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Topic: Best biographies  (Read 2286 times)

Offline piglet

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Best biographies
on: October 24, 2003, 03:58:05 PM
It's somewhat difficult to purchase books through internet for you can't have a look inside. Of course even that wouldn't always help.
So which biographies (of composers) you know are the most reliable and well written? What would you recommend?

Offline Noah

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Re: Best biographies
Reply #1 on: October 25, 2003, 01:23:35 AM
Mozart, by Jean and Brigitte Massin  is fantastic, though I'm not sure it's available in english
'Some musicians don't believe in God, but all believe in Bach'
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Offline chopinetta

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"If I do not believe anymore in tears, it is because I see you cry." -Chopin to George Sand
"How repulsive this George Sand is! is she really a woman? I'm ready to doubt it."-Chopin on George Sand

Offline thracozaag

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Re: Best biographies
Reply #3 on: October 27, 2003, 08:07:36 PM
Quote
It's somewhat difficult to purchase books through internet for you can't have a look inside. Of course even that wouldn't always help.
So which biographies (of composers) you know are the most reliable and well written? What would you recommend?


 Two of my favorite writers are Maynard Solomon and Alan Walker.  The former writes on Mozart, Beethoven and Schuber, and the latter entirely on Liszt.
"We have to reach a certain level before we realize how small we are."--Georges Cziffra

Offline Hmoll

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Re: Best biographies
Reply #4 on: October 27, 2003, 11:12:26 PM
Quote


 Two of my favorite writers are Maynard Solomon and Alan Walker.  The former writes on Mozart, Beethoven and Schuber, and the latter entirely on Liszt.


Alan Walker's three volume biography of Liszt (published in the late '80s) is the most comprehensive.

No one has yet improved on Thayer's Life of Beethoven.

"I am sitting in the smallest room of my house. I have your review before me. In a moment it will be behind me!" -- Max Reger

Offline thracozaag

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Re: Best biographies
Reply #5 on: October 28, 2003, 06:57:59 PM
Quote


Alan Walker's three volume biography of Liszt (published in the late '80s) is the most comprehensive.

No one has yet improved on Thayer's Life of Beethoven.




 The Thayer is indeed, wonderful, but I enjoy reading the psychological aspects that Solomon brings to the table.  And he cracked the Immortal Beloved mystery.  Both writers, incidentally, are consumate gentleman, passionately devoted to their pursuits, and just all around nice people.
"We have to reach a certain level before we realize how small we are."--Georges Cziffra

Offline BoliverAllmon

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Re: Best biographies
Reply #6 on: December 09, 2003, 07:19:09 PM
I did not enjoy liszt's book on chopin. But the rubinstein autobiographies are the best.

boliver

Offline bernhard

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Re: Best biographies
Reply #7 on: December 14, 2003, 01:51:21 AM
Biographies of the great composers:

In addition to what has already been suggested.

Harold Schoenberg (who wrote “The Great Pianists”) also wrote “The Great Composers”, which is every bit as interesting and entertaining. It is a good general introduction.

J. S. Bach: The true life of J. S. Bach by Klaus Eidam (if you like controversial books this is for you. I really enjoyed it!  ;))
Bach: The learned musician by Christoph Wolff (Probably the most up to date biography of Bach).

Scarlatti, by Ralph Kirkpatrick. (The essential book on Scarlatti, but may be difficult to find – I think it may be out of print. Kirkpatrick is a well known harpsichordist and it is a result of his research that Scarllati sonatas have a “K” number).

Chopin, by Jim Samson. (Jim Samson has written extensively on Chopin and his works).

Robert Schumann: Herald of a new poetic age, by John Daverio.

Edvard Grieg, The Man and the Artist, by Finn Benestad and Dag Schjelderup-Ebbe (Considered the definitive work on Grieg).

Best wishes,
Bernhard ;D
The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side. (Hunter Thompson)
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