Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: This is a great book if you want to learn about Beethoven's life. It gives you an idea of all the difficulties Beethoven had to overcome to become the great musician he is. Inspiring in itself.The book organization is very well thought, describing first a particular period of Beethoven's life and then doing an analysis of the music in that particular period, showing how both relate to each other. That gives the reader a sense of unity and establishes a link between the life and the works of this master. The contents of the book is very well researched. In fact, Solomon takes other biographies before his and goes deep into finding out the real facts. The research on the "Immortal Beloved" is great and there's a whole chapter dedicated to this mystery, which is very worth reading. And in the whole book, Solomon tries to split fact from fiction by going to the original sources and documents. That makes the book very accurate and because all evidence is shown, the reader can judge for himself. This is definitelly THE BIOGRAPHY you want to read if you really want to know about Beethoven's life.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: This is a great book if you want to learn about Beethoven's life. It gives you an idea of all the difficulties Beethoven had to overcome to become the great musician he is. Inspiring in itself. The book organization is very well thought, describing first a particular period of Beethoven's life and then doing an analysis of the music in that particular period, showing how both relate to each other. That gives the reader a sense of unity and establishes a link between the life and the works of this master. The contents of the book is very well researched. In fact, Solomon takes other biographies before his and goes deep into finding out the real facts. The research on the "Immortal Beloved" is great and there's a whole chapter dedicated to this mystery, which is very worth reading. And in the whole book, Solomon tries to split fact from fiction by going to the original sources and documents. That makes the book very accurate and because all evidence is shown, the reader can judge for himself. This is definitelly THE BIOGRAPHY you want to read if you really want to know about Beethoven's life.
Rating:
Summary: I love Beethoven!
Review: This is a well researched, delightfully written book about one of the world's greatest composers of classical music. If you read it, you'll know a whole lot more about the man, his family, his friends and colleagues, his music and his times.
Beethoven was born and raised in Bonn, Germany (1770-1827), but as soon as he could he gravitated to Vienna (Austria), because that was the capital of the Empire (Austro-Hungarian) and that's where the greatest musicians lived and where the greatest opportunities in music were. Beethoven showed some musical promise early in life (though he was no child prodigy like Mozart) and by age 15 he was already composing and performing in public. He eventually learned to play a number of instruments, but by 15 he was already a virtuoso on the piano and in his prime he was the best pianist in Vienna.
Beethoven enrolled at the University of Bonn in his teens but soon withdrew because he preferred to study independently - by reading the classics and the other greats of the day (Kant, Goethe, Schiller, etc.) and through tutoring in musical composition and performing. He eventually studied in Vienna with one of his `music heroes' - Franz Joseph Haydn. (His other `music heroes' included Mozart, Haendel, Glueck, and Cherubini).
Beethoven's life was filled with numerous successes, achievements, rewards, etc., he eventually composed some 600 pieces of music of all kinds, and he knew at the end of his life that he'd won the only kind of immortality in which he himself believed - that which man could earn personally through his own efforts here on Earth. But his life was not all `milk and honey'. Beethoven also encountered much adversity in life that caused him great mental anguish, sorrows and disappointments. He was disappointed, for example, in his family (all commoners!) - and especially in his two brothers (non-achievers!). He was mainly unsuccessful with women: he could rarely find a suitable candidate - and when he did, he would always opt in favor of his career over a wife. He was unhappy with Vienna and it's noble class: both were slow to recognize his genius and reluctant to properly reward him for his accomplishments - with money or with a permanent position. He also had problems with music publishers (Beethoven was, basically, a free lance composer-businessman), and he was greatly disappointed when Napoleon decided to crown himself Emperor of France. In the end these adversities wore Beethoven down, and as he aged his behavior and manners became increasingly course and rude and his appearance, sometimes unkempt and bizarre. He experienced various health problems throughout his life and his hearing was gone completely by the age of 47. Nevertheless, Beethoven, never ceased working and creating new masterpieces. He almost always maintained his disciplined work ethic and he always carried a notebook in which he could record fresh ideas about music that he was always contemplating in his mind. He'd jump out of bed in the night to record music he was hearing in his dreams.
This book contains useful, interesting facts and information from a variety of sources - including the `conversation books' that Beethoven used to exchange thoughts with his friends after his hearing no longer permitted him to converse aloud. We know from these materials that Beethoven thought the choice of certain musical keys was important in creating certain sentiments, atmosphere, and emotions in programmed music. We learn his thoughts on music critics and the nobility. We also learn what his last words were: "Schade! Schade! Zu Spaet! ("Pity! Pity! Too late!") - that he uttered on his death bed when he saw some of his favorite wine being delivered.
