Shortly after Beethoven’s death no-one could foresee how much biographical material would later circulate about him. Klaus Martin Kopitz spent almost ten years collecting the numerous records by Beethoven’s contemporaries, which were partly published separately over the course of two centuries. He presents them to the reader with state-of-the-art text analysis and scholarly criticism. Some of the prominent contemporaries include Bettina v. Arnim, Muzio Clementi, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Franz Grillparzer, Nikolaus Lenau, Franz Liszt and Ludwig Tieck. In addition to some well-known sources, there are also some almost unknown and up-to-now rather remote ones. Beethoven’s life span is thus reflected comprehensively. A chronology of sources as well as an index of their provenance, works and planned works and names of people round off this double volume. In its scope this edition far exceeds previous collections of its kind. Even Beethoven enthusiasts will come across many surprising facts.
Klaus Martin Kopitz's substantial Beethoven aus der Sicht seiner Zeitgenossen is one of the most significant contributions to Beethoven scholarship in recent decades. ... The greatest strength of this collection is that it contains such a diverse range of written (and occasionally spoken) literary idioms, each of which contributes a unique rhetorical force in transmitting some perspective about Beethoven, his life, and his music. ... these two volumes are a valuable investment and a significant contribution to Beethoven scholarship.
Es ist ein Kompendium entstanden, das kaum zu hoch eingeschätzt werden kann.
This long period of gestation has resulted in an impressive contribution to Beethoven studies, which will surely be a major research resource for any biographical study. ... Collecting and assembling such a large and diverse store of writings is a magnificent achievement. ... The edition is a real treasure-chest of anecdotes and insights into Beethoven's life, character and surroundings, and will surely be much read by Beethoven enthusiasts.
… Beethoven-Freunde, und nicht nur die, werden an diesem Standardwerk mindestens einen ganzen Winter lang zu schmökern haben.
At nearly 1200 pages this two-volume collection of documentary sources, first hand memoirs of Beethoven by his contemporaries, represents an invaluable scholarly resource, as well as a stimulating perspective on the composer. (…) The documents are in several languages, including mainly German, French and English. And the book is full of gems. (…) Due credit should be given to the editors, Klaus Martin Kopitz and Rainer Cadenbach, for the scope and scholarly precision of the publication.
… these are essential reference volumes for any devoted Beethoven enthusiast.
Das liest sich, zumal es sich um relativ kurze Texte handelt, die auch nicht in aller Gründlichkeit studiert werden wollen, außerordentlich kurzweilig – rudimentäre Kenntnisse des Beethovenschen Lebenslaufes allerdings vorausgesetzt.
Klaus Martin Kopitz und Rainer Cadenbach (†) haben das verstreute Material nun recherchiert und in einer mehr als tausendseitigen Dokumentation vorgelegt. Ihr Wert für die Beethoven-Forschung ist immens. … Für die Beethoven-Überlieferung und -Rezeption ist dieser Doppelband ein Grundlagenwerk mit Referenzcharakter, auf das künftig nicht mehr zu verzichten sein wird.
This beautifully produced book in two volumes is the largest and most authoritative collection of contemporary impressions of Beethoven that has ever been published. … everyone interested in Beethoven will be grateful to Klaus Martin Kopitz for providing us with this enormous compilation, carefully edited and annotated, which will be a standard work for many years to come.
Die schier unerschöpfliche Informationsfülle wird durch ein Werk- und ein Personenregister erschlossen, so dass gezielte Recherchen leicht möglich sind. Darüber hinaus lohnt sich aber auch das unsystematische Schmökern – man wird garantiert auf bisher unbekannte Details aus Biografie und Schaffen Beethovens stoßen.