Ludwig van Beethoven is considered one of the greatest composers in history. Born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770, he showed extraordinary musical talent as a child. By his late twenties, he noticed a ringing in his ears that gradually grew worse. By the time he was about 45, he was completely deaf. But Beethoven refused to stop. He placed his piano on the floor so he could feel the vibrations through his body. He also composed music by hearing the notes in his mind, a skill called audiation. Some of his most famous works, including his Ninth Symphony, were written when he could not hear at all. The Ninth Symphony is remarkable for many reasons. It was the first major symphony to include voices and a choir. The final movement features the poem "Ode to Joy," which celebrates the idea that all people are brothers and sisters. When the symphony was first performed in 1824, Beethoven stood on stage conducting. He could not hear the audience's thunderous applause. A singer had to turn him around so he could see the crowd cheering. Beethoven died on March 26, 1827. An estimated 20,000 people attended his funeral in Vienna.