therwol wrote:
Beethoven is usually characterized as being a bridge between the classical and romantic periods. I've also heard it said that the romantic period began the day Beethoven died.
In my mind, and I'm saying in my mind and not in any textbook, Beethoven lived in the Beethoven period. There is nothing comparable to his greatest works. It took until the 20th century for composers to begin to catch up with his innovations and breaking with the conventions of the time.
My categorical post was incorrect. Beethoven was not in the "romantic" period.