Google Doodle Celebrated Beethoven's 245th Anniversary; Composer's Birth Date Unknown?
Google Doodle honored Ludwig Van Beethoven Thursday and marked the composer's two hundred and forty fifth year since his baptism, according to The Telegraph.
When the Google homepage was visited, an interactive story awaits and a musical puzzle prompted users to put together the musician's Für Elise, Ode To Joy, Moonlight Sonata and Fifth Symphony.
Beethoven is one of the most famous composers in the world and despite losing his some of his ability to hear in his 30s, his symphonies have become the most influential classical pieces.
The legendary composer's birthday, centuries later still remain a mystery though his last words on his death bed were well recorded, revealed Time.
Dec. 17 is not his birthday but is the anniversary of his baptism in 1770. Historians believe though that he was born a few days earlier.
"It happens that our story isn't much of a stretch in the broader context of Ludwig van Beethoven's life, which saw more than its share of rotten luck," said Google's artists.
Beethoven had lost two siblings pre-maturely, assumed responsibility for his family in his teenage years, fell in love twice but unrequited and started losing his hearing at the peak of his career, according to Google's Doodle artists.
No one is sure why he started to lose his ability to hear, but what is known is the composer suffered from a severe form of tinnitus. This meant Beethoven heard ringing in his ears. After his death in 1827, an autopsy showed that he had a "distended inner ear" which developed lesions over time, reported the Independent.
In 1972, Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Ode to Joy from his ninth symphony was voted to be adopted by the Council of Europe as the official "Anthem of Europe."
Thursday's Google Doodle is one of the more innovative ones.
More than 2,000 Doodles have been created. Memorable examples include an interactive penalty shoot-out that marked the 2012 Olympics and Robert Moog's 78th birthday.
