Life of Moscheles
With Selections from his Diaries and Correspondence

The 1873 English translation of a biography of the renowned pianist, composer and friend of Mendelssohn, compiled by his wife.

Charlotte Moscheles (Author), Arthur Duke Coleridge (Edited and translated by)

9781108077866, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 October 2014

356 pages, 1 b/w illus. 4 music examples
21.6 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.45 kg

Born in Prague, pianist and composer Ignaz Moscheles (1794–1870) studied in Vienna and rapidly became a central figure in European musical life. He lived and worked in London for twenty-five years, leaving in 1846 to become principal professor of piano at the Leipzig Conservatoire at the invitation of his great friend Mendelssohn. As a pianist, he was renowned for his incisive technique rooted in the tradition of Clementi, and also much admired for his extempore performances. As a composer his output was mainly for the piano, and his studies are still in use today. First published in 1872–3, this lively biography, compiled from his diaries and letters by his wife Charlotte, records his dealings with and feelings about many great musicians of the nineteenth century. Reissued here is the 1873 English translation by Arthur Duke Coleridge, founder of the Bach Choir. Volume 1 covers the years up to 1836.

Preface
Note
1. Early recollections
2. Moscheles' diary
3. Impressions of Leipzig
4. Baron Poiféré de Cère
5. Mälzel's metronome
6. Visit to Bath
7. Prague
8. Hanover
9. Stormy voyage to Ireland
10. Tour in Germany
11. Edinburgh
12. Moscheles' productions
13. An accident
14. Moscheles as an orchestral writer
15. Concerts in the north of England
16. Stars of the Italian opera
17. 'Trial night' of the Philharmonic Society.

Subject Areas: Classical music [c 1750 to c 1830 AVGC4]