Beethoven (1770-1827) and Jane Austen (1775-1817) share a birthday!

Although the two were contemporaries, they most certainly never met, although Jane’s family kept music books. 18 collections survive – 600 hundred pieces of sheet music – two of the volumes consisting of music copied out in Jane’s hand.

Beethoven doesn’t appear to have been a great favorite. Rather, the Austens gravitated more toward Clementi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Pleyel, and Thomas Arne (Jane painstakingly transcribed the overture to “Artexerxes”). Allegedly, in her novels, Austen mentions only one composer by name: Johann Baptist Cramer. I haven’t read enough of her books (only two, but working on a third), or kept notes, to be sure. But there are allusions to others.

The Austen family music books may be perused online, thanks to the University of Southampton. You’ll find access at the bottom of the page at the link:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2015/12/jane-austen-music-books.page

Gillian Dooley, who catalogued the contents, has written her own book, “She Played and Sang: Jane Austen and Music” (Manchester University Press, 2024), based on her research.

https://janeaustensworld.com/tag/austen-music-manuscripts/

Of perhaps related interest, Sony Classical recently released an album by Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, “Jane Austen’s Piano,” a recital of works Jane might have known, including music by Handel, Haydn, Kiallmark, and Cramer, as well as a transcription of some of Dario Marianelli’s music for the 2005 film adaptation, “Pride & Prejudice.”

https://www.kannehmasons.com/2025/10/03/jeneba-kanneh-masons-new-ep-jane-austen-piano-coming-december-2025-on-sony-classical/

Jane attended recitals in salon settings and opera performances at Covent Garden when visiting her brother in London. She herself played the piano for pleasure.

Happy 250th birthday, Jane Austen, and happy 255, Beethoven!

Please leave this field empty

DON’T MISS A BEAT

Every Sunday, you’ll receive just one email digest of the past week’s posts! Thanks for reading and listening.

Next, please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.