This disk contains five keyboard works by Ludwig von Beethoven: Minuet in G-major, Theme and Six Variations on an Aria from the Opera La Molinara, Theme and Seven Variations on the National Song ("God Save the King"), Adagio cantabile from Sonata Pathtique and Adagio sostenuto from the Moonlight Sonata -- transcribed and adapted for IBM-compatible personal computer without supplemental hardware.
These five works span several decades and stylistic transformations in the course of Beethoven's life. Minuet in G and the two themes and varia- tions are the products of a mature "classical" composer, one who had studied Mozart and Haydn, while the Adagio cantabile from Sonata Pathtique and the very well-known Adagio sostenuto from the "Moonlight Sonata" represent the emotive and independent "romanticist" who was ahead of his time and emulated though not equalled since.
To play these files, you need no special hardware or software other than an IBM-compatible personal computer -- each file is complete in itself and will run independently on a wide variety of equipment. The files self- adjust their tempo regardless of whether you have an 8086, 8088, 286, 386 or PS/2. Your monitor can be monochrome, CGA, EGA, VGA -- with or without graphics card. Although the files run only in foreground (i.e., not while other programs are running), they are quite compatible with memory resident (TSR) software such as PC-Outline or Sidekick. Popping in and out of a TSR by "hot key" will simultaneously stop and start the music. No parameters are needed to play this music on your system -- just enter the filename at the prompt or use the LVB batch file included on this disk. Touch any key to exit or to skip to the next file in a series.
The sound your system attains will vary according to a number of variables. Certainly, a very important one is the construction of your speaker. I have found that the "name" brands (IBM, Compaq, Zenith) tend to have the worst speakers, while domestic "clones" often have the best. Sound quality is also affected by a monitor acting as a dead weight on the CPU, a CPU laid lengthwise and on four rubber feet rather than upended on its narrow side, obstructed sound slots, and even the number and confi- guration of expansion slots. Laptops are not suitable unless they have means of amplification.
As with my 1-2-3 BACH!, Pianoman Goes Baroque and Christmas Concert collections, "Pianoman Does Beethoven" was produced using Pianoman soft- ware, which is available on the shareware market and over thousands of bulletin boards. The trade name "Pianoman", as used in the title of this disk, is used with the prior written consent of the owner, Neil J. Rubenking.
These files are being distributed as shareware, not freeware. They are copyrighted material subject to all the usual rights and limitations in the United States Code and Geneva Convention. They may not be repackaged or resold without my prior written consent, although they are fully subject to the doctrine of fair use. The copyright on these files is valid and enforceable at least until the year 2039 and probably longer.
Suggested shareware fee: $7.50
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Also available from the author ($7.50 postage prepaid):
Christmas Concerts, vols. 1 and 2
Pianoman Goes Bach
Pianoman Goes Baroque
Special Collections of unpublished works