer of all time. He was the last great figure of the Classical era, and helped pave the way for the Romantic style that followed. His compositions include 9 Symphonies, 5 Piano Concertos, 1 Violin Concerto, 32 Piano Sonatas, and 16 String Quartets. Beethoven’s Adagio from his Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, “Pathetique” (Op. 13) is one of his most celebrated compositions. It has been arranged for the Guitar by the Spanish guitarist, pianist and composer Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909). Tárrega is known for revolutionising classical Guitar technique, and also for transcribingmany keyboard works for Guitar from the great classical composers, including Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Chopin.
