Life of Beethoven

Pianist Ignaz Moscheles recalls secretly copying Beethoven's Sonate pathétique as a boy, then seeking the composer's acquaintance in Vienna. His preface introduces Anton Schindler's biography and explains the notes, letters and recollections he added to the English edition. The book brings together an account of Beethoven's life, correspondence with friends and publishers, personal anecdotes and remarks on his musical works.

The discussion of the sonatas asks how poetic ideas can guide a listener's understanding. Schindler reports Beethoven's explanations of particular movements and describes plans for new editions, including disagreements over payment and publishing arrangements. Moscheles also recounts working on a piano arrangement of Fidelio under the composer's supervision, with increasing deafness complicating their conversations. Readers interested in the relationship between a composer's daily circumstances and musical decisions will find both personal encounters and detailed attention to the works themselves.