Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy Generator Update cookies preferences

Bostall Heath London England

Bostall Heath


Featured Listings

  • Peter Norris Music

    39 Finch Road
    Douglas, Isle of Man IM12PW
    England

    Peter Norris Music has now been trading for 20

  • Mark Goodwin Pianos (London)

    Beverely Way
    New Malden
    New Malden, London KT3 4PH
    England

    I am the UK's largest stockist of fully

  • Cheshire Pianos

    Woodacre Farm
    Warrington Road
    Lymm, Cheshire WA139BT
    England

    As well as a large selection of New and

  • Hurstwood Farm Piano Studios

    The Hurst Crouch
    Borough Green
    Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8TA
    England

    We offer some of the lowest prices in Europe for

  • Buskers Music

    Unit 60 The Triangle
    Wolverton Park
    Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK125FJ
    England

    We are a family run music shop in Wolverton,

Featured Classifieds

No featured classifieds

Blog Categories

Recent Blog Posts

No new blog posts

Recent Classifieds

No featured classifieds

New Events




Did You Know Music Facts

Daniel Steibelt vs Beethoven
Daniel Steibelt was a German born classical pianist and composer. He challenged Beethoven to a musical duel in Vienna in 1800. Steibelt studied with Johann Kirberger before he joined the Prussian army.
The Vienna’s music patrons liked the idea of a duel between Steibelt and Beethoven. Each musician got a Prince to sponsor the idea. Since Steibelt was the challenger, he was to play first. In a cocky move, he tossed his sheet music aside. He was renowned for his storm-like bass and that night, apparently he did indeed conjure up a storm. He was greatly applauded. After his piece, all eyes were on Beethoven. Historian Alexander Wheelock Thayer speaks to the growing rivalry between the two:

“When Steibelt came to Vienna with his great name, some of Beethoven’s friends grew alarmed lest he do injury to the latter’s reputation. Steibelt did not visit him; they met first time one evening at the house of Count Fries Eight days later there was again a concert at Count Fries’s; Steibelt again played a quintet which had a good deal of success. He also played an improvisation (which had, obviously, been carefully prepared) …

This incensed the admirers of Beethoven and him; he had to go to the pianoforte and improvise. He went in his usual … manner to the instrument as if half-pushed, picked up the violoncello part of Steibelt’s quintet in passing, placed it (intentionally?) upon the stand upside down and with one finger drummed a theme out of the first few measures.”

Beethoven picked up the sheet music that Steibelt had tossed aside, and chose to play it upside down. Beethoven then proceeded to improvise an opus based on just three notes of Steibelt’s music. He created his own “storm,” he embellished, and mocked what he felt was Steibelt’s simplistic piece. Steibelt stormed out of the room while Beethoven was still playing. His benefactor Prince followed him out. Completely humiliated, Steibelt decided he’d never set foot in Vienna again as long as Beethoven lived there. Beethoven lived out his days in the city and the embarrassed Steibelt never returned. It’s tough to challenge a master, especially a master in his own city with his own fans and his own Princes to back him up.