Wonderfully intimate biography by Beethoven's pupil, secretary and factotum. Extensively annotated by Beethoven scholar Donald MacArdle, it not only offers Schindler's personal view of the composer's music, personality, deafness, irascible behavior, etc.-but incorporates 100 years of subsequent research. Revised third edition. Editor's Notes. Introduction. 7 illustrations.

Violinist and conductor Anton Schindler (1795-1864) became Beethoven's unpaid private secretary for two periods in the 1820s, notably caring for the composer in his last months. Schindler published his biography of Beethoven in 1840, and in 1841 this English translation appeared, with a preface and additional letters provided by the pianist Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870), who in 1814 had prepared the piano version of Fidelio for publication by Artaria. That the biography is unreliable has long been recognised, as it presents Schindler's idealised, romantic view of Beethoven, whom he revered, and contains inaccuracies and fabrications uncovered by later research. While the work must therefore be approached with care, it remains nonetheless an important source of first-hand information through its use of documents unavailable to other early biographers. Volume 1 covers Beethoven's life to the completion of the Ninth Symphony in 1824.

Violinist and conductor Anton Schindler (1795-1864) became Beethoven's unpaid private secretary for two periods in the 1820s, notably caring for the composer in his last months. Schindler published his biography of Beethoven in 1840, and in 1841 this English translation appeared, with a preface and additional letters provided by the pianist Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870), who in 1814 had prepared the piano version of Fidelio for publication by Artaria. That the biography is unreliable has long been recognised, as it presents Schindler's idealised, romantic view of Beethoven, whom he revered, and contains inaccuracies and fabrications uncovered by later research. While the work must therefore be approached with care, it remains nonetheless an important source of first-hand information through its use of documents unavailable to other early biographers. Volume 2 covers the period 1824-7, and includes Schindler's observations on Beethoven's music and character.

This classic work is among the most definitive biographies of the great German composer, Beethoven. Beethoven's life story is told here in three parts that describe his youth, early career and later career. In addition to author Anton Schindler's fine text, several of Beethoven's letters to friends, family and colleagues are included here providing revealing insights to the man.

Dieser Neudruck der Beethoven-Biografie seines Zeitgenossen Schindler zahlt eingestandenermassen zu den muhevollsten und aufwendigsten Arbeiten der geisteswissenschaftlichen Forschung uberhaupt. Mit fast 400 erklarenden und erganzenden Anmerkungen bleibt dieses Werk bis heute keine Antwort schuldig und beleuchtet jede Facette des Lebens des Meisters. Es handelt sich um die umfangreichste und am besten recherchierte Biografie, deren Lekture fur das Verstandnis des Wirkens und Lebens Beethovens unabdingbar ist