Beethoven Sample

Voices of Today

The complete audiobook is available for purchase at Audible.com: voicesoftoday.net/lvb Beethoven By Romain Rolland Narrated by Denis Daly Among all the figures in history of Western art forms, Beethoven is one of the most radical and influential. Not only did he produce some of most celebrated and recognizable music of all time, but his influence dramatically accelerated the development of musical composition. He was also instrumental in raising the status of the composer from that of a court servant to one of an independent artist. Probably more has been written about Beethoven than about any other composer, including many substantial biographies, the most notable of which is the monumental work by Alexander Wheelock Thayer. Among these are many shorter and more accessible works, like this entertaining text by novelist, art historian and music critic, Romain Rolland. A passionate devotee of music, Rolland also wrote a number of substantial essays about other musicians, including biographical sketches of Handel, Wagner and Berlioz. The book also contains the famous Heiligenstadt Testament, selected letters and recorded thoughts of the great composer.