New Beethoven book in progress: Jan Caeyers explains

Fifteen years after the release of his debut ‘Beethoven: A Life’, Jan Caeyers is busy working on a second Beethoven book. We meet him in his home office, an impressive Beethoven sanctuary with hundreds of books, scores and recordings. In a compelling interview, he reveals a glimpse of what is to come.

Good afternoon, Jan. In this inspiring environment, you work in complete silence (or perhaps to the soft tones of classical music) on a new Beethoven book. Is there already a title for your new book?

Jan: To be honest, not yet. A title is often the last element to be decided. Moreover, finding a suitable title often leads to a complex discussion between the publisher and the author, as the publisher has to consider market preferences. But what the market finds interesting, does not always coincide with the writer’s wishes. For instance, a subtitle was added to the German version of my first Beethoven book, which I did not agree with and was later even criticised for.

That being said, the title of my next book will likely be something like  ‘A Musical Biography’ or ‘The History of Beethoven’s Music’. But it could also become something completely different. We shall see what it turns out to be.

As you mentioned, you have already written a book about Beethoven. What inspired you to write a new one?

Jan: Before my first Beethoven book was published, it was actually much thicker. On the advice of my publisher, I reluctantly deleted 200 pages. It was a tough decision because I felt that those pages contained the most original and distinctive parts of the book. According to my publisher, however, they delved too deeply into the musical aspect, which would cause readers with no musical background to drop out.

Now, 15 years later, my understanding of Beethoven has evolved further and I feel compelled to write a book that retells Beethoven's biography, but now exclusively from a musical perspective. The 200 pages on my desk served as the starting point.

What will be covered in the new book?

Jan: I narrate Beethoven's life chronologically, but solely from a musical point of view. Using 25 key works, I guide the reader through Beethoven's musical evolution. I leave out the anecdotes about his love life, his financial troubles and the political situations surrounding him. Only events that had a real impact on his works are included.

My aim is to help readers better understand why Beethoven's music was considered exceptional by his contemporaries. I take the listener by the hand and show what he should listen to.  My experience as a conductor has taught me that people value this approach. When I provide a brief introduction at the beginning of a concert, people feel like a door is being opened that reveals the entire room. This is how I intend to illustrate concretely that Beethoven is an extraordinary composer.

Sounds very inspiring! How is the writing process going?

Jan: It is though work. For twee reasons. Firstly, this book is more challenging in terms of content than the previous one. I can rely less on the classic stories about Beethoven, precisely because I only want to dive into his musical story.

In addition, I have become stricter with myself. Over the years, I have lost some of my naivety and become even more critical. My position in the music world has also changed. Unlike my first book, I now know that this second book will be sold worldwide in various translations, and that many people will scrutinise it critically. However, I must not let that thought dominate, as it freezes the writing process.

How is this new book a milestone in your career?

Jan: It is far too early to make a statement on that. The most important is to get things done. Looking back, you can assess achievements, but it is not a good idea to think about whether or not a project will become a fundamental step in your career. Besides, the more you talk about it, the greater the pressure will become and the more expectations will increase. Do things carefully and with dedication and your career will follow.

Thank you, Jan, for this wise advice and sneak peek of your upcoming new book. Since it will be published by 2027, the European Beethoven Year in which we commemorate Beethoven’s 200^th death anniversary, we will still have to be a bit patient. In the meantime, we wish you a smooth writing process!