Published Order of Difficulty for the Beethoven Sonatas

[steinwayguy]

I heard there was one in the Hans von Bulow editions. Does anyone have it or another commonly accepted list?

[Triton LE 76]

 
nope

[ptmidwest]

VERY subjective list, especially since different movements can be quite different in the tech as well as musical demands, but here's one list of about the easiest 20.  (not MY list)

This list came from from a teacher/performer in the old Russian school (which doesn't exist in this forum).

from easier to harder:

Opus 49, Nos. 1 & 2
Op. 79
2/1
14/1 & 2
10/1 & 2 & 3
13  (Path)
26
27/1
28
22
2/2
2/3
78
90
7

[6ft 4]

...and the last four(op.106,109,110,111) are all physically impossible as far as i can see

[pianojems]

Op 110 is really not that diffucult and inside the Shirmer edition of Beethoven Sonatatas (which I know is not the favored edition) in the foreword has the list af ALL sonatas in progressive difficulty...I find it quite accurate. Would you be interested for me to dig it up and write down the oreder? let me know 

[steinwayguy]

I bought the Schirmer Edition a year ago and I don't see any order in it, so if you could type it up I would be very grateful!

[pianojems]

I have a really old Shirmer sonata book it is also volume 1
here is the order they list from easiest to hardest.
They are also divided into three grades of difficulty

First grade
Op. 49 No.2, 1
Op.79
Op. 14 (both)
Op. 2 No 1

second grade
Op. 10 No 1
Op.13
Op. 10 No 3
Op. 10 No 2
Op. 28
Op. 2 No 3
Op. 26
Op. 31 No 3
Op. 22
Op. 7

third grade
Op. 27 No 2
Op. 27 No 1
Op. 31 No2
Op. 2 No 2
Op. 54
Op. 78
Op. 90
Op. 81
Op. 31 No. 1
Op.53
Op. 57
Op. 101
Op. 111
Op. 110
Op. 109
Op. 106

phew. I hope this helps

[BoliverAllmon]

I have a really old Shirmer sonata book it is also volume 1
here is the order they list from easiest to hardest.
They are also divided into three grades of difficulty

First grade
Op. 49 No.2, 1
Op.79
Op. 14 (both)
Op. 2 No 1

second grade
Op. 10 No 1
Op.13
Op. 10 No 3
Op. 10 No 2
Op. 28
Op. 2 No 3
Op. 26
Op. 31 No 3
Op. 22
Op. 7

third grade
Op. 27 No 2
Op. 27 No 1
Op. 31 No2
Op. 2 No 2
Op. 54
Op. 78
Op. 90
Op. 81
Op. 31 No. 1
Op.53
Op. 57
Op. 101
Op. 111
Op. 110
Op. 109
Op. 106

phew. I hope this helps

I am glad that I am learning a sonata in the second grade. graduated from the easier stuff. Still have along way to go until I reach the third grade though.

[pianojems]

yeah remember that this does not mean that you play in grades 1 2 or3 kust beethoven sonata stages/grades. Even 1st grade is difficult except the first two

[steinwayguy]

I have a really old Shirmer sonata book it is also volume 1
here is the order they list from easiest to hardest.
They are also divided into three grades of difficulty

First grade
Op. 49 No.2, 1
Op.79
Op. 14 (both)
Op. 2 No 1

second grade
Op. 10 No 1
Op.13
Op. 10 No 3
Op. 10 No 2
Op. 28
Op. 2 No 3
Op. 26
Op. 31 No 3
Op. 22
Op. 7

third grade
Op. 27 No 2
Op. 27 No 1
Op. 31 No2
Op. 2 No 2
Op. 54
Op. 78
Op. 90
Op. 81
Op. 31 No. 1
Op.53
Op. 57
Op. 101
Op. 111
Op. 110
Op. 109
Op. 106

phew. I hope this helps

Thanks, but uh, the only things I agree with are the op. 49 being the easiest, op. 79 being the second easiest and Hammerklavier being the hardest. Other than that, terrible system!

