Berlioz and His Century: An Introduction to the Age of Romanticism

by Jacques Barzun

In this abridgment of his monumental study, Berlioz and the Romantic Century , Jacques Barzun recounts the events and extraordinary achievements of the great composer's life against the background of the romantic era. As the author eloquently demonstrates, Berloiz was an archetype whose destiny was the story of an age, the incarnation of an artistic style and a historical spirit. "In order to understand the nineteenth century, it is essential to understand Berlioz," notes W. H. Auden, "and in order to understand Berlioz, it is essential to read Professor Barzun."

Genres: Music, History, Biography, Nonfiction, Music Biography, Art, Romanticism

448 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 1956

About the author

Works of French-American educator, author, and historian Jacques Martin Barzun include Darwin, Marx, Wagner (see Charles Robert Darwin, Karl Marx, and Richard Wagner) (1941) and The American University (1968).

He presented ideas and culture.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques...

Reviews

[James Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

There have been few figures in the history of music with so fascinating, almost hypnotic, an appeal for the present-day reader as Berlioz. With his life span encompassing roughly the rise and fall of two French empires, he emerges as perhaps the first totally modern mind in music— the man of affairs as well as of notes, a great conductor, concert organizer, writer of distinction. Whatever he touched, in any medium, bore the mark of his volatile, yet strangely sober, personality. Unlike his predecessors Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, he was equipped to challenge the intellectual world on all fronts and make his charge across any field. This basic phase of Berlioz’s gift—its multiplicity in unity—has been admirably detailed by Jacques Barzun in this book. Barzun is one of the great teachers and thinkers of the our era. In his seminal work on Romanticism and the importance of Berlioz in the movement the author reveals Hector Berlioz in the perspective of his relationship to the other outstanding Romantics of his time, establishing the composer as the fountainhead of all that has come after him in virtually every sphere of symphonic and operatic music. As this long recital draws to a close the magnificence of the creator’s personality comes clearly into focus, the figures surrounding him emerge with warmth and humanity. The book, while having been surpassed by more recent scholarship, is still worthy of consideration due to its unique approach to Berlioz and his legacy. Mr. Barzun, treating a subject obviously congenial to him, commands an impressive range of scholarship and eloquence of style. Whether you love music or ideas or both this book is essential for you.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

As promised in the title, this was more than a biography of the man-the composer, the conductor, the music lover--Hector Berlioz. It, with detail, but not bogging down the reader (hardly ever), brought to life the 19th century in Europe. A chaotic, war-filled, frequently merging and emerging century during which lived and worked not only Berlioz, but Liszt, Chopin, Wagner, Schumann, Mendelsohnn, Brahms, Saint-Saens, Offenbach, and notably, Beethoven in the second half of his life. I am a particularly drawn to Beethoven's works, have been all my life, and was happy to learn that so, too, was Berlioz. My knowledge of Berlioz was pretty much limited to his magnificent Symphonie Fantastique. (I am not especially learned in "classical" music, but know when I am engaged by a piece, entranced by a piece). I will explore his operas, his symphonies, his choral symphonies. I am grateful to Jacques Barzun for having brought so much information in colorful and largely objective language (a few times I winced at opinions lofted from on high). I will also explore, with my ears, the century of music.

[Bob Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A retired music professor that I know called this “one of the best composer biographies out there-even if a bit old by now”. I can’t disagree even though I am not a big fan of Berlioz’s music. His life was a struggle but he was acknowledged by many during his life as one of the great composers. He was in fact considered the third “B” until Brahms wrestled that honor away from him. I was struck most by the number of composers that were influenced by him and by the fact that he was highly regarded all over Europe.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berlioz was funny.

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barzun writes not only a detailed account of the conposer's life, but a fascinating account of the larger musical environment of the 19th century. This is a book which one need not be a music geek to enjoy a great deal.