Cliff Eisen

This stimulating guide will help students and their teachers to achieve stylish performances of music of the Classical period. Individual chapters from leading experts focus on historical background, notation and interpretation, and sources and editions, presenting the latest thinking on performance in a clear, helpful and practical way. There are also dedicated chapters of specialist advice for keyboard, string and wind players, and singers, plus a recommended playlist of illustrative, authoritative recordings. Fully illustrated throughout with many music examples, facsimiles and pictures, this is a valuable resource for students of the Classical period which will also add to the knowledge and understanding of amateur and professional musicians.

Franz Xaver Niemetschek was born in 1766 in what is now the Czech Republic and came from a musical family, which gave him a deep appreciation and admiration for Mozart's genius. In 1798 he published his biography on Mozart, with a touching dedication to Haydn, the only one written by an eyewitness, and authorized by Mozart's widow Constanze. It is one of the earliest specimens of musical biography which, compared with other branches of biography, was still in its infancy even in the later part of the 19th century. In this sense, it is an important document of music history. However, this loving and intimate portrait of Mozart, based on documents, letters and other original sources, also conveys a vivid picture of the social and especially courtly life that formed the background of Mozart's sheer magical talents as composer and virtuoso.

O.E.Deutsch's documentary biography of Mozart, first published in German in 1961 and translated into English in 1965, presented all the contemporary documentation on Mozart then known to scholars. During three decades of research more have come to light, and Dr Eisen himself has substantially augmented their number with a methodical search through contemporary research material - newspapers, diaries, memoirs, books and many others. This new edition presents all the material discovered since the English edition of the Deutsch volume, with full description and documentation. This book is essential reading for anyone concerned with the basic information on Mozart's life, his activities and the reception of his music.

O.E.Deutsch's documentary biography of Mozart, first published in German in 1961 and translated into English in 1965, presented all the contemporary documentation on Mozart then known to scholars. During three decades of research more have come to light, and Dr Eisen himself has substantially augmented their number with a methodical search through contemporary research material - newspapers, diaries, memoirs, books and many others. This new edition presents all the material discovered since the English edition of the Deutsch volume, with full description and documentation. This book is essential reading for anyone concerned with the basic information on Mozart's life, his activities and the reception of his music.