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Croydon London England

Croydon

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  • Piano Emporium Watford

    5a Garnett Close
    Watford Herts
    Watford, Hertfordshire WD24 5GN
    England

    Piano Emporium Watford serving the local piano

  • Hayes Music Limited

    4A Empress Park
    Empress Road, Southampton
    Southampton, Hampshire SO14 0JX
    England

    Established in 2004, we supply and repair the

  • The Piano Shop Kent

    The Estate Yard
    Eridge
    Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9JR
    England

    The Piano Shop Kent is near Tunbridge Wells on the

  • Hurstwood Farm Piano Studios

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

    We offer some of the lowest prices in Europe for

  • Little & Lampert Pianos

    38 Joel Street
    Northwood Hills
    Northwood, London HA6 1PA
    England

    We are importers and distributors of new and

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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.