In conclusion: if you love classical music, you'll love this book!
Rating:
Summary: I love Beethoven!
Review: This is a well researched, delightfully written book about one of the world's greatest composers of classical music. If you read it, you'll know a whole lot more about the man, his family, his friends and colleagues, his music and his times.
Beethoven was born and raised in Bonn, Germany (1770-1827), but as soon as he could he gravitated to Vienna (Austria), because that was the capital of the Empire (Austro-Hungarian) and that's where the greatest musicians lived and where the greatest opportunities in music were. Beethoven showed some musical promise early in life (though he was no child prodigy like Mozart) and by age 15 he was already composing and performing in public. He eventually learned to play a number of instruments, but by 15 he was already a virtuoso on the piano and in his prime he was the best pianist in Vienna.
Beethoven enrolled at the University of Bonn in his teens but soon withdrew because he preferred to study independently - by reading the classics and the other greats of the day (Kant, Goethe, Schiller, etc.) and through tutoring in musical composition and performing. He eventually studied in Vienna with one of his 'music heroes' - Franz Joseph Haydn. (His other 'music heroes' included Mozart, Haendel, Glueck, and Cherubini).
Beethoven's life was filled with numerous successes, achievements, rewards, etc., he eventually composed some 600 pieces of music of all kinds, and he knew at the end of his life that he'd won the only kind of immortality in which he himself believed - that which man could earn personally through his own efforts here on Earth. But his life was not all 'milk and honey'. Beethoven also encountered much adversity in life that caused him great mental anguish, sorrows and disappointments. He was disappointed, for example, in his family (all commoners!) - and especially in his two brothers (non-achievers!). He was mainly unsuccessful with women: he could rarely find a suitable candidate - and when he did, he would always opt in favor of his career over a wife. He was unhappy with Vienna and it's noble class: both were slow to recognize his genius and reluctant to properly reward him for his accomplishments - with money or with a permanent position. He also had problems with music publishers (Beethoven was, basically, a free lance composer-businessman), and he was greatly disappointed when Napoleon decided to crown himself Emperor of France. In the end these adversities wore Beethoven down, and as he aged his behavior and manners became increasingly course and rude and his appearance, sometimes unkempt and bizarre. He experienced various health problems throughout his life and his hearing was gone completely by the age of 47. Nevertheless, Beethoven, never ceased working and creating new masterpieces. He almost always maintained his disciplined work ethic and he always carried a notebook in which he could record fresh ideas about music that he was always contemplating in his mind. He'd jump out of bed in the night to record music he was hearing in his dreams.
This book contains useful, interesting facts and information from a variety of sources - including the 'conversation books' that Beethoven used to exchange thoughts with his friends after his hearing no longer permitted him to converse aloud. We know from these materials that Beethoven thought the choice of certain musical keys was important in creating certain sentiments, atmosphere, and emotions in programmed music. We learn his thoughts on music critics and the nobility. We also learn what his last words were: "Schade! Schade! Zu Spaet! ("Pity! Pity! Too late!") - that he uttered on his death bed when he saw some of his favorite wine being delivered.
In conclusion: if you love classical music, you'll love this book!
Rating:
Summary: THE IMMORTAL COMPOSER
Review: This is the second edition of Solomon's biography of Beethoven and it is an improvement in terms of both analysis and lucidity. The book is written from a psychoanalytic point of view that all may not find convincing. However, the rudiments of Mr. Solomon's analysis, in terms of tracing Beethoven's life problems, his difficulties with women, with peers, and with himself to his childhood experiences probably transcends any specific psychological dogma and is insightful. The book is a biography rather than an attempt at technical musical analysis. Even so, it elucidates the music well and with an obvious love for it. I found the discussion of Beethoven's final period works, and of his sometimes neglected vocal writings, particularly good. The sections on Beethoven's relationship with Haydn, on his testament written upon the discovery of his impending deafness on the immortal beloved, and on his relationship with his nephew are all thoughtful and helped me better understand Beethoven. A wonderful book for anybody who loves this composer or wants to learn more about why other people love him.
