Beethoven As I Knew Him (Dover Books on Music) [Paperback]

Anton Felix Schindler (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Books on Music | Publication Date: February 17, 2011

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 3rd edition. Editor's Notes. Introduction. Includes 7 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; New edition edition (February 17, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486292320
• ISBN-13: 978-0486292328
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #953,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Beethoven, Ludwig

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beethoven as Schindler Knew Him, July 31, 2000

By 

Michael L Allen (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven As I Knew Him (Dover Books on Music) (Paperback)

Schindler met Beethoven in 1814, when Beethoven was 44 and the author was an impressionable 19 year old. Schindler became an almost constant companion of the composer, and was witness to a number of fascinating occurrences that no other biographer, such as Ries, had access to. Schindler gives us examples of Beethoven's strongly emotional nature, in such a way that I felt I could have recognized the composer should I have passed by him on abusy street. Inclusion of this information is what made this biography most appealing to me. One of my favourite sections is an appendix entitled "Beethoven's Daily Routine" which describes, among other things, how Beethoven would count out 60 beans for his cup of coffee.

However, Schindler is not a transparent witness. Rather, he feels compelled to "protect" Beethoven from "his many enemies", for whom there is no historical basis. A sense of Schindler acting as guardian comes through strongly in the writing. The most striking example of this attitude is Schindler's description of the meeting between Beethoven and Rossini, a meeting which historically never took place!

Fortunately, this excellent Dover edition is thoroughly annotated - there are as many editor's notes as there are pages in the text! I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading a contemporary account of the life of the great composer, and who would enjoy witnessing the profound effect that he had on at least one of his associates.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, May 14, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Beethoven As I Knew Him (Dover Books on Music) (Paperback)

I have enjoyed this book very much. It written by someone that knew Beethoven ,and it offers you a lot of information about Beethoven's life, it is accurate. When there are two differents versions of the same event, the authors explains and describe them.
A very objective book and enjoyable.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, August 30, 2006

By 

Alex (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven As I Knew Him (Dover Books on Music) (Paperback)

Great book

Strange that the first reviewer says that the meeting between Beethoven and Rossini never took place. Rossini and Beethoven would have disagreed! They met in the spring of 1822 when Rossini was in Vienna for the premiere of his opera Zelmira. Rossini has left an account of the meeting