Beethoven was a political composer. He doggedly dedicated his art to issues of human freedom, justice, progress, and community. The Third Symphony, arguably Beethoven's most influential work, centers on a funeral march that provokes patriotic ceremonies of the French Revolution. Beethoven was a long-time admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte. He then dedicated the symphony to Napoleon, but when Napoleon was proclaimed emperor of France, he deleted the dedication to Napoleon. This symphony is cited as the end of Beethoven's classical era and the beginning of musical romanticism. But what about Beethoven after Napoleon? Beethoven's life and music worsened after the composition of the Third Symphony due to his reaction to Napoleon becoming emperor, his deafness, and his personal and family difficulties. Beethoven not only deleted the dedication to Napoleon in the Third Symphony. He got disgusted and went to the table where the complete score was. He grabbed the title page and cut the name Bonaparte with a knife so violently that he believed it...