Rating:
Summary: THE IMMORTAL COMPOSER
Review: This is the second edition of Solomon's biography of Beethoven and it is an improvement in terms of both analysis and lucidity. The book is written from a psychoanalytic point of view that all may not find convincing. However, the rudiments of Mr. Solomon's analysis, in terms of tracing Beethoven's life problems, his difficulties with women, with peers, and with himself to his childhood experiences probably transcends any specific psychological dogma and is insightful. The book is a biography rather than an attempt at technical musical analysis. Even so, it elucidates the music well and with an obvious love for it. I found the discussion of Beethoven's final period works, and of his sometimes neglected vocal writings, particularly good. The sections on Beethoven's relationship with Haydn, on his testament written upon the discovery of his impending deafness on the immortal beloved, and on his relationship with his nephew are all thoughtful and helped me better understand Beethoven. A wonderful book for anybody who loves this composer or wants to learn more about why other people love him.
Rating: 
Summary: Reviews
Review: Winner of the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award Reviews of the Second Edition: "Solomon retains all the freshness of the first edition while incorporating the enormous amount of research published on Beethoven since the initial 1977 printing. Solomon's book should continue to engage readers for the next several decades. Highly recommended." Timothy McGee, Starred review, Library Journal "This revised edition is another welcome achievement, an essential addition to the Beethoven literature and a necessary acquisition even if a library already owns the first edition. [I]ndispensable for those doing serious research on Beethoven." - CHOICE Reviews of the First Edition: "An admirable book, bold and exciting, revealing, moving, and one whose appearance we shall come to see as a landmark in Beethoven scholarship and interpretation. . . . From here on, our perception of Beethoven's music is inevitably touched by this portrait of the man." Michael Steinberg, The New York Times Book Review "A brilliant synthesis of the scholarship to date, an original and comprehensive study of the enigmatic giant and his music." Robert Commanday, San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle "A major biography. . . [It] may prove standard for the present generation." Frank Kermode, The New York Review of Books "Already a classic of its kind." Donal Henahan, The New York Times "Maynard Solomon's new book catapults Beethoven biography into the twentieth century. . . . The most heartfelt and brilliant full-length study of Beethoven in more than a hundred years." Robert Winter, Notes: Journal of the Music Library Association "The best one-volume biography of Beethoven in English. . . It will stand as a central biography for some time to come." Patrick J. Smith, Musical America "Perhaps the most authoritative, coherent, fascinating, and challenging biography of Beethoven that we have, or are likely to have for quite some time. . . . This book will probably be established as the biography in English that should be read first by any reader or specialist with an interest in this great man." Edward Rothstein, The Musical Quarterly "A magnificent work of scholarship and a most enjoyable book." James Cohn, Library Journal "A definitive biography." Booklist "This is an important book. Solomon has combined new insights into Beethoven's life and the relationship of this life to his music with a vivid, penetrating style of writing. . . . The author's identification of Antonie Brentano as Beethoven's 'Immortal Beloved' [is] a discovery fully documented and convincing beyond reasonable doubt . . .This is a book written con amore by an author who indeed has used 'modern psychological and sociological insights'' to great advantage. " Elliot Forbes, editor of Thayer's Life of Beethoven, in Kairos "A definitive biography. . . and a work that is also truly entertaining, absorbing reading." American Library Association Booklist "An awesome title, an awesome subject--and an awesome accomplishment . . . A model biography." Bruce Carr, Los Angeles Times "A more plausible and more integrated picture of the man than I have ever encountered. What he has to say about Beethoven's psychological problems is not only fascinating in itself, but bears directly on the music." Donal Henahan, The New York Times "An excellent and admirably concise biography of the composer." Denis Matthews, Times Literary Supplement "His major insights seem to me to bring us the closest yet to the mind of one of the greatest men who ever lived." Bryan Northcott, The Sunday Telegraph "A major achievement . . . This is the most compelling and interesting Beethoven biography I have ever read." Lewis Lockwood, 19th Century Music "One of the boldest, most penetrating and best documented studies of history's most famous composer. . . . The bibliography offers the best survey and assessment of the Beethoven literature (in all languages) which has yet been published, and will greatly facilitate research for many years to come . . . The most significant contribution to Beethoven biography since Thayer." William Drabkin, The Musical Times "By far the most important contemporary biographical research, and interpretation of Beethoven's character, has appeared in the work of Maynard Solomon." William Drabkin, The Beethoven Compendium "Solomon's biography is now the authoritative one." Charles Rosen, author The Classical Style "Certainly the best recent biographical panorama is Maynard Solomon's, Beethoven." Ludwig Finscher, editor-in-chief, Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart
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