[BoliverAllmon]

as long as you don't put the pastoral right there with the g maj one, I am ecstatic.

boliver

[steinwayguy]

Alright here goes:

Op. 49 No. 1, 2
Op. 79
Op. 14 No. 1, 2
Op. 10 No. 2
Op. 2 No. 1
Op. 13
Op. 27 No. 2
Op. 10 No. 1
Op. 78
Op. 10 No. 3
Op. 28
Op. 31 No. 3
Op. 26
Op. 22
Op. 2 No. 2
Op. 90
Op. 31 No. 2
Op. 27 No. 1
Op. 31 No. 1
Op. 90
Op. 2 No. 3
Op. 110
Op. 57
Op. 7
Op. 53
Op. 81a
Op. 111
Op. 109
Op. 101
Op. 106


There's my list.

[Selim]

I think op79 is harder than op14N°1, and op10N°1 is easier than 10N°2, and both (op10N°1,2 ) are easier than sonate au "Clair de Lune"

[steinwayguy]

I think op79 is harder than op14N°1, and op10N°1 is easier than 10N°2, and both (op10N°1,2 ) are easier than sonate au "Clair de Lune"

Well you just named all the sonatas whose technical difficulties I am not familiar 

[Barbosa-piano]

 I have a very old book from 1919 published by Ricordi, revised by Alfredo Casella, that has a very good preface and both the chronologic order table and the difficulty table.

He organized the difficulty this way:

First Grade: (Easy)
Sonatas Op. 49, n.1 and 2.
Sonatina Op. 79
Sonatas Op. 14, n. 1 and 2.
Sonata Op. 2 n.1

Second Grade: (Medium)
Sonatas Op. 10, n. 1 and 3
Sonata Op. 22
Sonata Op. 7
Sonata Op. 2 n.3
Sonata Op. 13 (Pathetique)
Sonata Op. 10, n. 2
Sonata Op. 28 (Pastorale)
Sonata Op. 26 (Marcia Funebre)
Sonata Op. 2, n. 2
Sonata Op. 27, n. 1 (quasi una fantasia)
Sonata Op. 27, n. 2 (Au clair de lune)

Third Grade: (Difficult)
Sonatas Op. 31, n. 1 , 2 and 3
Sonata Op. 54
Sonata Op. 90
Sonata Op. 78
Sonata Op. 53 (Aurore)
Sonata Op. 81 (L'adieu)

Fourth Grade: (Superior- Transcedental)
Sonata Op. 57 (Apassionata)
Sonata Op. 101
Sonata Op. 109
Sonata Op. 110
Sonata Op. 111
Sonata Op. 106 (Hammerklavier)

This might be slightly different from other editions, but it is about the same rating.
 
Best wishes,
Mario Barbosa   

[Selim]

Well you just named all the sonatas whose technical difficulties I am not familiar 

Why did you put them in your list then?

[steinwayguy]

Why did you put them in your list then?

I figured I had a good guess as to how difficult they were. I'm very confident I know about how difficult like 25 of them are.

[nanabush]

Hmmm Vivacisimamente, interesting, the only other piece I've ever seen this word on is Chemin de Fer by Alkan, which is the fastest piece I have ever heard in my life.  It's well over four eighth notes a second, and has all sixteenth notes in right hand, and is very long.  So the beethoven sonata, i think 81a or soemthing, that has this marking, is it that fast?!?

[paris]

Alright here goes:

Op. 49 No. 1, 2
Op. 79
Op. 14 No. 1, 2
Op. 10 No. 2
Op. 2 No. 1
Op. 13
Op. 27 No. 2
Op. 10 No. 1
Op. 78
Op. 10 No. 3
Op. 28
Op. 31 No. 3
Op. 26
Op. 22
Op. 2 No. 2
Op. 90
Op. 31 No. 2
Op. 27 No. 1
Op. 31 No. 1
Op. 90
Op. 2 No. 3
Op. 110
Op. 57
Op. 7
Op. 53
Op. 81a
Op. 111
Op. 109
Op. 101
Op. 106

i agree steinwayguy, with almost all sonatas. 
but i was quite szrprised with barbosa's ranking, specially 'medium' part

Second Grade: (Medium)
Sonatas Op. 10, n. 1 and 3
Sonata Op. 22
Sonata Op. 7
Sonata Op. 2 n.3
Sonata Op. 13 (Pathetique)
Sonata Op. 10, n. 2
Sonata Op. 28 (Pastorale)
Sonata Op. 26 (Marcia Funebre)
Sonata Op. 2, n. 2
Sonata Op. 27, n. 1 (quasi una fantasia)
Sonata Op. 27, n. 2 (Au clair de lune)

man, you must be kidding...moonlight harder then op.7?  only thing in moonlight which is difficult is 3rd movement!  op.7 has very demanding 1st movement, as well as 3rd trio and 4th! and it's way longer then moonlight!
pathetique harder then op.7? hm...maybe for someone, but i still think it isn't.   also Pastorale is much harder then moonlight!

that moonlight is a bit overrated, don't you think? 

[Selim]

You put the 31N°2 harder than clair de lune....I think that 27 N°2 is harder than the tempest...

[Barbosa-piano]

i agree steinwayguy, with almost all sonatas.
but i was quite szrprised with barbosa's ranking, specially 'medium' part
man, you must be kidding...moonlight harder then op.7? only thing in moonlight which is difficult is 3rd movement! op.7 has very demanding 1st movement, as well as 3rd trio and 4th! and it's way longer then moonlight!
pathetique harder then op.7? hm...maybe for someone, but i still think it isn't. also Pastorale is much harder then moonlight!

that moonlight is a bit overrated, don't you think?

I believe that Alfredo Casella meant that the Sonatas in that Grade are all about the same difficulty, which I don't think is quite correct, and I agree with you, Op. 7 is harder than Moonlight. But since the Moonlight Sonata is largely overrated (I must agree with you), I might be wrong... I will look for more difficulty tables on the Sonatas, and compare with this one. I didn't realize this until you pointed out...
Thank you

Sincerely,
Mario Barbosa

[j.s. bach the 534th]

Sorry for bringing back such an old topic, but I am very surprised by all these lists. In all of them, the Moonlight Sonata is put with quite a few sonatas behind it, but for me, the Moonlight Sonata is the easiest (except for op. 49)

[qoppa]

Not a published list, but here's the rankings according to Bernhard.

Don't be sorry! These things are highly subjective anyway, and you are right: Op. 101 is pretty tough as well. At this level the whole thing is about discussing which would cause the worst burn: molten lead or molten silver.

Here is my list of the 32 in order of difficulty. I would be curious to see other people's:

1. Op. 49 no. 2
2. Op. 49 no. 1
3. Op. 79
4. Op. 14 no. 2
5. Op. 14 no. 1
6. Op. 2 no. 1
7. Op. 10 no. 1
8. Op. 10 no. 2
9. Op. 2. no. 2
10. Op. 2 no. 3
11. Op. 10 no. 3
12. Op. 13 (Pathetique)
13. Op. 22
14. Op. 28 (Pastorale)
15. Op. 7
16. Op. 78
17. Op. 26
18. Op. 31 no. 3
19. Op. 31 no. 1
20. Op. 90
21. Op. 27 no. 1
22. Op. 27 no. 2 (Moonlight)
23. Op. 54
24. Op. 31 no. 2 (Tempest)
25. Op. 53 (Waldstein)
26. Op. 81 (Les Adieux)
27. Op. 57 (Appasionata)
28. Op. 101
29. Op. 110
30. Op. 109
31. Op. 111
32. Op. 106 (Hammerklavier)

This is the order I would suggest to someone wishing to learn all of them. Both musical and technical difficulty are considered, and I am also having in mind playing them as close to perfection as possible (hence the Moonlight being placed so higher in thelist - the much hackneyed first movement is very difficult to pull off).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[feddera]

Am I the only one who thinks op2.1 is much harder than op10.1?

[thierry13]

Am I the only one who thinks op2.1 is much harder than op10.1?

No you're not.

The ratings given above are total BS.

[j.s. bach the 534th]

Am I the only one who thinks op2.1 is much harder than op10.1?

Am I the only one who thinks Moonlight is easier than most of the stuff underneath it?

[berman]

op. 7 is the next longest Piano sonata by beethoven, and both barenboim and brendel said it was, after the last four and apassionata, the hardest.

[felipe717]

There is an order that I follow confident, but there is probably a few subjective numbering.
(From the easiest to the hardest)

EASY
1. Sonata No.20 in G major - Leicthe
2. Sonata No.19 in G minor - Leichte
3. Sonata No.25 in G major - Cuckoo

MODERATE
4. Sonata No.9 in E major
5. Sonata No.10 in G major
6. Sonata No.1 in F minor - Little Appassionata
7. Sonata No.5 in C minor - Little Pathetique
8. Sonata No.8 in C minor - Pathetique

CHALLENGING
9. Sonata No.7 in D major
10. Sonata No.6 in F major
11. Sonata No.11 in D major - Pastorale
12. Sonata No.3 in C major - Little Waldstein
13. Sonata No.12 in Ab major - Funeral March
14. Sonata No.18 in Eb major - The Hunt
15. Sonata No.11 in Bb major
16. Sonata No.4 in Eb major - Grand
17. Sonata No.14 in C# minor - Moonlight
18. Sonata No.13 in Eb major - Quasi una Fantasia

DIFFICULT
19. Sonata No.17 in D minor - Tempest
20. Sonata No.2 in A major
21. Sonata No.22 in F major
22. Sonata No.24 in F# major - A Therese
23. Sonata No.27 in E minor
24. Sonata No.26 in Eb major - Les Adieux
25. Sonata No.16 in G major

TRANSCENDENTAL
26. Sonata No.21 in C major - Waldstein
27. Sonata No.22 in F minor - Appassionata
28. Sonata No.28 in A major
29. Sonata No.32 in C minor
30. Sonata No.31 in Ab major
31. Sonata No.30 in E major
32. Sonata No.29 in Bb major - Hammerklavier


I think that this ranking is very good, although I can point some exceptions...
I think that Op.7 (Grand Sonata) is very harder than that. Op.28 (Pastorale Sonata) is much harder too. I don't know if it's juts me, but I think that Op.2/1 (Little Appassionata Sonata) is harder than Op.10/1 (Little Pathetique Sonata). I also think that Op.90 isn't that hard. I think that Op.78 (A Therese Sonata) is a little easier than that, at least easier than Op.31/2 (Tempest Sonata). I know that Op.2/2 is hard, but I think that it's not harder than Op.27/2 (Moonlight). For the others, I guess it's appropriate. Of course, Op.49/2 (Leichte Sonata) is the easiest and Op.106 (Hammerklavier Sonata) is extremely difficult.
Of course, I may be saying wrong, after all, I don't really play the Sonatas (only a few movements of the easier ones), but after listening to them all, I thought that these "corrections" shouldn't be wrong.
At last, I think that all of Beethoven Sonatas are very hard, with a possible "exception" of Op.49 that are easier. I love them all, and if I had a wish come true, I have no doubt that I'd wish to play them all with "perfection". It's my dream as a piano player, and I hope it come true. After all, the 32 Sonatas are the New Testament of Classical Music. They are incredible, just awesome! =D

hope i helped

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I think the Pathetique sonata is definitely harder than the Moonlight.  I also think the reason why people are stating the proposition backwards is because they're only thinking of the third movement alone.

Ive played the Pathetique, and half assed the moonlight a couple years ago, and right off the bat, the second and third movements of the Pathetique sonata are way harder than the first two movements of the Moonlight sonata both musically and technically.

Now I haven't played the third movement of Moonlight enough to accurately asses it's difficulty, so I can't say which one is harder.  I think the third movement of Moonlight is probably a little harder technically, but I've heard people say that the Pathetique first is harder.  Musically, I'd say the Pathetique first is harder because the structure for the Moonlight is VERY simple.   I don't know, the difficulty gap is too narrow here so it's dependent on personal preference.

Additionally, the whole Pathetique sonata is a whole five minutes longer than the Moonlight; I think that's self explanatory.

No but yeah, I think the Pathetique is definitively harder than Moonlight.




But of course, just so I don't get flamed by the politically correct police of ranking piano music, this is subjective...

[j_menz]

But of course, just so I don't get flamed by the politically correct police of ranking piano music this is subjective...

Too late, mate. You sounded too much like you meant it!

[pianist88]

Hey guys, I'm new to these message boards.

I must say there are some interesting and contrasting opinions. I've gone onto other blogs on various websites and it is amazing how the difficulty ranking varies from pianist to pianist.

