Sachs, Harvey

Sachs’s lively prose will draw readers in; were it not for his considerable technical discussion of the masterpieces, this book would be a first-rate choice for general readers. Heartily recommended to every serious lover of classical music.

There is a wealth of information here for musicologists. Sachs's engaging account should also attract general readers interested in the subject. Highly recommended.

The Ninth Symphony is not just one of greatest musical masterpieces of all time—it was also Beethoven's evocation of the prerevolutionary climate of 1824, a time of unrest and yearning for personal freedom...