It was with the genius of Ludwig van Beethoven that the Classical Era reached its climax. Beethoven, whose figure overshadows the whole of 19th century music, was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770, the son of a court musician.
Beethoven wrote masterpieces in each of the musical genres practiced during his time, among them are the 32 sonatas for piano. One of his most famous sonatas is No.14, the Moonlight Sonata. This piece works remarkably well on the guitar and utilizes the full range of the instrument.