Beethoven's Letters (Dover Books on Music)
by Ludwig van Beethoven
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ludwig van BeethovenBrand: Alfred Publishing
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); German (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1972-06-01
ISBN: 0486227693
Number of pages: 410
Model: 06-227693
Publisher: Dover Publications
Product features:
- Book
- Format Book
Book Reviews of Beethoven's Letters (Dover Books on Music)
Book Review: BEETHOVEN "A Look Behind The Notes"
Summary: 5 Stars
Beethoven's Letters
As a pianist, teacher, adjudicator, examiner, critic and author, I am often presented with performances of Beethoven's works that offer no insight or understanding of Beethoven the man or his music! When giving master classes, I encourage students to read his letters and analyze his music before attempting to perform it. Most consider Beethoven an unpleasant, angry, reclusive human being! Beethoven's letters prove these thoughts to be totally invalid! When writing to his brothers (Heiligenstadt Testament),Beethoven shows an essence of lament because he is so distraught about the false opinions of others toward him. In his letter's we find the true essence of this great man.
Beethoven was a man of morality, truth, and beauty very much like Schubert. Beethoven's deep love of nature is well-known and well documented in his letters and shows in his music too! He was a deeply religious man. Beethoven's attitude may have been more of conventional Catholic ecclesiastical views, but as his letters show, there are countless evidences of his spirituality.
In Beethoven's letter's the fundamental differences are clear. I feel the most important ones are these:
Purity. There is never one single moment of something demonic or unhealthy in his music.
Dignity. He is always completely honest in his music. And there is never a trace of something that might be interpreted as self pity. Pain and sorrow, yes, but nothing to suggest that he ever felt sorry for himself.
His letter's convey a very good guess that Beethoven's deafness may have been a result of his attempts to press his excellent hearing sense to the extreme in order to gain the ultimate understanding of music! The reading of Beethoven's letters is paramount for those who truly want to know the essence of the man and how to approach performing his music!
Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate (hon.)
Summary of Beethoven's Letters (Dover Books on Music)
Features 457 of Beethoven's most candid letters dealing with such topics as his deafness, his declining health, other composers and their influence, and his own work. Includes 15 illustrations.
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