I was only about 12 years old when I played an arrangement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony on the piano. The soaring second theme of the second movement brought tears to my eyes.

Then as a teenager I was introduced to Beethoven's 6th Symphony. My music teacher described how her sister sang the last theme in that one at the top of her lungs in the hospital when she was coming out of a coma. It's still one of my favorites.

...and today is Beethoven's birthday!