Ludwig van Beethoven -LRB- -LSB- ˈlʊdvɪɡ_væn_ˈbeɪˌtoʊvən -RSB- , -LSB- ˈbeɪtˌhoʊvən -RSB- -LSB- ˈluːtvɪç fan ˈbeːtˌhoˑfn̩ -RSB- ; baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827 -RRB- was a German composer and pianist .
Ludwig van Beethoven was a pianist .