Books on Beethoven's Life? - Recommendations Please!

[SHIVERINGGOAT]

Ladies & Gentlemen?

I have loved Beethoven's music for some years, being introduced to his music by a friend lending me Roger Norrington's EMI disc of his 2nd and 8th Symphonies, which I still enjoy today.
I bought and read Thayer's life of Beethoven over 15 years ago and have his letters too, however I wondered if anyone could recommend a thorough biography...has there been any good ones written in the last 10 years?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Its Saturday night here in London and I think I'm going to listen to Karlos Klieber's brilliant recording of Beethoven's 7th Symphony whilst doing a strip tease in a bucket full of ferrets.

Kind Regards

Goat

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[Peter]

Well this should be enough to keep those ferrets happy! -

The Beethoven Sketchbooks: History, Reconstruction, Inventory (California Studies in 19th-Century Music, 4), Douglas Johnson, et al. University of California Press. 1985. ISBN 0520048350 (hardcover)
Beethoven, William Kinderman. University of California Press. 1995. ISBN 0520087968 (hardcover), 0520212266 (paperback)

Beethoven: A Critical Biography, Vincent D. Indy. Da Capo Press. 1970. ISBN 0306700190 (hardcover)
Beethoven in France: The Growth of an Idea, Leo Schrade. Da Capo Press. 1978. ISBN 0306775387 (hardcover)

Thayer's Life of Beethoven, Elliot Forbes (Editor). Princeton University Press. 1991. ISBN 0691027196 (paperback), 0691027021 (paperback)
The huge classic treatment of Beethoven's life and work, originally written by Alexander Wheelock Thayer. The convoluted story of how this work came to be completed is related in the preface.

Beethoven: His Life, Work and World, H.C. Robbins Landon, H. C. Robbins Landom. Thames & Hudson. 1993. ISBN 0500015406 (hardcover)

The Beethoven Compendium: A Guide to Beethoven's Life and Music, Barry Cooper (Editor), et al. Thames & Hudson. 1996. ISBN 0500278717 (paperback)

Beethoven Letters Journals and Conversations, Michael Hamburger (Editor), Ludwig Van Beethoven. Thames & Hudson. 1992. ISBN 0500273243 (paperback)

The Letters of Beethoven. Theodore Albrecht, ed. Letters to Beethoven , 3 vols. (Univ. of Nebraska Press, 1996).
The first collection of all of the letters known to have been written to Beethoven. This is a very reliable and fact-filled source that is a fascinating read. It also contains translations of over 70 letters of Beethoven which are not included in Anderson.

The New Grove Beethoven (The New Grove), Joseph Kerman, Alan Tyson. W.W. Norton & Company. 1997. ISBN 0393303551 (paperback)

Beethoven and the Creative Process, Barry Cooper. Oxford University Press. 1992. ISBN 0198163533 (paperback)
Beethoven and the Creative Process. Oxford University Press. 1992. ISBN 0198161638 (paperback)

Beethoven by Barry Cooper. Oxford University Press (2000)

Ludwig Van Beethoven: Approaches to His Music, Carl Dahlhaus, et al. Oxford University Press. 1991. ISBN 0198161484 (hardcover), 0198163991 (paperback)

Beethoven a Documentary Study, compiled and edited by H. C. Robbins Landon, translated by R. Wadleigh. E. Hartzell. Macmillan. 1974 ISBN 002004500X (paperback)
Abridged edition documentary records, letters and other papers written about Beethoven in his lifetime. Well illustrated.

Newman - 'Beethoven on Beethoven'

Beethoven in Person His Deafness, Illnesses, and Death (Contributions to the Study of Music and Dance. Peter Davis. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...222634-1724451

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'Man know thyself'

[SHIVERINGGOAT]

Brilliant Peter thankyou so much.
I will be visiting Amazon.com later to indulge my curiosity. I just love reading about his life, his personal struggle is something I can relate to, and in this day and age of people obsessed with fame for its own sake its so important for me to look to people like Beethoven as someone who lived their lives to such principles based around unselfishly wanting to leave something constructive for future generations.
Actually there is another book I read that was instrumental in gaining an understanding of Beethoven's music and that is an Open University Course book called 'Beethoven's Spiritual Development'. Does anyone know this here?, its only a small book but helped me to understand the later quartets, particularly 0p 132, which is my favourite, followed by Op 74 'The Harp' of which the scherzo always has me dancing around the room!
Sorry if I missed earlier post but I really enjoyed the BBC 'Eroica' drama the other Saturday..coupled with Eliot-Gardner's orchestra - amazing (his is my favourite cycle of Symphonies, although I haven't heard Rattle's yet - any opinions?)

anyway 'Long Live The Master'!

