Beethoven Remembered: The Biographical Notes of Franz Wegeler and Ferdinand Ries [Hardcover]

Franz Wegeler (Author), Ferdinand Ries (Author)

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From Publishers Weekly

Translated from the German edition issued by Alfred C. Kalisher, whose notes are appended, this book informs and touches the reader deeply. Longtime friends of Ludwig van Beethoven, Wegeler and Ries published their recollections of the composer after his death in 1827. There are letters from Beethoven that testify to his tremendous emotional drive, his explosive temper and the suffering caused by his deafness. Wegeler was a childhood friend of the master who was born in Bonn in 1770. They were apart during Beethoven's years in Vienna, the period during which Ries became close to him. A musician, Ries was Beethoven's pupil, and he contributes data on the composer's works: symphonies, chamber music, sonatas, vocal music, etc. Primarily, however, the memorabilia presents the genius as a man "always in love" but never married, generous and kind, but frequently cruel, a complex being whose faults made him no less beloved to his friends. Photos.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Great Ocean Pub (November 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915556154
• ISBN-13: 978-0915556151
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,962,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Beethoven, Ludwig

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well done!, June 3, 2007

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This review is from: Beethoven Remembered: The Biographical Notes of Franz Wegeler and Ferdinand Ries (Hardcover)

This book is well written and the reader senses that the writers were attempting to be as accurate as possible in giving us a picture of the genius as well as the person, Beethoven. There is something special about reading first hand accounts of the lives of great men. Another good book in this vein is "Memories of Beethoven" written by Gerhard von Breuning. Gerhard was the son of one of Beethoven's oldest friends, Stephan von Breuning, and the boy visited Beethoven frequently during Beethoven's final illness. Beethoven delighted in seeing the youngster and nicknamed him "Trouserbutton" as Gerhard developed a close and loving relationship with Beethoven. Sadly, Stephan von Breuning, Beethoven's old friend, died only a few months after Beethoven. Another member of Beethoven's circle during his last years, Anton Schindler, also wrote a book titled "Beethoven As I Knew Him." Beethoven scholars are doubtful of the veracity of some of Schindler's stories and Schindler, at times, appears to use his relationship with Beethoven for his own self-promotion by exaggerating his own importance in Beethoven's life. Neither of the first two books are long but they are both very enjoyable. I, for one, am grateful to those authors for sharing their experiences with me and helping me understand more about the humanness of the great artist, Beethoven.