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Topic: What do you call, Beethoven? (Read 2278 times)

mennea

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Posts: 6

What do you call, Beethoven?

on: March 10, 2008, 06:06:21 PM

Beethoven signed his first name in various way, Ludwig, Louis, Luigi. And he was addressed similarly in letters he received. My question, does any one know for sure how he was addressed in ordinary conversation?

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Kassaa

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Posts: 1563

Re: What do you call, Beethoven?

Reply #1 on: March 10, 2008, 06:17:43 PM

Ludwig probably, he was after all German, he used the names Louis an Luigi when he wrote to Frenchmen an Italians.

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counterpoint

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Posts: 2003

Re: What do you call, Beethoven?

Reply #2 on: March 10, 2008, 08:41:10 PM

I call him just Beethoven

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If it doesn't work - try something different!

thierry13

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Posts: 2292

Re: What do you call, Beethoven?

Reply #3 on: March 13, 2008, 03:34:10 PM

Quote from: mennea on March 10, 2008, 06:06:21 PM

Beethoven signed his first name in various way, Ludwig, Louis, Luigi. And he was addressed similarly in letters he received. My question, does any one know for sure how he was addressed in ordinary conversation?

In those times it was common to translate one's name when using another language. Louis is the french name for Ludwig, and Luigi is the italian one. His original name is Ludwig. But you know it's the same for Liszt ... we all call him Franz but in fact it is Ferenc I think ... and Chopin will call him Frédéric because he lived in Paris but his real name is friedrich (or something like that).

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