
STORY-LIVES - OF - GREAT MUSICIANS
BY - FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM - AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.
ILLUSTRATED
TO THE MEMORY OF - FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.
BACH
STORY-LIVES OF GREAT MUSICIANS
HANDEL
HAYDN
MOZART
BEETHOVEN
The book turns the lives of history’s great composers into vivid, short narratives that feel like lively anecdotes rather than dry biographies. Each chapter follows a single musician, tracing the early moments that sparked their love of music, the challenges they faced, and the inspirations behind their most famous works. Illustrated scenes bring candle‑lit study rooms and bustling courts to life, making the stories easy to picture for younger ears.
In one early vignette, a teenage Johann is denied a treasured manuscript by his older brother, revealing his yearning to explore the music of masters like Buxtehude and Froberger. The tense exchange captures the clash between duty and passion, a theme that recurs throughout many composers’ lives. Listeners are invited to hear the echo of youthful curiosity that eventually blossoms into the timeless melodies we cherish today.
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (586K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jeannie Howse and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2006-11-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Best remembered for turning the lives of famous artists and composers into lively stories, this English writer made cultural history feel approachable and human. Her books were aimed at general readers and younger audiences, blending biography with a warm, narrative style.
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