Beethoven: The Philosophy of Music - Hardcover

Adorno, Theodor W.

4.25

48 ratings by Goodreads

9780745614670: Beethoven: The Philosophy of Music

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0745614671 ISBN 13: 9780745614670

Publisher: Polity, 1998

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

Beethoven is a classic study of the composer's music, written by one of the most important thinkers of our time. Throughout his life, Adorno wrote extensive notes, essay fragments and aides-memoires on the subject of Beethoven's music. This book brings together all of Beethoven's music in relation to the society in which he lived. Adorno identifies three periods in Beethoven's work, arguing that the thematic unity of the first and second periods begins to break down in the third. Adorno follows this progressive disintegration of organic unity in the classical music of Beethoven and his contemporaries, linking it with the rationality and monopolistic nature of modern society. Beethoven will be welcomed by students and researchers in a wide range of disciplines - philosophy, sociology, music and history - and by anyone interested in the life of the composer.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

These fragments shed valuable light not only on Adorno's thinking on Beethoven, but also equally importantly on the sources of Adorno's philosophy of music. -- Max Paddison, University of Durham

About the Author:

Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969), a prominent member of the Frankfurt School, was one of the most influential thinkers of this century in the areas of social theory, philosophy and aesthetics.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.