Beethoven and the Creative Process (Clarendon Paperbacks)

Beethoven's habit of composing by making many preliminary drafts and sketches was sufficiently unusual to attract attention even during his lifetime, and his creative process has attracted a good deal more attention since. This book incorporates the findings of recent studies on Beethoven's creative process and examines his underlying creative motivation, the interrelationships between his various works, and how his output was determined by external factors and his personal life. Including an introduction to his compositional methods and a detailed study of particular compositional problems of six different works, the book provides insight into the creative life of one of the greatest figures in musical history.

Barry Cooper is at Manchester University.