With his nine symphonies alone, Beethoven assured himself a place in the great composer pantheon. And that’s not to mention his late piano sonatas, string quartets, and concertos that took classical music kicking and screaming into the Romantic era. There are, however, dozens of lesser-known, often early works, where it’s possible to hear not just a more personal and intimate side to this musical giant, but to glimpse a composer in progress—a man unfettered by deafness, rejoicing in finding his voice. Here you can discover stand-alone chamber works, songs and piano pieces that still challenge the rules yet deliver as much heartrending beauty as any of Beethoven’s most celebrated creations.