Beethoven the Pianist

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.

• Includes a fascinating discussion of eyewitness accounts of Beethoven's playing, documenting the rise and decline of his powers as a pianist
• Provides fresh biographical insights into Beethoven's background and musical development, investigating the impact of his deafness on his playing and treatment of his instruments
• Contains detailed discussion on two key 'Beethoven topics': his legato and his trills – two notoriously difficult areas which are made easier to navigate by a chronological approach and explanatory music examples