Beethoven

Beethoven

Author: David Benjamin Levy

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2003-01-01

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 9780300099645

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Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, a masterpiece that has influenced virtually every Western composer since its premiere, has become associated with the marking of momentous public occasions. In 1989, Chinese students played its finale through loudspeakers in Tiananmen Square, and Leonard Bernstein led a performance in Berlin to celebrate the razing of the Berlin Wall. This lively and up-to-date book focuses on Beethoven's Ninth, exploring the cultural and musical meanings that surround this powerful work of genius. David B. Levy sets the scene with a brief survey of nineteenth-century Germanic culture and society, then analyzes the Ninth symphony in detail with special emphasis on the famous choral finale. He discusses the initial performances in 1824 under Beethoven's direction and traces the symphony's critical reception and legacy. In the final chapter of the book, Levy examines interpretations of the work by prominent conductors, including Wagner, Mahler, and Weingartner. A fully annotated discography of selected recordings completes this comprehensive volume.


The Ninth

The Ninth

Author: Harvey Sachs

Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks

Published: 2011-11-08

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 0812969073

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The premier of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Vienna on May 7, 1824, was the most significant artistic event of the year—and the work remains one of the most precedent-shattering and influential compositions in the history of music. Described in vibrant detail by eminent musicologist Harvey Sachs, this symbol of freedom and joy was so unorthodox that it amazed and confused listeners at its unveiling—yet it became a standard for subsequent generations of creative artists, and its composer came to embody the Romantic cult of genius. In this unconventional, provocative book, Beethoven’s masterwork becomes a prism through which we may view the politics, aesthetics, and overall climate of the era. Part biography, part history, part memoir, The Ninth brilliantly explores the intricacies of Beethoven’s last symphony—how it brought forth the power of the individual while celebrating the collective spirit of humanity.


On the Performance of Beethoven's Symphonies and Other Essays

On the Performance of Beethoven's Symphonies and Other Essays

Author: Felix Weingartner

Publisher: Courier Corporation

Published: 2004-01-01

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 9780486439662

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This volume contains English translations of three important literary works by Austrian conductor Felix Weingartner (1863–1942). The title essay is a detailed account of specific performing difficulties and questions of interpretation in each of the nine symphonies, a comprehensive treatment that will be indispensable to music students. Additional features include "On Conducting" and "The Symphony Since Beethoven," both of which attest to the author's belief that art is at its best when an "exceedingly delicate balance is attained between the feeling and the intellect." Weingartner's wealth of observations on music and musicians will fascinate anyone interested in symphonic traditions.


Welcome to the Symphony

Welcome to the Symphony

Author: Carolyn Sloan

Publisher: Workman Publishing

Published: 2015-10-27

Total Pages: 35

ISBN-13: 0761176470

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Using one of the most famous works in classical music—Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony—here is the perfect way to introduce a young child to the world of classical music. This charming and interactive picture book with its panel of 19 sound buttons is like a ticket to a concert hall, taking readers on a journey from the exciting first moment when the musicians begin tuning up to the end of the first movement (attention newcomers: don’t clap yet!). At each step of the way, readers learn the basics of classical music and the orchestra: What is a conductor? What is a symphony? Who was Beethoven? The different aspects of music: melody, harmony, tempo, theme. And the families of instruments—strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. But the best part is that every critical idea is illustrated in gorgeous sound. The sound panel allows readers to hear the different parts of the symphony and voices of the music—the famous beginning of the Fifth, what a clarinet sounds like, the difference between a violin and a viola, what a melody is, and what harmony is. Kids will want to match their voices to the A note that tunes the orchestra, dance to the rhythmic passages—and, of course, sing along to da-da-da-daah!


The Classical Style

The Classical Style

Author: Charles Rosen

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 564

ISBN-13: 9780393040203

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Presents a detailed analysis of the musical styles and forms developed by Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.


Planet Beethoven

Planet Beethoven

Author: Mina Yang

Publisher: Wesleyan

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780819574855

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Exploring the complexities and significance of classical music today


Performance Practices in Classic Piano Music

Performance Practices in Classic Piano Music

Author: Sandra P. Rosenblum

Publisher: Indiana University Press

Published: 1988-11-22

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780253206800

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Performance today on either the pianoforte or the fortepiano can be at once joyful, musicianly, expressive, and historically informed. From this point of view, Sandra P. Rosenblum examines the principles of performing the music of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and their contemporaries as revealed in a variety of historical sources: their autographs and letters, early editions of their music, original instruments, and contemporary tutors and journals. She applies these findings to such elements of performance as dynamics, accentuation, pedaling, articulation and touch, technique and fingering, ornaments and embellishments, choice of tempo, and tempo flexibility. Familiarity with the Classic conventions provides a framework for interpretation and an understanding of the choices available within the style, the amount of freedom a performer has, and which areas are ambiguous. Rosenblum's detailed study, copiously illustrated with musical examples, is invaluable for professional and amateur performers, serious piano students and their teachers and students of performance practices by Scarlatti and Clementi. " . . . is and will remain unsurpassed as the study dealing with performance practice as it pertains to keyboard music of the Classical period." —American Music Teacher "Rosenblum's monumental achievement is thorough, objective, balanced, and imaginative, a compelling blend of love and respect for the solo, chamber, and concerto literature she addresses." —Journal of Musicological Research "The extent and quality of her research, the depth of her perception, and her musicianship together break new ground in the study of historic performance practice." —Early Keyboard Journal "Her attention to details is absolutely scrupulous; no stone unturned, no argument unquestioned or unstated." —The Musical Times "Its importance to thoughtful musicians cannot be overstated." —Choice " . . . thoroughly musicological." —Performance Practice Review " . . . indispensable . . . " —New York Times


Beethoven in America

Beethoven in America

Author: Michael Broyles

Publisher: Indiana University Press

Published: 2011-10-27

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 0253357047

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Examines America's early reception to Beethoven, the use of his work and image in American music, movies, stage works, and other forms of popular culture, and related topics.


Beethoven and the Classical Age

Beethoven and the Classical Age

Author: Andrea Bergamini

Publisher: Barron's Educational Series

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780764151330

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This biography of one of the world's most important and revolutionary composers sketches the details of Ludwig van Beethoven's life, from his birth in the city of Bonn in 1770 to his death in Vienna in 1827. Readers get insights into his methods of composition, see full-color illustrations that accurately show several pianos he used for performance and composition, and learn about his friends and associates both in and outside the musical world.