- Paperback: 251 pages
- Publisher: Hodder Education (25 Aug 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340928646
- ISBN-13: 978-0340928646
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
424,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #30 in Books > Children's Books > Hobbies & Interests > Music > Classical
- #81 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Styles > Classical Music > Guides to Classical Music
- #95 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Styles > Classical Music > Composers > Beethoven
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
"Anecdotal and informative"
(Classical Music )Product Description
The Classic FM Friendly Guide to Beethoven will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about this famous composer, who is consistently in the top five in the Classic FM Hall of Fame (a yearly poll of the nations musical taste: 145,000 listeners took part in 2005). Why was his childhood unhappy? How did his deafness affect him? Who were the women in his life? Who was The Immortal Beloved? What was The Heiligenstadt Testament?
While giving all the facts about The Man and The Music, The Classic FM Friendly Guide to Beethoven includes lively and light-hearted features, quotes and anecdotes. There are sections about Beethovens Top 20 hits (with reference to the CD) and about his music in films, and even a Beethoven Mood Chart for when you need to raise or lower your blood pressure. Classic FM, the worlds largest classical music station (9.5 million listeners per month), have teamed up with popular TV journalist and acclaimed Beethoven expert John Suchet and publishers Hodder Arnold to publish this book, which takes its title from a new Friendly Guides on-air feature.
While giving all the facts about The Man and The Music, The Classic FM Friendly Guide to Beethoven includes lively and light-hearted features, quotes and anecdotes. There are sections about Beethovens Top 20 hits (with reference to the CD) and about his music in films, and even a Beethoven Mood Chart for when you need to raise or lower your blood pressure. Classic FM, the worlds largest classical music station (9.5 million listeners per month), have teamed up with popular TV journalist and acclaimed Beethoven expert John Suchet and publishers Hodder Arnold to publish this book, which takes its title from a new Friendly Guides on-air feature.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a great little book, easy to read and full of interesting snippets of information. The authors John Suchet (newsreader & TV presenter) and Darren Henley (Classic FM editor) are clearly keen to present the facts in a user-friendly way, and have succeeded in making this a thoroughly readable book.
It is described as `hardcover', but is more a stiff paperback than true hardback, and the paper quality is a little on the budget side, but considering it comes with a CD full of Beethoven's 'greatest hits' it is great value for money.
There are numerous books on the subject of Beethoven, but few are as easy as this one to pick up and read during those spare five minutes.
It is described as `hardcover', but is more a stiff paperback than true hardback, and the paper quality is a little on the budget side, but considering it comes with a CD full of Beethoven's 'greatest hits' it is great value for money.
There are numerous books on the subject of Beethoven, but few are as easy as this one to pick up and read during those spare five minutes.
Format:Paperback
Combine Beethoven, Classic FM, Darren Hanley (Classic FM Manager) and John Suchet, the world-renowned expert on Beethoven's life and music, and what is the result? An exceptional, easy-to-read and dip-into scholarly text on Beethoven providing a wealth of detail and information to enhance an already very rich listening experience.
This is an ideal companion for anyone interested in his music, an excellent addition to a concert programme or pre-Prom reading, the reason I bought it.
Suchet's knowledge of Beethoven's music and life is encyclopaedic and he uses it to great effect to explain the genesis and development of the man and his music. It is cleverly divided up into fourteen interesting chapters, each subdivided using text changes and highlighting.
On page 245, it also includes a "Beethoven Mood Chart" to raise or lower the blood pressure, a section on where to look for more and a wealth of other information on, e.g. the use of his music in films and films about him.
It is an essential addition to any bookshelf on Beethoven.
This is an ideal companion for anyone interested in his music, an excellent addition to a concert programme or pre-Prom reading, the reason I bought it.
Suchet's knowledge of Beethoven's music and life is encyclopaedic and he uses it to great effect to explain the genesis and development of the man and his music. It is cleverly divided up into fourteen interesting chapters, each subdivided using text changes and highlighting.
On page 245, it also includes a "Beethoven Mood Chart" to raise or lower the blood pressure, a section on where to look for more and a wealth of other information on, e.g. the use of his music in films and films about him.
It is an essential addition to any bookshelf on Beethoven.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
A unique approach that keep the pages turning!
