Beethoven

Rating:
Summary: A fresh look at Beethoven.
Review:

This unhackneyed, interesting book surveys Beethoven's music via representative, sometimes little known works, arrayed in a loose biographical framework. Kinderman concentrates on Beethoven's characteristic traits, many of which are clearly audible already in the composer's childhood and teenage works. The book is aimed at a general audience, though a little familiarity with Beethoven's music and basic musical terminogy is useful (sonata, recapitulation, key).

The book conveys an idea of some of Beethoven's compositional techniques (the analyses are relatively brief, and often only cover aspects of given works, but many are extremely insightful). In more descriptive passages, Kinderman hones in on the essential in the music, without wasting time with the usual sturm+drang+fate baggage too often equated with Beethoven. Typical Beethovenish features, such as the mischievous sense of humor, and the sensory and emotional effects achieved without a trace of sentimentality, get their due too.

To be sure, there are some flaws. The segments on certain philosophical tendencies of the time were not interesting (for me), but Kinderman does clearly label these optional. Fortunately, the reader can easily separate out subjective interpretations from the first rate analyses, since Kinderman doesn't disguise his views in pretend academic authority. I do somewhat cringe at the musicological cliche of calling Beethoven's middle period "heroic". To me, this baffling label puts a false programmatic spin on what is really extremely varied music. In the same vein, the one composition really nicknamed "heroic" may get the only really overblown interpretation in the book (what is known about Beethoven's original sketch plans for the Eroica doesn't to me seem to support Kinderman's view). Fortunately, I never got the feeling that Kinderman tried to cram his views down anyone else's throat.

Otherwise, the book remains on solid ground. I upgraded my original four stars to five, since I think this book is very useful to those who love the music and want to understand some of it a little better. Currently nothing else (that's in print and easily available) does the job as well as Kinderman.