The Ninth: Beethoven and the World in 1824
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Review
Sachs adds depth of field to the Ninth Symphony by presenting it as the first sounding of a free new world... THE NINTH, a fresh, often challenging approach to one of the cornerstones of civilization, is a hugely welcome antidote to the excesses of academic musicology. --Wall Street Journal, June 2010
As someone who describes music in nontechnical terms for a living, I admire Sachs's perceptive, often vivid account. Reading this book, you feel for the composer, trying to bond with others through an astonishing symphony. --New York Times, June 2010
Sachs pulls together so many cultural, historical and artistic threads and knots them so ingeniously around the Ninth that Beethoven himself would have stood astonished at his own genius as a syncretist. --The Times, June 2010
Illuminating, interesting, original, accessible, even to those with no technical knowledge of music ... lively and entertaining.
--Gramophone, June 2010
As someone who describes music in nontechnical terms for a living, I admire Sachs's perceptive, often vivid account. Reading this book, you feel for the composer, trying to bond with others through an astonishing symphony. --New York Times, June 2010
Sachs pulls together so many cultural, historical and artistic threads and knots them so ingeniously around the Ninth that Beethoven himself would have stood astonished at his own genius as a syncretist. --The Times, June 2010
Illuminating, interesting, original, accessible, even to those with no technical knowledge of music ... lively and entertaining.
--Gramophone, June 2010
Book Description
An absorbing look at Beethoven's towering Ninth Symphony, and its vibrant historical context.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
On the 7th of May 1824, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, op 125 (the Ninth) was performed for the first time in Vienna. The choral finale to the symphony - the singing of some of the words of Friedrich Schiller's ode `An die Freude' - is a paean to the ideal of universal brotherhood.
In this book: part history, part biography, and part personal memoir, Harvey Sachs has focussed on the events of the year 1824. This provides some context for the world in which the symphony was first performed, as well as giving some insight into the difficulties of staging such a performance. These days, the Ninth is one of the most famous compositions in the world and is loved by many. The Ninth recently topped Australia's ABC Classic FM's Top 100 (voted by listeners), and is often used as background music for solemn events.
In 1824, conservative forces in Europe were focussed on repressing populist movements in the wake of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Universal harmony might be a glorious ideal, but it was far from a reality. By discussing the work of other artists of the era, such as Byron, Stendhal and Pushkin, Mr Sachs links a number of prominent voices of what became a new Romantic movement.
In discussing the Ninth, Sachs points out some of the challenges in staging such a large and complex work at that time. And how much more difficult for Beethoven himself: by then virtually deaf and with uncertain finance.
I enjoyed this book, especially the integration of Beethoven's personal history into the broader political and cultural history of the era. It is neither a detailed biography of Beethoven nor a detailed analysis of the Ninth symphony. Instead, it provides a snapshot of the times in which the work was first presented and some food for thought about Beethoven's intentions.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In this book: part history, part biography, and part personal memoir, Harvey Sachs has focussed on the events of the year 1824. This provides some context for the world in which the symphony was first performed, as well as giving some insight into the difficulties of staging such a performance. These days, the Ninth is one of the most famous compositions in the world and is loved by many. The Ninth recently topped Australia's ABC Classic FM's Top 100 (voted by listeners), and is often used as background music for solemn events.
In 1824, conservative forces in Europe were focussed on repressing populist movements in the wake of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Universal harmony might be a glorious ideal, but it was far from a reality. By discussing the work of other artists of the era, such as Byron, Stendhal and Pushkin, Mr Sachs links a number of prominent voices of what became a new Romantic movement.
In discussing the Ninth, Sachs points out some of the challenges in staging such a large and complex work at that time. And how much more difficult for Beethoven himself: by then virtually deaf and with uncertain finance.
I enjoyed this book, especially the integration of Beethoven's personal history into the broader political and cultural history of the era. It is neither a detailed biography of Beethoven nor a detailed analysis of the Ninth symphony. Instead, it provides a snapshot of the times in which the work was first presented and some food for thought about Beethoven's intentions.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Hiughly recommended and does not need huge pre knowledge of detailed and sometimes obscure musical terms. Will look forward to others by this author
Format:Paperback
This is a book worth perservering with, since it reveals it's holistic approach to the arts of the time slowly and rather discursively.
However, its message to the world of 2012 is of the utmost importance: namely, that human beings are more that mechanisms to be manipulated for profit, drones to be worked to breaking point, and then thrown on the scrap heap.
The Beethoven-Schiller message is that another world is possible, but, for different reasons, it will be as difficult to realise as it was in their day.
Read this book, and ponder the future.
However, its message to the world of 2012 is of the utmost importance: namely, that human beings are more that mechanisms to be manipulated for profit, drones to be worked to breaking point, and then thrown on the scrap heap.
The Beethoven-Schiller message is that another world is possible, but, for different reasons, it will be as difficult to realise as it was in their day.
Read this book, and ponder the future.
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