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Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s musical notebooks to see what they can tell us about his composing process, with guest experts Erica Buurman and Jan Swafford.

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s musical notebooks to see what they can tell us about his composing process.

This week Donald Macleod is joined by Beethoven scholar Erica Buurman and biographer Jan Swafford to investigate some the many documents and papers that Beethoven left behind after his death, which are now scattered in archives and collections across the world. Donald and his guests explore high-quality, digital facsimiles of Beethoven’s most personal records including his letters, notebooks and journals; scouring them for clues to his relationships, his work and his everyday life.

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven’s life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3’s Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth.

String Quartet Op.18 No.2 IV. Allegro molto, quasi presto
Tokyo String Quartet

Piano Sonata No.8, Op.13 ‘Pathétique’
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano

Violin Sonata Op.30 No.2 IV Finale
Jennifer Pike, violin
Daniel Tong, piano

Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’, IV. Allegro Molto
London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Bernard Haitink

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 29 Jun 2020 12:00

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in G major, Op 18 No 2 (4th movement)

    Ensemble: Tokyo String Quartet.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : 907-43637.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 5.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No 8 in C minor, Op 13 'Pathetique'

    Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy.
    • DECCA : 410-260-2.
    • DECCA.
    • 7.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata in C minor, Op 30 No 2 (4th movement)

    Performer: Jennifer Pike. Performer: Daniel Tong.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 3 in E flat major, Op 55 'Eroica' (4th movement)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • LSO LIVE : LSO-0598.
    • LSO LIVE.
    • 4.

Beethoven's Musical Doodles

Beethoven's Musical Doodles
Click  and go to page 11 to view the 'Eroica' sketchbook, held at the Biblioteka Jagiellońska in Krakow, that was mentioned in the programme. 

°ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌý to view a sketchleaf from one of Beethoven's pocket sketchbooks, which he used outdoors. It's held at the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, and features the Gloria from the Missa Solemnis.


°ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌý to view the sketch fragments from 1812 mentioned in the programme, held at the Beethovenhaus in Bonn

°ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌý and navigate to folio 66.r (using the drop-down menu on the right) to see an early sketch of the finale theme from the 'Pathetique' Piano Sonata, held at the British Library.

°ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýto view a single leaf from one of Beethoven's pocket sketchbooks, held at the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, which his friend Anton Schindler later meddled with.

Broadcast

  • Mon 29 Jun 2020 12:00

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