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(By Sir Donald Francis Tovey).

What do you think of this book? Is it very enlightening? How much theory does one need to know beforehand?

PS. If you could also tell me what you think of Charles Rosen's book on the Beethoven sonatas it would be appreciated.

It is fairly useful...goes through every bar (well every secition at least) of each piece and is reasonably simplistic

Dave

Tovey is one of those people I wish I could meet and learn from. Underneath his tremendous, intimidating mass of dry, detailed scholarship I discern the existence of a really genuine and individual musical personality, a true music lover possessing an equally dry sense of humour.

Tovey is an expert on Beethoven (who has writen Beethoven's bio) as i heard. so, what he said about Beethoven's sontanas might be something respectable. I read some pages of Charles Rosen's book on Beethoven's sonatas, which i actually enjoyed reading. his account on Hammerklavier is often quoted by others. I have Rosen's book "The Classical Slyle", which is also good.