Why Beethoven?

Botstein examines Ludwig van Beethoven's music. Most of Beethoven's music has no text. What defines Beethoven in the history of music is his symphonies, sonatas, quartets, trios, and concertos--the instrumental music. In most of them there is, at best, only the hint of a story line or idea. To the untutored listener, Beethoven's instrumental music seems to be about something, it seems to tell a compelling story and make some sort of argument. The music appeals to the visual and emotional imagination of listeners in ways that have little connection to authorial intentionality.