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Beethoven: Letters, Journals and Conversations
Biographies can never be wholly objective or comprehensive; for by selecting which facts will receive emphasis, a biographer is bound to underplay those aspects which he considers to be less important. Hence, a volume such as this will allow readers to construct their own biographies of Beethoven, according to those aspects which are of greatest interest to themselves.
281 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
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About the author
Ludwig van Beethoven
7,400 books241 followersFrom classical composition, well-known musical works of Ludwig van Beethoven, a partially and then totally deaf German, include symphonies, concertos, sonatas, string quartets, Masses, and one opera and form a transition to romanticism.
Ludwig van Beethoven lived of the period between the late and early eras. A mother in Bonn bore him.
People widely regard Ludwig van Beethoven as one greatest master of construction; sometimes sketched the architecture of a movement and afterward decided upon the subject matter. He first systematically and consistently used interlocking thematic devices or “germ-motives” to achieve long unity between movements. He equally remarkably used many different “source-motives”, which recurred and lent some unity to his life. He touched and made almost every innovation. For example, he diversified and even crystallized, made and brought the more elastic, spacious, and closer rondo. The natural course mostly inspired him, and liked to write descriptive songs.
Ludwig van Beethoven excelled in a great variety of genres, piano, other instrumental for violin, other chamber, and lieder.
People usually divide career of Ludwig van Beethoven into early, middle, and late periods.
In the early period, he is seen as emulating his great predecessors Haydn and Mozart, while concurrently exploring new directions and gradually expanding the scope and ambition of his work. Some important pieces from the Early period are the first and second, the first six, the first three piano, and the first twenty piano, the famous “Pathétique” and “Moonlight."
The Middle (Heroic) period began shortly after Beethoven’s personal crisis centering around his encroaching. The period is noted for large-scale expressing heroism and struggle; these many of the most famous. Middle period six (numbers 3 to 8), the fourth and fifth piano, the triple and violin, five (numbers 7 to 11), the next seven piano (the “Waldstein” and the “Appassionata”), and Beethoven’s only Fidelio.
Beethoven’s Late period began around 1816. The Late-period are characterized by intellectual depth, intense and highly personal expression, and formal innovation (for example, the Op. 131 has seven linked movements, and the Ninth Symphony adds choral forces to the orchestra in the last movement). Many people in his time period do not think these measured up to his first few, and his with J. Reinhold were frowned upon. Of this period also the Missa Solemnis, the last five, and the last five piano.
Ludwig van Beethoven lived of the period between the late and early eras. A mother in Bonn bore him.
People widely regard Ludwig van Beethoven as one greatest master of construction; sometimes sketched the architecture of a movement and afterward decided upon the subject matter. He first systematically and consistently used interlocking thematic devices or “germ-motives” to achieve long unity between movements. He equally remarkably used many different “source-motives”, which recurred and lent some unity to his life. He touched and made almost every innovation. For example, he diversified and even crystallized, made and brought the more elastic, spacious, and closer rondo. The natural course mostly inspired him, and liked to write descriptive songs.
Ludwig van Beethoven excelled in a great variety of genres, piano, other instrumental for violin, other chamber, and lieder.
People usually divide career of Ludwig van Beethoven into early, middle, and late periods.
In the early period, he is seen as emulating his great predecessors Haydn and Mozart, while concurrently exploring new directions and gradually expanding the scope and ambition of his work. Some important pieces from the Early period are the first and second, the first six, the first three piano, and the first twenty piano, the famous “Pathétique” and “Moonlight."
The Middle (Heroic) period began shortly after Beethoven’s personal crisis centering around his encroaching. The period is noted for large-scale expressing heroism and struggle; these many of the most famous. Middle period six (numbers 3 to 8), the fourth and fifth piano, the triple and violin, five (numbers 7 to 11), the next seven piano (the “Waldstein” and the “Appassionata”), and Beethoven’s only Fidelio.
Beethoven’s Late period began around 1816. The Late-period are characterized by intellectual depth, intense and highly personal expression, and formal innovation (for example, the Op. 131 has seven linked movements, and the Ninth Symphony adds choral forces to the orchestra in the last movement). Many people in his time period do not think these measured up to his first few, and his with J. Reinhold were frowned upon. Of this period also the Missa Solemnis, the last five, and the last five piano.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 20, 2007
One of the most amazing things I've ever read!
Beethoven's letters, letters to Beethoven, his journal entries, other peoples' accounts of meeting him.
He says he is known as a misanthrope because he is deaf and people misunderstand him--everything he writes shows how beautiful he thinks and feels--and that he isn't this way at all!
Other neat discoveries are made while reading this.
Beethoven's letters, letters to Beethoven, his journal entries, other peoples' accounts of meeting him.
He says he is known as a misanthrope because he is deaf and people misunderstand him--everything he writes shows how beautiful he thinks and feels--and that he isn't this way at all!
Other neat discoveries are made while reading this.
February 13, 2017
What a fascinating peek into the life of classical music's greatest celebrity. Not surprisingly, much of the correspondence collected here centers around Beethoven's business, and includes letters to publishers, copiers, critics and clients. These letters are interesting in their own right, but the more fascinating ones are his contemporaries' accounts of his behavior. It is easy to see how the myth of the tortured composer deafly hammering out symphonies in a wet attic came to be.
December 19, 2023
I felt like I was hanging out with Beethoven while reading this book. His music speaks for itself, but his words, and the words of those who knew him, help us conceptualize his vision and glimpse his personality. He lived for Art, personified as a divine entity, like Apollo or the Muses, that elevates humankind spiritually and intellectually. He opposed aesthetic populism, which sees the voice of the people as the voice of God. When the public at large failed to appreciate his masterworks, such as one of his late quartets, he didn’t waver. It was their fault for not understanding it. We see this confidence throughout this volume. And yet we see his commitment to an ideal higher than himself: he kneels before Handel and praises Sebastian Bach as the “immortal god of harmony.” We also see his brusque and impetuous personality. His lack of concern for others’ view of him explains both his virtues and his vices. The suffering he endured throughout his life makes his story tragic and heroic, all the more powerful in light of the beauty and power of his music.
January 8, 2020
Cast your previous notions behind and always read primary sources such as this. A very nice snapshot of the man, not the myth.
May 20, 2021
An excellent read, if you're looking to learn more about the man behind the music. I don't often enjoy collections of personal correspondences, but this was well edited.
August 6, 2022
yo this book lowkey suks i tried to wipe my butt with it now theres poop stains on my computer like wtf!!!!!!
June 21, 2013
A book I will frequently revisit!
October 9, 2011
Insight into pure genius!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews