What is the Beethoven Center?

The Center is the only institution in North America devoted solely to the life, works, and accomplishments of Beethoven (1770-1827) It opened in September 1985.

How did the Beethoven Center find its way to San Jose?

In 1982 Ira F. Brilliant, a real estate developer from Phoenix, Arizona, donated his extensive collection of 75 first editions of Beethoven's music to San Jose State University to form the basis of a library and study center devoted to Beethoven's music and humanitarian accomplishments. The Center's primary mission is to "celebrate the ideals and achievements of Ludwig van Beethoven."

What's in the Beethoven Center?

The largest collection of first and early 10th-century editions of Beethoven's music in the Western Hemisphere, several original Beethoven manuscripts, a replica of a fortepiano from Beethoven's time, over 3,000 books on Beethoven in many languages, a large colection of sound recordings and videos, a stamp collection, sculpture and art work and much else.

Where is the center located and when did it open?

The Center is open to the public without charge from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located on the third floor of Wahlquist Library North at the corner of San Fernando and South Fourth Streets in downtown San Jose. The Center's stff consists of Dr. William Meredith (Director), Patricia Stroh, M.A., M.L.I.S. (Curator), Dr. Elizabeth Fleming (Principal Subject Analyst, Beethoven Bibliography Database), John Boehm, M.A. (Beethoven in the Schools program), and LuAn Ausloos, M.A. (Subject Analyst, Beethoven Bibliography Database).

How is the Center supported?

The Center is supported by a combination of public and private funds. San Jose State University provides staff salries, space and supplies. The American Beethoven Society supports the programs of the Center, including publication of The Beethoven Journal, acquisition of important documents, and sponsorship of The Young Pianist's Beethoven Competition. The Society's Executive Board is made up of local public members and officers of the University. Memberships to the Society are tax-deductible contributions.

What types of activities are sponsored by the Center?

• Beethoven in the Schools. The Center recently received a two-year grant from the Packard Foundation to continue to educate fourth and fifth graders in Santa Clara County about the life and accomplishments of Beethoven.
  
  
• Young Pianist's Beethoven Competition. This annual competition is open to all high school age pianists in California. Winners perform in a master class with internationally known pianists, receive monetary awards, and appear on a television program title "Grand Piano."
  
  
• The Beethoven bibliography Database. The center is compiling the first comprehensvie bibliography on Beethoven published since 1924. Designed as a computer databas, the bibliography is accessible through the Internet. The Database is funded by the Packard Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, SJSU, the American Beethoven Society and other sources.
  
  
• The Beethoven Journal. A 48-page publication. The journal appears two times a year and is distributed to members of the American Beethoven Society, national and international libraries and performing arts centers. The journal is written for everyone who loves Beethoven's music. It has won several gold, silver, and bronze medals from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) competition.