Book excerpt: This inaugural volume of Beethoven Forum presents the work of ten leading scholars who focus on an array of matters that clearly illustrate the vitality of current thought on Beethoven. Scott Burnham leads off the collection with a discussion of the reception of Beethoven's Third Symphony, the Eroica, a composition that continues to spur new interpretations. In succeeding chapters James Webster analyzes the formal sophistication of Beethoven's most influential and idiosyncratic creation, the last movement of his Ninth Symphony; Roger Kamien and William Kinderman examine piano sonatas; David Smyth and Richard Kramer investigate string quartets; Robert Freeman discusses his discovery of previously unknown cadenzas for Beethoven's piano concertos; Theodore Albrecht relates Beethoven's reading of Shakespeare to Beethoven's own life, and both to the "Tempest" Sonata; and Nicholas Marston uses Barry Cooper's recent work on Beethoven as the basis for a consideration of value of sketch studies. In an especially innovating article Julia Moore discusses the economic forces that shaped Beethoven's career. An annual series, Beethoven Forum will serve as an international venue for articles, notes, queries, critical exchanges, and reviews.