4. The Beethovens at Home

Domestic life during Beethoven's childhood did not center around the nuclear family to the extent that it does today. It was customary for several families to live as co-residents in the same house. The Fischer family, who lived together with the Beethovens in the Rheingasse, played an important role in Beethoven's family life, and the youngest Fischer son later wrote an important memoir of Beethoven's childhood. Beethoven also spent much time in the household of the wealthy Breuning family. He was initially employed to teach piano to two of the children, but he was soon treated as one of the family, and according to their childhood friend Wegeler, he spent many nights as well as most of his days in the Breuning household.