21 May 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A few matters on this one: I have the book in front of me [Sidebar: in ALL my reviews I have purchased the book or item being reviewed] and although it's hawked as a 'hardcover', it's a soft cover edition with those exact dimensions and ISBN indicated. But that's a minor issue because the book is a real page turner and that is due primarily to the author, John Suchet, along with equally honorable mention to Darren Henley. A refreshingly breezy yet informative style covering the highlights of Beethoven's life but in a manner that causes the reader to seek out even more information and hence further research. There is also an accompanying CD with very short snippets of Beethoven's more well known pieces.
I had to chuckle when I saw that picture of John Suchet on the back cover holding, you guessed it, a bust of Beethoven only because I immediately thought of that hilarious Muppet Show skit with Victor Borge, Fozzie-Bear and the "Bust of Beethoven" [voice and concept by Jerry Nelson]. Look that one up on the web and prepare for some mighty guffaws! Ah! And for those in the know, to have that "Bust of Beethoven" handy when I play Beethoven, you know, comes the errant clinker and the "Bust of Beethoven" pipes up 'defending' same to any clinker sniffing listener a la the famous, "No, that's the way I wrote it!"
So too, John Suchet, a well known TV journalist and newscaster in the UK, has written various articles and tomes about Beethoven [not to mention his Beethoven shows and talks] although his trilogy ["The Last Master" series and which I enjoyed immensely due to its 'happening now' formula!] uses a dramatic action format where the personalities come to life via the first person so to speak. That takes savvy of the historical personality to pull off not to mention bringing to life, as it were, the other personalities involved in Beethoven's life.
Finally, if you should by chance run into John Suchet [UK] and wish to immediately get his attention and concurrently get on his good side forthwith, say the following with dutiful conviction: "So, John, , what is your own view of the "Bridgetower" [!] Violin Sonata Op. 47?" John has [so they say] an excellent sense of humor so be prepared if you're ever at the piano across the waters in the UK and offer to play a Beethoven piece, John just might reflect over the many Beethoven pieces and then come out with something like, "Play ... "Julie's Sonata" [!] ... Ta, mate [or love]!"
You will have to read the book for the 'why' of those last two tongue-in-cheek remarks but you won't be disappointed! Also see the 'Classic FM' "friendly guide" book on Mozart! Another page turner by way of its unique format and approach to the subject. I like the page format too, easy on the read and the eyes while moving along smartly .. as they say.
Doc Tony
I had to chuckle when I saw that picture of John Suchet on the back cover holding, you guessed it, a bust of Beethoven only because I immediately thought of that hilarious Muppet Show skit with Victor Borge, Fozzie-Bear and the "Bust of Beethoven" [voice and concept by Jerry Nelson]. Look that one up on the web and prepare for some mighty guffaws! Ah! And for those in the know, to have that "Bust of Beethoven" handy when I play Beethoven, you know, comes the errant clinker and the "Bust of Beethoven" pipes up 'defending' same to any clinker sniffing listener a la the famous, "No, that's the way I wrote it!"
So too, John Suchet, a well known TV journalist and newscaster in the UK, has written various articles and tomes about Beethoven [not to mention his Beethoven shows and talks] although his trilogy ["The Last Master" series and which I enjoyed immensely due to its 'happening now' formula!] uses a dramatic action format where the personalities come to life via the first person so to speak. That takes savvy of the historical personality to pull off not to mention bringing to life, as it were, the other personalities involved in Beethoven's life.
Finally, if you should by chance run into John Suchet [UK] and wish to immediately get his attention and concurrently get on his good side forthwith, say the following with dutiful conviction: "So, John, , what is your own view of the "Bridgetower" [!] Violin Sonata Op. 47?" John has [so they say] an excellent sense of humor so be prepared if you're ever at the piano across the waters in the UK and offer to play a Beethoven piece, John just might reflect over the many Beethoven pieces and then come out with something like, "Play ... "Julie's Sonata" [!] ... Ta, mate [or love]!"
You will have to read the book for the 'why' of those last two tongue-in-cheek remarks but you won't be disappointed! Also see the 'Classic FM' "friendly guide" book on Mozart! Another page turner by way of its unique format and approach to the subject. I like the page format too, easy on the read and the eyes while moving along smartly .. as they say.
Doc Tony
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