Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy Generator Update cookies preferences

Kennington London England

Kennington

Browse Locations England » London » Kennington


Results

Clementi House Piano Rehearsal Room

128 Kensington Church Street
Kennington, London W8 4BH
England

Muzio Clementi's Home in Kensington near Notting Hill Gate in the nd and 3rd decade of the 19th century was soon to become the young Felix Mendelssohn...

Featured Listings

  • Pianoroom

    154 Sidwell Street
    Exeter, Devon EX4 6RT
    England

    Founded in April 2007 and following on from the

  • Horsham Piano Centre

    1 Queen Street
    Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5AA
    England

    The Horsham Piano Centre was established in 1980

  • J.G.Windows

    Central Arcade
    Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE1 5BP
    England

    JG Windows Ltd is one the UK's longest established

  • A&C Hamilton Musical Instruments

    946-950 Blackpool Rd
    Lea
    Preston, Lancashire PR2 1XN
    England

    A&C Hamilton Musical Instruments is Located in

  • The Piano Pavilion

    Colonial House
    Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 9ST
    England

    We specialise in reconditioned and restored

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.