The Life and Works of Beethoven

As a short biography, John Burk’s The Life and Works of Beethoven is a welcome book. The author traces the development of the great composer, beginning with a charming discussion of life in the town of Bonn as it was in Beethoven’s childhood. Factually and unsentimentally he deals with Beethoven’s growing deafness.

There are vivid little character sketches, such as that of Baron van Swieten—who at concerts in his home “sat always in the first row, and at any sign of whispering during the performance rose slowly, stood in all the ponderous authority of his wig and double chin, gazed long and pointedly at the disturbers, and slowly sat down again.” There are amusing anecdotes, such as Beethoven’s giving a coachman a — for him — generous tip because “ the fellow drove like the devil right through the Hessian army, at the risk of a cudgeling.”

Being principally concerned with facts does not prevent the biographer from writing a penetrating study of Beethoven’s character. In Chapter Thirteen he discusses not only the nobility of the composer of the great symphonies, but also the crudity and grossness of the man. This section of the book is in many ways the best. Mr. Burk adds surprise and pungency to his narrative by scouting the popularly accepted Eroica legend that Beethoven destroyed the dedication when Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor.

Beethoven’s relationship to his nephew is complete and arresting. In the composer’s age and affliction, here was the one human being who might have brought love and companionship to the musician cut off from the world by his deafness. But the young Karl was thoroughly weak; he spent his time with low companions and only made Beethoven’s life the lonelier by promising so much and performing so little.

Perhaps there was something exacting and smothering in the composer’s devotion, but he certainly deserved some respect for his genius. Karl appears not even to have had any pride in the world-wide fame of his uncle. Up to the attempt of Karl to commit suicide, Mr. Burk gives the story all the intensity of a novel. We should like to know the subsequent fate of this incredibly callous youth.

The greatest virtue of the book — one which will appeal particularly to all who must rely on radio and recordings for good music — is the splendid section devoted to a discussion of Beethoven’s works. Here Mr. Burk’s experience as program annotator of the Boston Symphony Orchestra serves him well. The analyses are both informative and interesting. This section alone should be of the greatest value to the student of Beethoven’s work. A list of available phonograph recordings of Beethoven’s music rounds out a book which might well be called “The Complete Beethoven,” so thorough is the treatment.

To his Clara Schumann and his Beethoven, Mr. Burk should now add that most fascinating of personalities, Berlioz.