Summary
This book is Romain Rolland's 1927 biography of Ludwig van Beethoven, translated by Bertha Constance Hull, and includes a brief analysis of the sonatas, symphonies, and quartets by A. Eaglefield Hull. The work presents a detailed study of Beethoven's life and music, supported by a comprehensive bibliography of principal biographies, letter collections, and thematic catalogs. The text includes a classification of Beethoven's pianoforte sonatas in order of study, listing works from Op. 49, No. 2 in G major through Op. 111 in C minor, with popular nicknames like "Pathétique," "Moonlight," "Appassionata," and "Les Adieux" noted.
The book provides readers with a structured guide to Beethoven's compositions, including a complete list of works and references to scholarly sources such as Ludwig Nohl's *Briefe Beethovens* and George Grove's *Beethoven and his Nine Symphonies*. A reader gains a systematic overview of Beethoven's output, from piano sonatas to string quartets, along with historical context from Rolland's biographical narrative. The inclusion of illustrations, autograph pages, and analytical sections makes this a resource for understanding Beethoven's creative development and legacy.
Key concepts
- Classification of Beethoven's Pianoforte Sonatas — A numbered list of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas arranged in order of study, from Op. 49, No. 2 to Op. 111, including nicknames like "Pathétique" and "Moonlight."
- Thematic Catalogue (Thematisches Verzeichniss) — A catalog by G. Nottebohm listing all published works of Beethoven, used for scholarly reference.
- Les Adieux — The nickname for Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op. 81 in E-flat major, meaning "The Farewell."
- Appassionata — The nickname for Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op. 57 in F minor, meaning "Passionate."
- Moonlight Sonata — The nickname for Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op. 27, No. 2 in C-sharp minor, with an autograph page included in the book.
From the book
CONSTANCE HULL WITH A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE SONATAS, THE SYMPHONIES, AND THE QUARTETS BY A. EAGLEFIELD HULL MUS. DOC. (OXON). With 24 Musical Illustration and 4 Plates and an Introduction by Edward Carpenter , Author of Towards Democracy, &c. SIXTH EDITION. LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD. BROADWAY HOUSE: 68-74 CARTER LANE, E.C. 1927 Printed in Great Britain by St. Stephen’s Press, Bristol. BEETHOVEN Beethoven At the age of 21. ( From a Miniature by Gerhard von Kügelgen .) BEETHOVEN BEETHOVEN AT THE AGE OF 48 . ( From a Painting by Kloeber .) BEETHOVEN AT THE AGE OF 44. ( From an Engraving by Blasius Hoefel after the Drawing by Louis Letronne, 1814 .) Page of Autograph of "Moonlight" Sonata (In Beethoven House at Bonn). CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS From a…
Popular questions readers ask
- Beyond a simple biography, what specific elements from the book's title page (e.g., contributors, analyses, illustrations) suggest its multifaceted approach to understanding Beethoven, and why is each element significant?
- The text identifies "Beethoven's Letters" as "by far the most useful books for the English reader" in its bibliography. Explain why primary source letters might be considered more essential for deep understanding than secondary biographies or analyses, particularly for a 1927 English audience.
- What is the significance of including detailed visual elements like Beethoven's portraits at different ages and an autograph page of the "Moonlight" Sonata? How do these elements deepen a reader's engagement with or perception of Beethoven beyond textual descriptions?
- How does the collaboration between the various named contributors—Rolland (author), B. Constance Hull (translator), A. Eaglefield Hull (analyst), and Edward Carpenter (introducer)—shape the authority, scope, and potential biases of this particular work on Beethoven?
- The bibliography predominantly lists German-language sources. What does this reveal about the landscape of Beethoven scholarship in the early 20th century, and what implications might it have had for English-speaking individuals wishing to "know Beethoven better" at that time?