I received this book for Xmas and enjoyed it thoroughly. As much as I felt that I already knew about Beethoven and his circumstances, this book caused me to gain so much more insight to Beethoven and his psyche. BRIAN
Dr Saltz is obviously passionate and very smart, but I wish she had been willing to just ask probing questions and then resist the urge to lecture. Jan should be doing most if not all of the talking. I found it hard to get beyond the first few minutes. I really mean no offense; I'd be happy to take classes with her.
His patience with her made me admire him even more. Rather than an interview, I saw it as a conversation between two experts on Beethoven bios. I enjoyed it immensely. Dr Saltz may have brought out the best in Jan. I think she added a lot and do appreciate her scholarship. Well done! 👍
It's the Flemish *van* Beethoven which does not denote aristocracy as does the German *von*. It's an important distinction. His grandfather was from what is now Belgium.
In fact, phone books of the Mechelen/Malines and Leuven/Louvain areas (does anyone else remember phone books) had a fair number of "van Beethoven"s in them. I briefly met one who was a researcher at Louvain university.
True, but (as Swafford mentions in passing in his book) of course a number of German speakers thought "van" WAS the equivalent of the German nobiliary particle "von", and it appears Beethoven didn't exactly go out of his way to correct them. One of Beethoven's early Vienna patrons, the diplomat and senior civil servant Gottfried van Swieten, was a similar story (his Dutch-born father had been a court physician).
In 1787 Beethoven was sent to Mozart to study with him. Sadly shortly after he had arrived in Vienna he had to return to Bonn again, when he got news, that his mother in Bonn was terminally ill. So he returned after only two weeks in Vienna, and it is indeed not sure, wether he had actually met Mozart in his lot to ask him for accepting him as a pupil. Since this was the actual purpose of his journey, it is at least quite probable, that he disn't waste much time and looked for a meeting with Mozart immediately. There is a famous anecdote, that he had visited Mozart at least once and impressed him with his improvising. The author mentioned it. But we know from Beethoven himself that he had actually heard Mozart playing at least once, because many years later he told his pupil, Ferdinand Ries, that he was -surprisingly- dissapointed by Mozart's kind of playing the piano. But wether he had heard him only in a concert of Mozart's or at the occasion of a visit in Mozart's lot, that the famous anecdote tells about, remains uncertain, because Ries never told something about the circumstances of how and when Beethoven had heard Mozart. Thru Ries it's delivered, that Beethoven found Mozart's technique of playing the piano "choppy" and throughout not very suitable for the modern Hammer-pianofortes, that were succeeding now over the harpsichords just during the last years of Mozart's in Vienna. Beethoven complained Mozart could not play a real legato and considered his technique somehow "oldfashioned" compared to his own. Well, this sounds pretty believable, since Beethoven indeed was famous as a pianist for his very beautiful legato and his abilty to "sing" on the piano, that would move many listeners to tears, who heard him play, for instance the famous adagio of his "Pathétique"-sonata. And it was of course quite natural and probable, that Mozart during most of his life when playing in one of the many aristrocratic or rich beourgoise salons would still find a harpsichord or a spinet to play on. Thus it seems also probable, that at the time, when Beethoven heard him play, Mozart hadn't completely adapted his technique to the more modern instruments of the time.
You can tell a great biographer when he can talk about his subject as if he were an old friend. Well done!
I received this book for Xmas and enjoyed it thoroughly. As much as I felt that I already knew about Beethoven and his circumstances, this book caused me to gain so much more insight to Beethoven and his psyche. BRIAN
I also agree that had Beethoven not suffered as he did, his music would not have been the same.
Just finishing Swafford's recent Mozart bio, after reading and enjoying his Beethoven bio. Definitely a breath of fresh air.
She wants to get across how much she knows. But that is the reason why Jan is there!
Dr Saltz is obviously passionate and very smart, but I wish she had been willing to just ask probing questions and then resist the urge to lecture. Jan should be doing most if not all of the talking. I found it hard to get beyond the first few minutes. I really mean no offense; I'd be happy to take classes with her.
Not me😂
His patience with her made me admire him even more. Rather than an interview, I saw it as a conversation between two experts on Beethoven bios. I enjoyed it immensely. Dr Saltz may have brought out the best in Jan. I think she added a lot and do appreciate her scholarship. Well done! 👍
Why all the repeating views of Neefe?
Swafford's books on Beethoven and Brahms are very, very well written IMO, wonderful video, thanks!
