Ludwig van Beethoven was part of the classical era as a composer.
Ludwig van Beethoven ( [ ˈlʊdvɪɡ_væn_ˈbeɪˌtoʊvən ] , [ ˈbeɪtˌhoʊvən ] [ ˈluːtvɪç fan ˈbeːtˌhoˑfn̩ ] ; baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827 ) was a German composer and pianist . A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music , he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers .