The opening essay by James Webster, "Beethoven in Vienna, 1792-1802: An 'Early' Period?", evaluates the critical tradition of dividing Beethoven's career into three periods--early, middle, and late--and shows both their artificiality and their implications, including a tendency to undervalue early works. J?rgen May's essay "Beethoven and Prince Karl Lichnowsky," considers Beethoven's relations with one of the first of his most important patrons. In...