Ludwig van Beethoven's music is one of the most towering achievements in the history of art, with innovations in nearly all forms and styles of his time. For the generation of composers that matured after Beethoven's death, the force of his music's expressive impact was a great inspiration, but also a monumental challenge that had to be confronted. This talk examines the highlights of Beethoven's compositional legacy and outlines the problems it created for subsequent composers.