Karl Geiringer – författare

Originally published in 1943 and subsequently as a revised and enlarged edition in 1978, Musical Instruments has long been held in high regard, not only for its erudition, but for its originality of approach. By relating the instruments to their time and each other, epoch by epoch, the author sheds fresh light on their evolution and enables the reader to follow their ups and downs against the changing background of taste and fashion. Each chapter is introduced with an account of the musical forms and artistic trends of the period, before considering in detail the instruments that gave them expression. The reader is carried along, from the magical-sacred beginnings of music, through the instruments of antiquity, the experiments of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the refined instruments of the Baroque and classical periods, down to those of the Romantic age and its aftermath, including the modern era with its electronic synthesizers. The book is completed by an Appendix on the acoustics of music and amply illustrated by nearly 100 pictures and diagrams.

Originally published in 1943 and subsequently as a revised and enlarged edition in 1978, Musical Instruments has long been held in high regard, not only for its erudition, but for its originality of approach. By relating the instruments to their time and each other, epoch by epoch, the author sheds fresh light on their evolution and enables the reader to follow their ups and downs against the changing background of taste and fashion. Each chapter is introduced with an account of the musical forms and artistic trends of the period, before considering in detail the instruments that gave them expression. The reader is carried along, from the magical-sacred beginnings of music, through the instruments of antiquity, the experiments of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the refined instruments of the Baroque and classical periods, down to those of the Romantic age and its aftermath, including the modern era with its electronic synthesizers. The book is completed by an Appendix on the acoustics of music and amply illustrated by nearly 100 pictures and diagrams.

When it was originally published in 1967, this study of J.S. Bach was the first important work on the composer in nearly a generation. The many discoveries about Bach’s life and music that occurred in the postwar years created the need for a new interpretative study incorporating this research and this was the only book which incorporated the vast amount of material uncovered since 1950, the bicentennial of Bach’s death. The volume begins with a brief biography and is followed by an analysis of each major type of composition: vocal, organ, keyboard and instrumental music. In each section the author examines thoroughly many Bach compositions and evaluates them in relation to the rest of the composer’s work, as well as in relation to the music of his contemporaries. More than 70 music examples enable the reader to understand how Bach worked, the manner in which his genius developed and grew, and to see outstanding excerpts from his music in various stages of completion. An interesting aspect of research methods is revealed through an explanation of the detective work which has been done regarding handwriting, paper and watermarks in the original sources.

When it was originally published in 1967, this study of J.S. Bach was the first important work on the composer in nearly a generation. The many discoveries about Bach’s life and music that occurred in the postwar years created the need for a new interpretative study incorporating this research and this was the only book which incorporated the vast amount of material uncovered since 1950, the bicentennial of Bach’s death. The volume begins with a brief biography and is followed by an analysis of each major type of composition: vocal, organ, keyboard and instrumental music. In each section the author examines thoroughly many Bach compositions and evaluates them in relation to the rest of the composer’s work, as well as in relation to the music of his contemporaries. More than 70 music examples enable the reader to understand how Bach worked, the manner in which his genius developed and grew, and to see outstanding excerpts from his music in various stages of completion. An interesting aspect of research methods is revealed through an explanation of the detective work which has been done regarding handwriting, paper and watermarks in the original sources.

Originally published in 1936, as a second edition in 1948 and as an enlarged and third edition in 1982, Karl Geiringer’s biography of Brahms is generally regarded as one of the finest studies of the composer ever published in any language. It is based on the body of material in the archives of the Viennese Society of Friends, for which Karl Geiringer was curator from 1930-1938, and which contains more than a thousand letters written by and to Brahms. These letters, exchanged with family and with his famous contemporaries, reveal his loneliness, grim humour, loyalty, painful shyness and enthusiasm for the music of Beethoven and Schubert – moods that the self-effacing composer did not like to publicly display. Divided into sections on Brahms’s solitary, scholarly existence and his fruitful composing career – including examinations of rare first drafts – the biography relates how crises in Brahm’s personal life were translated into his music, and how he often managed to ignore or suppress them.

Originally published in 1936, as a second edition in 1948 and as an enlarged and third edition in 1982, Karl Geiringer’s biography of Brahms is generally regarded as one of the finest studies of the composer ever published in any language. It is based on the body of material in the archives of the Viennese Society of Friends, for which Karl Geiringer was curator from 1930-1938, and which contains more than a thousand letters written by and to Brahms. These letters, exchanged with family and with his famous contemporaries, reveal his loneliness, grim humour, loyalty, painful shyness and enthusiasm for the music of Beethoven and Schubert – moods that the self-effacing composer did not like to publicly display. Divided into sections on Brahms’s solitary, scholarly existence and his fruitful composing career – including examinations of rare first drafts – the biography relates how crises in Brahm’s personal life were translated into his music, and how he often managed to ignore or suppress them.

When this volume was originally published in 1954 it was the first complete history of the Bach family from the 16th Century miller Veit to Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst (1759-1845), Johann Sebastian’s grandson. The author views the family as a whole and shows the characteristic similarities in their artistic and human attitudes as well as the most significant divergences. Equal stress is laid on the discussion of the personalities, against the swiftly changing historical scene, and on the music, for which the author was able to use vast, hitherto inaccessible material. Apart from describing the fascinating phenomenon of this musical family, the author gives a history of musical thought in the last 300 years.

When this volume was originally published in 1954 it was the first complete history of the Bach family from the 16th Century miller Veit to Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst (1759-1845), Johann Sebastian’s grandson. The author views the family as a whole and shows the characteristic similarities in their artistic and human attitudes as well as the most significant divergences. Equal stress is laid on the discussion of the personalities, against the swiftly changing historical scene, and on the music, for which the author was able to use vast, hitherto inaccessible material. Apart from describing the fascinating phenomenon of this musical family, the author gives a history of musical thought in the last 300 years.