Beethoven : a life in nine pieces

Tunbridge, Laura 1974- (author.).

Summary: "A major new biography published for the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, offering a fresh, human portrayal The iconic image of Beethoven is of him as a lone genius: hair wild, fists clenched, and brow furrowed. Beethoven may well have shaped the music of the future, but he was also a product of his time, influenced by the people, politics, and culture around him. Oxford scholar Laura Tunbridge offers an alternative history of Beethoven's career, placing his music in contexts that shed light on why particular pieces are valued more than others, and what this tells us about his larger than life reputation. We discover, for example, Beethoven's unusual marketing strategies, his ambitious concert programming, and how specific performers and instruments influenced his works. This book offers new ways to understand Beethoven from an expert voice"--

Record details

ISBN: 9780300254587
ISBN: 030025458X
Physical Description: print
xii, 276 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm
Publisher: New Haven : Yale University Press, 2020.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 232-260) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

A note on Beethoven's finances -- A note on musical terms -- Introduction: beginnings -- Success: Septet, op. 20 (1800) -- Friends: Violin Sonata no. 9, op. 47, the 'Kreutzer' (1803) -- Heroism: Symphony no. 3, op. 55, the 'Eroica' (1804) -- Ambition: Choral Fantasy, op. 80 (1808) -- Love: 'An die Geliebte', WoO 140 (1812) -- Liberty: Fidelio, op. 72 (1814) -- Family: Piano Sonata no. 29, op. 106, the 'Hammerklavier' (1818) -- Spirit: Missa solemnis, op. 123 (1823) -- Endings: String Quartet, op. 130, and the 'Grosse Fuge', op. 133 (1826) -- Coda.