Over & Out

Goat

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"Music is like a magnificent diamond with many facets, each facet is different but reflects the same light" - John Mclaughlin

[Michael]

Originally posted by SHIVERINGGOAT:
Actually there is another book I read that was instrumental in gaining an understanding of Beethoven's music and that is an Open University Course book called 'Beethoven's Spiritual Development'. Does anyone know this here?, its only a small book but helped me to understand the later quartets, particularly 0p 132, which is my favourite, followed by Op 74 'The Harp' of which the scherzo always has me dancing around the room!

anyway 'Long Live The Master'!

Over & Out

Goat

[/B]

I am delighted to hear that this book is still available. I bought a 1931 edition of it about 25 years ago and it still remains my favourite book about Beethoven.
It is actually called "Beethoven" by J.W.N. Sullivan and is divided into two sections: "The Nature of Music" and "Beethoven's Spiritual Development". I would urge anyone to read it, if possible.
I don't agree with everything in it, of course. Sullivan's description of the third movement of the Hammerlavier as so full of woe that "it seems as inimical to human existance as the icy heart of some remote mountain lake" is a rather off-putting description of what is, perhaps, the greatest slow movement B ever wrote.

Michael

[Sorrano]

Originally posted by Michael:
I am delighted to hear that this book is still available. I bought a 1931 edition of it about 25 years ago and it still remains my favourite book about Beethoven.
It is actually called "Beethoven" by J.W.N. Sullivan and is divided into two sections: "The Nature of Music" and "Beethoven's Spiritual Development". I would urge anyone to read it, if possible.
I don't agree with everything in it, of course. Sullivan's description of the third movement of the Hammerlavier as so full of woe that "it seems as inimical to human existance as the icy heart of some remote mountain lake" is a rather off-putting description of what is, perhaps, the greatest slow movement B ever wrote.

Michael

I, also, have a copy of this book. It's been long forgotten and I hadn't gotten around to reading it. Thanks for the reminder and I will have to dig it up and take a look at it.

[spaceray]

Sullivan's was the first book I read about Beethoven ,I was swept into classical music books after reading the chapters on Beethoven's spiritual development.Peter's list is a great one and I would like to add "Beethoven ,The Composer as Hero"by Philippe A Autexier published by Abrams "Discoveries" series.Rod says that the essay ,or what I have quoted from it, is nonsense but this little paperback is chock full of beautiful(and some fanciful)pictures,paintings, illustrations and photographs.

[SHIVERINGGOAT]

Thankyou for you efforts, I'd rather trust your opinions than reviewers in magazines etc.
Have any of you had chance to listen to Rattle's Beethoven symphonies yet?..are they out or was it just the piano concerto's with Brendel? I relish the thought of hearing what Rattle makes of the symphonies, especially after hearing him conduct the 7th symphony with the CBSO in Huddersfield Town Hall about 12 years ago - OH! Heady days!

Meanwhile I'm going listen to the Talich's Op 74 scherzo on my walkman and dance around Sainsbury's car park in Hackney like a drunken horse until the police arrive
...the long winter evenings fly by

Goat

[Frohlich]

Greetings Goat,

So far as Simon Rattle is concerned, I wish the guy every success and good fortune in Berlin. But if we are talking about him as an interpreter of the classical repertoire I can only give my personal opinion and I don't want to rain on the parade of the only Englishman to have to have scaled the dizzying heights of the German musical establishment, but for me at least, he simply doesn't rate.
People talk about him being a great Sibelius inerpreter but again I find him incoherent and lacking musical structure and grammar.
As far as Beethoven is concerned, unfortunately, Rattle's underlying musical immaturity comes to the fore in rather embarrassing ways I find, and it is quite clear he simply cannot really handle Beethoven's work.
Rattle is a kind of classic FM coductor, that is fairly accessable, user friendly, who says a lot of politicaly correct things, youthful, but lacking in depth, rigour and a true musical understanding of the works of the greatest masters such as Beethoven and Mozart. Probably the most suitable music for this pleasant and agreeable chap is Italian light opera, Donizetti, etc. Perhaphs the guy's popularity is a mirror of the shallow age in which we live, but surely nobody in their right mind can compare Mr. Rattle with Toscanini, Beecham or Furtwangler.

