Beethoven's symphonies : nine approaches to art and ideas / Martin Geck ; translated by Stewart Spencer.
| Author/creator | Geck, Martin author. |
| Other author | Spencer, Stewart, translator. |
| Format | Book |
| Copyright Date | ©2017 |
| Publication | Chicago : The University of Chicago Press, 2017. |
| Description | 197 pages : illustrations, music ; 23 cm |
| Subjects |
| Uniform title | Sinfonien Beethovens. English |
| Contents | Beethoven: symphonist par excellence. Napoleon Bonaparte ; Orchestral weight ; Delusions of virility ; Structure ; Jean Paul's "Cloven hoof" ; Nine symphonies -- Prolegomenon. On idle speculations ; From portentous prologues to ebullient finales ; On elemental beginnings ; On archetypal images ; On memorable fugato passages ; On striking dissonances ; On "false" entries ; On the escapades of the timpani ; On highly expressive foreshortenings ; On Beethoven's fondness for the Eroica ; On crossing a threshold -- The symphonies. Symphony no. 1 in C major, op. 21 ; Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 36 ; Symphony no. 3 in E-flat major, op. 55 (Eroica) ; Symphony no. 4 in B-flat major, op. 60 ; Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67 ; Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 (Pastoral) ; Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92 ; Symphony no. 8 in F major, op. 93 ; Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125. |
| Abstract | In the years spanning from 1800 to 1824, Ludwig van Beethoven completed nine symphonies, now considered among the greatest masterpieces of Western music. Yet despite the fact that this time period, located in the wake of the Enlightenment and at the peak of romanticism, was one of rich intellectual exploration and social change, the influence of such threads of thought on Beethoven's work has until now remained hidden beneath the surface of the notes. This book presents a fresh look at the great composer's approach and the ideas that moved him, offering a lively account of the major themes unifying his radically diverse output. The author opens the book with an enthralling series of cultural, political, and musical motifs that run throughout the symphonies. A leading theme is Beethoven's intense intellectual and emotional engagement with the figure of Napoleon, an engagement that survived even Beethoven's disappointment with Napoleon's decision to be crowned emperor in 1804. Geck also delves into the unique ways in which Beethoven approached beginnings and finales in his symphonies, as well as his innovative use of particular instruments. He then turns to the individual symphonies, tracing elements--a pitch, a chord, a musical theme--that offer a new way of thinking about each work and will make even the most devoted fans of Beethoven admire the symphonies anew. Offering refreshingly inventive readings of the work of one of history's greatest composers, this book shapes a fascinating picture of the symphonies as a cohesive oeuvre and of Beethoven as a master symphonist. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 173-185) and index. |
| Language | Translated from the German. |
| Issued in other form | Ebook version : 9780226453910 |
| LCCN | 2016041562 |
| ISBN | 9780226453880 (hardcover ; alkaline paper) |
| ISBN | 022645388X (hardcover ; alkaline paper) |
| ISBN | (electronic book) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Music Stacks | ML410.B42 G4413 2017 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |