Beethoven and the Construction of Genius
Musical Politics in Vienna, 1792-1803
- 252 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About This Book
In this provocative account Tia DeNora reconceptualizes the notion of genius by placing the life and career of Ludwig van Beethoven in its social context. She explores the changing musical world of late eighteenth-century Vienna and follows the activities of the small circle of aristocratic patrons who paved the way for the composer's success. DeNora reconstructs the development of Beethoven's reputation as she recreates Vienna's robust musical scene through contemporary accounts, letters, magazines, and mythsâa colorful picture of changing times. She explores the ways Beethoven was seen by his contemporaries and the image crafted by his supporters. Comparing Beethoven to contemporary rivals now largely forgotten, DeNora reveals a figure musically innovative and complex, as well as a keen self-promoter who adroitly managed his own celebrity. DeNora contends that the recognition Beethoven received was as much a social achievement as it was the result of his personal gifts. In contemplating the political and social implications of culture, DeNora casts many aspects of Beethoven's biography in a new and different light, enriching our understanding of his success as a performer and composer. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1996.
In this provocative account Tia DeNora reconceptualizes the notion of genius by placing the life and career of Ludwig van Beethoven in its social context. She explores the changing musical world of late eighteenth-century Vienna and follows the activities
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- CHAPTER I Beethoven and Social Identity
- CHAPTER 2 The Emergence of Serious Music Culture, 1784-1805
- CHAPTER 3 Musical Patronage and Social Change
- CHAPTER 4 Beethovenâs Social Resources
- CHAPTER 5 âFrom Haydnâs Handsâ: Narrative Constructions of Beethovenâs Talent and Future Success
- CHAPTER 6 Beethoven in the Salons
- CHAPTER 7 The Beethoven-Wölffl Piano Duel: Aesthetic Debates and Social Boundaries
- CHAPTER 8 Beethovenâs Early Aesthetic Campaigns
- CHAPTER 9 Beethoven and the Resources of Cultural Authority
- Notes
- References
- Index