Beethoven: Eroica SymphonyThe Eroica Symphony is perhaps Beethoven's most provocative work. Its unprecedented design and its powerful emotional impact forever redefined the potential of musical expression. The work was conceived as a homage to Napoleon Bonaparte, but understood for over a century as a passionate rejection of the tyranny he came to represent. This book traces the compositional process and puts the Eroica in precise historical and aesthetic perspective: the political situations that brought about both the dedication to Napoleon and its withdrawal show that Beethoven followed diplomatic developments astutely. Early interpretations by Beethoven's contemporaries show that they understood the work's import clearly. This study focuses on Beethoven's unique ability to imbue traditional symphonic forms with the idealism of his philosophical mentor, Friedrich Schiller. |
Contents
Compositional genesis | 11 |
The dedication to Napoleon Bonaparte | 30 |
Reception | 54 |
Aesthetic background | 76 |
Interpretation | 94 |
Appendix | 117 |
| 137 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Achilles Aesthetic Education Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung appears Aufklärung Austria ballet bass line Basso del Tema Beethoven wrote Beethoven's music Beethovens Eroica Bernadotte Bonaparte's Bonn Breitkopf & Härtel Breuning celebrate character cites coda composed contemporaries critics dedication dominant Emperor englische enlightened epic Eroica Symphony Eulogius Schneider Fiesco finale flat major Floros form-drive France French revolutionary Friedrich Schiller funeral march G minor Geck and Schleuning German Geschöpfe des Prometheus Geschrieben auf Bonaparte Greek hero heroic Hoffmeister Homer Ibid ideal Iliad Imperial Court interpretation Jacobin Klang Letters of Beethoven Lockwood Ludwig van Beethoven Mähler Marx Maynard Solomon measure melody ment minor episode Mozart Musik Napoleon organicism Oulibicheff Paris Patroklos Peter Schleuning Piano poet political published Reich scherzo Schindler Schleuning Schleuning's Sentimental Poetry Sinfonia Eroica sketchbook sketches Solomon Sonata song Stephan von Breuning Streicher style suggests Sulzer Thayer's theme tion tonic treaty of Lunéville variations Vienna Viennese Viganò Wagner Wielhorsky