Old Age a Very Short Introduction

Ferdinand Ries came from a line of German musicians of the Rhine region who are traced back to Johann Ries (1723-1784), a trumpeter in Bonn. His first son, Franz Anton Ries (1755-1846), a child prodigy on violin who chose to remain in Bonn, was Beethoven's teacher, and lived long enough to be honored as such when he was ninety and attended the unveiling of the famous statue to Beethoven there.
Ferdinand Ries was Franz Anton's eldest son, who was also his first piano and violin teacher. At the age of five he was also sent to study cello with B.H. Romberg. The boy was so accomplished that he was slated for a job playing in the elector's orchestra. But in 1794 the electoral …….
From Allmusic

Ferdinand Ries came from a line of German musicians of the Rhine region who are traced back to Johann Ries (1723-1784), a trumpeter in Bonn. His first son, Franz Anton Ries (1755-1846), a child prodigy on violin who chose to remain in Bonn, was Beethoven's teacher, and lived long enough to be honored as such when he was ninety and attended the unveiling of the famous statue to Beethoven there.
Ferdinand Ries was Franz Anton's eldest son, who was also his first piano and violin teacher. At the age of five he was also sent to study cello with B.H. Romberg. The boy was so accomplished that he was slated for a job playing in the elector's orchestra. But in 1794 the electoral …….
From Allmusic

Ferdinand Ries came from a line of German musicians of the Rhine region who are traced back to Johann Ries (1723-1784), a trumpeter in Bonn. His first son, Franz Anton Ries (1755-1846), a child prodigy on violin who chose to remain in Bonn, was Beethoven's teacher, and lived long enough to be honored as such when he was ninety and attended the unveiling of the famous statue to Beethoven there.
Ferdinand Ries was Franz Anton's eldest son, who was also his first piano and violin teacher. At the age of five he was also sent to study cello with B.H. Romberg. The boy was so accomplished that he was slated for a job playing in the elector's orchestra. But in 1794 the electoral …….
From Allmusic

Irreverent yet accurate, Mark Steele takes people who have made a mark in history (or at least are mentioned often enough that their names are familiar) and gives you the highlights of their lives in a way that makes you remember the important bits.