The Official Blog of Sheet Music Plus
Guest post by Dr. Dominik Rahmer, editor at G. Henle Verlag. The formal technique of “variations” played an important role in Beethoven’s work throughout his entire life. Critic Paul Bekker wrote in 1911, “Beethoven begins with variations,” and indeed this is true not only of the character of his oeuvre, but also of its chronological... Continue Reading →
1870 marked the 100th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven. After denying the invitation from the “Beethoven Committee of Vienna” to appear onstage together with Liszt, Joachim and Clara Schumann to celebrate the event, Richard Wagner decided to write an essay instead. While this essay is notable as a broader investigation of Wagner’s aesthetic philosophy and... Continue Reading →
For a conductor music starts with Beethoven. And for the son of a conductor both can start very early, as they did for Jonathan Del Mar, Beethoven scholar and editor of the new edition of Beethoven’s nine symphonies for Bärenreiter. In 1949 Del Mar’s father, conductor Norman Del Mar, purchased a copy of the 1924... Continue Reading →
Guest post by Jan Schumacher Beethoven is not primarily thought of as a vocal composer, but why not? The choral collection compiled by Jan Schumacher, which contains both well-known and unknown choral works by Beethoven and original transcriptions of Beethoven's works by other composers, reveals a great deal of extremely attractive repertoire. The widely-held prejudice... Continue Reading →
Guest post by Bärenreiter editor Jonathan Del Mar on working with Beethoven’s autographs "Beethoven had such appallingly messy handwriting, didn't he - I don't know how anyone can read it!" How many times have I heard that accusation directed against one of the greatest composers who ever lived? True, many great works have been created... Continue Reading →
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