Life of Beethoven

Schindler, Ignace Moscheles

• Publisher: Read & Co. Books
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781528790956
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Music Biographies

"Life of Beethoven" is a 1840 biography of Beethoven written by his friend Anton Schindler. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven's musical prowess was recognised from an early age, and he soon became famous as a virtuoso pianist and composer. However, after having gone almost completely deaf by 1814, Beethoven ceased public performances and appearances entirely. One of the most celebrated composers in Western history, Beethoven's music remains amongst the most commonly-performed classical music around the world. Contents include: "First Period - From His Birth To The Year 1800", "Second Period - From 1800 To October, 1813", "Third Period - From November, 1813, Till His Death, in 1827, Part I", "Third Period - Till His Death In 1827, Part II", "Third Period - From 1824 Till Beethoven's Death In 1827, Part III", "Musical Observations", etc. A unique early biography of Beethoven by someone who knew him personally not to be missed by those with an interest in classical music in general. Anton Felix Schindler (1795–1864) was a friend, secretary, and biographer of Ludwig van Beethoven. Other notable works by this author include: "Beethoven as I knew him" (1996) and "The life of Beethoven (1966). Read & Co. Books is republishing this classic biography now in a new edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

SUPPLEMENT

NO. I

Letters from Beethoven to Kappellmeister Hofmeister and
C. F. Peters, Music Publishers, relative to the Sale of some
of his Compositions.[69]

The many attacks which have recently been made on the copyright of works by L. van Beethoven, which are my property, induce me to give a list of the compositions purchased from that author, which are the legitimate property of my house; namely:—

Concerto pour le Piano-forte avec Orch.	Op.	19
Septuor pour Violon., Alto, Clar., Cor., Basson, Violoncelle, et Contrebasse	"	20
Première gr. Sinfonie pour Orchestre	"	21
Gr. Sonate pour le Piano-forte	"	22
Deux Préludes dans tous les 12 tons majeurs pour le Piano-forte ou l'Orgue	Op.	39
Romance pour Violon avec Orchestre	"	40
Sérénade pour le Pfte. et Flûte (ou Violon)	"	41
Notturno pour Pianof. et Alto	"	42
Ouverture de Prometheus, pour Orchestre	"	43
Quatorze Variations pour le Piano, Vln., et Violoncelle	"	44

Respecting the works Op. 20 and 21, which have lately been invaded without my consent, by arrangements by other hands, I find myself obliged to communicate the letters written on the subject by Beethoven in the years 1800 and 1801, which incontestably prove on the one hand my exclusive property in these compositions, (as also in Op. 19 and 22,) and furnish, on the other, a highly interesting illustration of the individuality of the great composer, then in the flower of his age.

I keep back the evidence in regard to the other six works, Op. 39-44, till a similar attack, which I hope will not occur, shall be made upon them.

C. G. S. BÖHME,
of the firm of C. F. Peters, Bureau de Musique.

Neue Zeitschrift Für Musik,
Leipsic, March 7, 1837.

LETTERS FROM BEETHOVEN

1

Vienna, December 15, 1800.

My dearest Brother in the Art,

I have many times thought of answering your inquiries, but am a dreadfully lazy correspondent; and thus I am an age making up my mind to form the dead letter instead of the musical note; but at length I have done violence to myself in order to comply with your request.

Pro primo, you are to hear of my regret, dearest brother in the art, at your not having applied to me sooner, so that you might have purchased my Quartetts, as well as many other things which I have now disposed of; but if you, my good brother, are as conscientious as many other honest engravers, who sting[70] us poor composers to death, you will know how to make a profit by them when they come out.

I will therefore briefly state what my good brother may have of me.

1stly. A Septett per il Violino, Viola, Violoncello, Contrabasso, Clarinetto, Corno, Fagotto—tutti obligati

(I cannot write anything inobligato, because I came into the world with an obligato accompaniment).

This Septett has been highly approved.

2ndly. A Grand Symphony for the orchestra.

3rdly. A Concerto for the Piano-forte, which, it is true, I do not assert to be one of my best, any more than another, which will be published here by Mollo (a hint for the Leipzig reviewers), since I reserve the better ones for my own use, in case I should make a musical tour; yet it would not disgrace you to publish it.

4thly. A Grand Solo Sonata.

This is all that I have to part with at this moment. By and by you may have a Quintett for stringed instruments, perhaps Quartetts too, and other things which I have not by me just now. In your answer you may fix your own prices; and as you are neither a Jew nor an Italian, and as I do not belong to either nation, we shall not disagree.

Fare you well, my deare...

Table of contents

• THE EDITOR'S PREFACE
• INTRODUCTION
• LIFE OF BEETHOVEN
• SUPPLEMENT