The music of Ludwig Van Beethoven has become central to the Western classical tradition. Not just popular with audiences worldwide, Beethoven’s symphonies, quartets, sonatas, and concertos have shaped the values by which all other composers are judged. As well as surveying Beethoven’s music, this module will explore how and why it has captured the imaginations both of listeners and critics (including analysts and philosophers). The module will engage a variety of methodological approaches, including music analysis, reception history, aesthetics, and semiotics. Ultimately, it will engage with the ‘big question’: Is Beethoven’s fame constructed, or earned?