1996 Articles

Tia DeNora, Beethoven and the Construction of Genius: Musical Politics in Vienna, 1792-1803

Broyles, Michael

Tia DeNora has undertaken an important study of Beethoven's early years in Vienna. She examines three issues as they pertain to Beethoven: the nature of Viennese society; the concept of the artist, in particular the notion of genius in late eighteenth-century Europe; and the conflict of musical styles that emerged near the end of the century. Broyles raises several issues based on the direction and the extent DeNora has taken some of her arguments.