But there again it is all a question of taste I suppose. . .

I should also add to be fair, that he did raise the profile of the City of Birmingham Orchestra and he deserves a lot of credit for that. . .



[This message has been edited by Frohlich (edited October 21, 2003).]

[Joy]

May I also add to the list of Beethoven books one of my favourties which is chock full of information, "The Beethoven Encyclopedia" by Paul Nettl containing snipets of everything and everyone who was associated with Beethoven all in alphabetical order. Also may I reiterate "The Beethoven Compendium: A Guide to Beethoven's Life and Music" by Barry Cooper. Really worth the read.
Regarding Sir Simon Rattle and Beethoven's 9 Symphonies. Back in April my classical radio station played all 9 Symphonies with comments by Rattle himself. Pleasant enough. Every conductor has his own way and everyone's different but if you want to read more about him, here is an interesting site; http://www.emiclassics.com/artists/biogs/srab.html

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[Joy]

Originally posted by Sorrano:

I, also, have a copy of this book. It's been long forgotten and I hadn't gotten around to reading it. Thanks for the reminder and I will have to dig it up and take a look at it.

I also have read this book many years ago. Quite good as I remember. I think it's time to have a go at it again!



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'Truth and beauty joined'

[Frohlich]

Having just read Nicholas Kenyon's ridiculously over the top enconium on behalf of Rattle, I wonder whether we are living in the same world. I mean, it really is nonesense the way the guy goes on about how great Rattle is and how lucky we all are and what a great catch it is for Berlin. Even if these things were true, which they are not in my view, it is hardly the thing to emphazise. There is really no analysis from Kenyon as to what if any are Rattle's music making abilities and anyone would be suspicious I think at reading this over the top praise of anyone, it just reads like he is Rattle number one groupie. By way of a corrective I went to listen to a fantastic performance of Beethoven's 9th a couple of months ago at the Royal Festival Hall, conducted by Daniele Gatti, and in my opinion it was far superior to anything I have ever heard from Simon Rattle.

Amalie



[This message has been edited by Frohlich (edited October 20, 2003).]

[Peter]

Has anyone read Lewis lockwood's Beethoven bio? I've seen great reviews of this.

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'Man know thyself'

[Amalie]

Originally posted by Peter:
Has anyone read Lewis lockwood's Beethoven bio? I've seen great reviews of this.

Peter,
Do you mean, Beethoven, The music and the Life, by Lewis Lockwood?
If so, yes, I have read through most of it with just a few chapters to go, but I am afraid I tend to dip here and there.
I like the way it is written for the general reader and the specialist.
I find Lockwood to be in many ways most informitave and readable, along with insightful commentary of the music. He does the best job of setting Beethoven into the social, cultural, and especially the musical context of the period. I think we find more of Beehoven in his music.
As you probably know, Lockwood is also a distinguished cellist who plays Beethoven's chamber music for pleasure.
I always get so much more out of a book when I read it for a second time.



[This message has been edited by Amalie (edited January 29, 2004).]

[Tegan]

Originally posted by Peter:
Has anyone read Lewis lockwood's Beethoven bio? I've seen great reviews of this.

I have! I know I've mentioned it before, so maybe you already know. I liked it alot, and found it very informative. Besides the end, which bogged down a bit, it was quite good.

[Peter]

Originally posted by Amalie:

Peter,
Do you mean, Beethoven, The music and the Life, by Lewis Lockwood?
If so, yes, I have read through most of it with just a few chapters to go, but I am afraid I tend to dip here and there.
I like the way it is written for the general reader and the specialist.
I find Lockwood to be in many ways most informitave and readable, along with insightful commentary of the music. He does the best job of setting Beethoven into the social, cultural, and especially the musical context of the period. I think we find more of Beehoven in his music.
As you probably know, Lockwood is also a distinguished cellist who plays Beethoven's chamber music for pleasure.
I always get so much more out of a book when I read it for a second time.

[This message has been edited by Amalie (edited January 29, 2004).]

Yes sorry I couldn't think of the title! Thanks for that - I've heard it is more interesting than Cooper, so I may go for it.

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'Man know thyself'