Ludwig van Beethoven, not von ;-)
It's the Flemish *van* Beethoven which does not denote aristocracy as does the German *von*. It's an important distinction. His grandfather was from what is now Belgium.
In fact, phone books of the Mechelen/Malines and Leuven/Louvain areas (does anyone else remember phone books) had a fair number of "van Beethoven"s in them. I briefly met one who was a researcher at Louvain university.
True, but (as Swafford mentions in passing in his book) of course a number of German speakers thought "van" WAS the equivalent of the German nobiliary particle "von", and it appears Beethoven didn't exactly go out of his way to correct them. One of Beethoven's early Vienna patrons, the diplomat and senior civil servant Gottfried van Swieten, was a similar story (his Dutch-born father had been a court physician).
Why do we keep getting shown the picture of Neefe! His teacher. It’s not Beethoven. Surely someone must have known that!
It's Van, not Von. Beethoven means garden of beets in Flemmish
a really good place to start a bio on someone this great is GET HIS NAME RIGHT. Its VAN, not VON.
Too bad the interviewer speaks so incessantly. Would love to hear more of the M. Swafford
24:49-24:53 car horns: (principal notes a minor third apart, in minor key) so so...mi mi.........but Jesus why didn't they play the tonic!?! (Do, do).
Lol. Cool catch. I couldn't hear it on my piano, notes seemed different to me. how is it minor then? If Do is tonic and Mi is 3rd
Ludwig "Van" Beethoven
Doesn’t she go on, and on, and on.
please, lady, don't keep setting up, don't keep finishing the guest's answers, don't keep interrupting, just do a podcast all about you
It is NOT VON Beethoven but VAN Beethoven !
Too much opinion from the questioner, not enough from the expert.
my goodness. can that "interviewer" not shut up ! swafford so interesting if given the chance to speak
ok,this is a discussion more than an interview so her talking understandable . swafford is wonderfully informative.
the lady is annoying as hell. she's supposed to be interviewing Swafford but she's monopolizing the conversation.
Terry Peterson children's take absolutely! Is that sexual harassment?
Beethoven did NOT meet Mozart, nor did Mozart hear Beethoven play. There is no proof the two ever met.
In 1787 Beethoven was sent to Mozart to study with him.
Sadly shortly after he had arrived in Vienna he had to return to Bonn again, when he got news, that his mother in Bonn was terminally ill.
So he returned after only two weeks in Vienna, and it is indeed not sure, wether he had actually met Mozart in his lot to ask him for accepting him as a pupil.
Since this was the actual purpose of his journey, it is at least quite probable, that he disn't waste much time and looked for a meeting with Mozart immediately.
There is a famous anecdote, that he had visited Mozart at least once and impressed him with his improvising.
The author mentioned it.
But we know from Beethoven himself that he had actually heard Mozart playing at least once, because many years later he told his pupil, Ferdinand Ries, that he was -surprisingly- dissapointed by Mozart's kind of playing the piano.
But wether he had heard him only in a concert of Mozart's or at the occasion of a visit in Mozart's lot, that the famous anecdote tells about, remains uncertain, because Ries never told something about the circumstances of how and when Beethoven had heard Mozart.
Thru Ries it's delivered, that Beethoven found Mozart's technique of playing the piano "choppy" and throughout not very suitable for the modern Hammer-pianofortes, that were succeeding now over the harpsichords just during the last years of Mozart's in Vienna.
Beethoven complained Mozart could not play a real legato and considered his technique somehow "oldfashioned" compared to his own.
Well, this sounds pretty believable, since Beethoven indeed was famous as a pianist for his very beautiful legato and his abilty to "sing" on the piano, that would move many listeners to tears, who heard him play, for instance the famous adagio of his "Pathétique"-sonata.
And it was of course quite natural and probable, that Mozart during most of his life when playing in one of the many aristrocratic or rich beourgoise salons would still find a harpsichord or a spinet to play on.
Thus it seems also probable, that at the time, when Beethoven heard him play, Mozart hadn't completely adapted his technique to the more modern instruments of the time.
@@gunterangel Thank you for such a thoughtful reply. I learned something!!!
@@steve29roses
You're welcome !
I'm glad that I could provide you with some details about the Mozart-Beethoven relationship.
She talks far too much.
Gossip and hearsay as usual about Beethoven.
The only way to know Beethoven is to listen to him period!
... plus inappropriate laughs when talking about the great man's supposed incapacities
Gail, why don't you just listen? It's distressing your bursting in, rudely and demeaning.
Gosh he is like all the others, just gossiping and inappropriate laughing.