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Beethoven And His Forerunners, by Daniel Gregory Mason, (First Edition), 1904 🎶📜🏛️

Beethoven And His Forerunners, by Daniel Gregory Mason, (First Edition), 1904 🎶📜🏛️

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1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This First Edition of "Beethoven And His Forerunners" by Daniel Gregory Mason was published by The MacMillan Company in 1904. This volume traces the history of musical composition leading up to the figure of Ludwig van Beethoven.

The book is a sound acquisition for a collector of music history. It is a verifiable artifact from the early 20th century and includes a personal inscription from 1907.


2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

Mason's work delves into the development of musical forms and styles, examining the contributions of earlier masters like Palestrina, Bach, and Haydn. The book explores the shift from polyphonic complexity to the more expressive compositions of the Classical period.

The book culminates in an analysis of Beethoven's impact on Western music. It includes a list of illustrations and plates, with portraits of Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart.


3. About the Author ✍️🏛️

Daniel Gregory Mason (1873-1953) was an American composer, music critic, and educator. He taught at Columbia University and played a role in shaping the understanding of classical music in the United States.

His work, as exemplified in this book, advocated for both American and European traditions and offered an analytical perspective on musical history.


4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

The year 1904 places this book in the early 20th century, a period of growing musical scholarship and an expanding appreciation for classical music in America. Mason's book, published by The Macmillan Company, reflects this cultural trend.

The prior ownership inscription from 1907 provides a personal touch, placing the book in the hands of a music lover just a few years after its publication.


5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a scholar of classical music history, a collector of music biographies, or a private library of decorative bindings. It holds a place in American music scholarship.


6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This 1904 First Edition is 121 years old. Its value is in its status as a seminal work by a noted American composer and music critic. The book's decorative binding is a verifiable example of early 20th-century decorative book art.

The personal inscription from 1907 adds a layer of unique history to this copy.


7. Condition 🔎📚✨

  • Used hardcover edition with a decorative cloth binding.

  • The gilt stamping is largely discernible.

  • The pages show foxing and some discoloration.

  • The binding shows visible wear, including rubbing, scuffing, and some loss of the original finish, particularly on the spine and edges.

  • The prior ownership inscription is clearly visible on the front endpaper.


8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

  • Daniel Gregory Mason was a grandson of the composer and music educator Lowell Mason.

  • The Macmillan Company was a major publisher of academic and non-fiction works in the early 20th century.

  • The book includes a list of illustrations, and plates with portraits of composers, which add to its historical value.


9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

  • Author: Daniel Gregory Mason

  • Publication Date: 1904

  • Edition: First Edition

  • Publisher: The MacMillan Company

  • Place of Publication: New York

  • Format: Hardcover, with a decorative cloth binding

  • Genre: Music History, Classical Music, Biography

  • Transcription of Inscription: "Ethel Adile Denny. May 15, 1907"

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