Using a wide range of examples from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century, this is an invaluable introduction to the important musical genre of the song cycle. It considers social and performance contexts, the impact of recording technology and how the song cycle interacts with operatic, symphonic and popular music.
Focusing on Robert Schumann's music from the 1850s, this study explores the complexities behind his late style, challenging the notion that his mental illness solely influenced his compositions. It highlights Schumann's shift to a new compositional approach, utilizing preliminary sketches and expanding his work to include larger ensembles like orchestras and choruses. The book also examines the impact of nationalist themes and commercial pieces for children, placing Schumann's late works within wider artistic, social, and cultural contexts.
Ludwig van Beethoven: to some, simply the greatest ever composer of Western classical music. Yet his life remains shrouded in myths, and the image persists of him as an eccentric genius shaking his fist at heaven.Beethoven by Oxford professor Laura Tunbridge cuts through the noise in a refreshing way. Each chapter focuses on a period of his life, a piece of music and a revealing theme, from family to friends, from heroism to liberty. It's a winning combination of rich biographical detail, insight into the music and surprising new angles, all of which can transform how you listen to his works. We discover, for example, Beethoven's oddly modern talent for self-promotion, how he was influenced by factors from European wars to instrument building, and how he was heard by contemporaries.This tour de force - published for the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth - provides a fresh overview and a wealth of material that has never been revealed to the wider public before. It's a compelling, human portrayal of Beethoven and a fascinating journey into one of the world's most amazing creative minds.