Beethoven the Pianist

This book offers an insight into Beethoven's career, showing in well-documented detail the rise and decline of his powers as a performer.

Presenting a picture of Beethoven's formative years and early career, this study shows how the composer was influenced by teachers, theorists and instruments. Skowroneck pays special attention to Beethoven's trills and legato, and thoroughly revises the idea that Beethoven treated his pianos roughly and with impatience throughout his career.The widely held belief that Beethoven was a rough pianist, impatient with his instruments, is not altogether accurate: it is influenced by anecdotes dating from when deafness had begun to impair his playing. Presenting a detailed biography of Beethoven's formative years, this book reviews the composer's early career, outlining how he was influenced by teachers, theorists and instruments. Skowroneck describes the development and decline of Beethoven's pianism, and pays special attention to early pianos, their construction and their importance for Beethoven and the modern pianist. The book also includes discussions of legato and Beethoven's trills, and a complete annotated review of eyewitnesses' reports about his playing. Skowroneck presents a revised picture of Beethoven which traces his development from an impetuous young musician into a virtuoso in command of many musical resources.