Book Review
Oct. 18th, 2020 09:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariBeethoven: Symphony No. 9
by Nicholas Cook
This short book about Beethoven's Ninth focuses on the reception history of the piece and the way it has been interpreted over the last two centuries. I found the material very interesting, especially the attention to the criticisms and negative views of the work at its premiere and during the following years. Cook gives a valuable perspective on the symphony's journey from a misunderstood and radical work to the beloved and emblematic pillar of the western art music canon that it became. Cook also discusses the ways the Ninth has been interpreted and the meanings ascribed to it, from a reflection of Beethoven's own life and emotional experiences to a heroic anthem of universal joy and brotherhood, highlighting the contributions of Wagner, Schenker, and Adorno.
by Nicholas Cook
This short book about Beethoven's Ninth focuses on the reception history of the piece and the way it has been interpreted over the last two centuries. I found the material very interesting, especially the attention to the criticisms and negative views of the work at its premiere and during the following years. Cook gives a valuable perspective on the symphony's journey from a misunderstood and radical work to the beloved and emblematic pillar of the western art music canon that it became. Cook also discusses the ways the Ninth has been interpreted and the meanings ascribed to it, from a reflection of Beethoven's own life and emotional experiences to a heroic anthem of universal joy and brotherhood, highlighting the contributions of Wagner, Schenker, and Adorno.
