Ludwig van Beethoven was a famous German composer known for his 9 symphonies, concertos, and chamber music including string quartets and piano sonatas. He is considered a transitional figure between the Classical and Romantic eras in music. Beethoven's middle period saw major works with greater intensity, expressivity, and formal expansiveness, inspired by his struggles with deafness and relationship to political events. His iconic Fifth Symphony uses motifs of conflict and resolution between the first and last movements.