Over the past few days I've been looking over some scores, including the Tempest (learning to play the first movement), the early, Hadynesque sonata no 2 in A major and Les Adieux (bought the score the other day). Some people think that Sonata 2 in A Major is actually harder than the Tempest, would you agree with this?

[j_menz]

Hey guys, I'm new to these message boards.

Welcome aboard!

Some people think that Sonata 2 in A Major is actually harder than the Tempest, would you agree with this?

Yes, some people do think that.

[nanabush]

I find it laughable that some lists put Op 78 low on the difficulty scale.  Have these people played the second movement?

I think putting two 'clumps' of sonatas is probably a better idea than actually ranking each individual piece... all of the late ones are difficult, and it's going to be super nit picky getting them in an order that satisfies everyone.

After trying both to see which I wanted to play this year, I'd argue that Waldstein is more of a beast than Appasionata (I decided to play this one).  The third movement of Op. 57 requires fast fingers, but there are no rhythmic challenges or any awful trills that come up in Waldstein (those are a difficulty for me... there might be someone who finds those easy and puts Waldstein as easier than Appasionata lol...)

[vsrinivasa]

I don't know if I'm the only one who thinks Op. 10 No. 3 is much harder than it is on these lists, especially the first movement. Op. 2 No. 2 is somewhat confusing. I think it is quite simple and straightforward, but several people seem to think it is very hard. So anyway, my list, from easiest to hardest:

Op. 49 Nos. 1,2
Op. 79
Op. 14 No. 1
Op. 10 No. 1
Op. 14 No. 2
Op. 2 No. 1
Op. 10 No. 2
Op. 13
Op. 2 No. 2
Op. 22
Op. 26
Op. 27 No. 1
Op. 28
Op. 10 No. 3
Op. 31 No. 1
Op. 2 No. 3
Op. 78
Op. 31 No. 3
Op. 90
Op. 27 No. 2
Op. 54
Op. 31 No. 2
Op. 7
Op. 81a
Op. 53
Op. 57
Op. 110
Op. 111
Op. 101
Op. 109
Op. 106

[pianist88]

Sonata no 2 in A Major is harder than the Tempest sonata??? I beg to differ on that one. Most of the more difficult parts of the A Major sonata are just fast scales. In the Tempest those tremolos in the right hand can be brutal! And the third movement...  Plus you need more emotion. IMHO, the A Major sonata just sounds like Haydn on speed.

[teran]

Just out of curiosity. What makes Op 109 so hard? I rarely see it listed below second place.

I'm asking because it is my favourite piece of all, and do plan on learning it one day. Is the 3rd movement really that much of a killer? o.o

[j_menz]

Just out of curiosity. What makes Op 109 so hard? I rarely see it listed below second place.

I'm asking because it is my favourite piece of all, and do plan on learning it one day. Is the 3rd movement really that much of a killer? o.o

The speed, the polyphony, doing justice to the spaces and those damned trills at the end.

[pianist88]

Sonata 2 op2 in A Major is harder than the Tempest?? I beg to differ. Tempest movements 1 and 3 are not only WAY more emotional, but much much harder. no 2 opus 2 is nice, but it pretty much sounds like Haydn on speed.

[pianist88]

But having said that, the difficulty of Beethoven's sonatas is VERY subjective indeed

[j_menz]

Sonata 2 op2 in A Major is harder than the Tempest?? I beg to differ. Tempest movements 1 and 3 are not only WAY more emotional, but much much harder. no 2 opus 2 is nice, but it pretty much sounds like Haydn on speed.

Sonata no 2 in A Major is harder than the Tempest sonata??? I beg to differ on that one. Most of the more difficult parts of the A Major sonata are just fast scales. In the Tempest those tremolos in the right hand can be brutal! And the third movement...  Plus you need more emotion. IMHO, the A Major sonata just sounds like Haydn on speed.

Missed your morning coffee? At least you haven't changed your mind (or your "joke").  

[pianist88]

haha nm

[chopin2015]

Who here has played all of them, or atleast op 10 no 3?

[williampiano]

Sorry to bring back such an old thread, but I'm a little curious. How come op. 90 is ranked so high on most of these lists. I just began working on it a week or so ago, and I'm aware there is a considerable sum of interpretative challenges, but that aside, it seems quite a bit simpler than many of those ranked below it. Is there something I'm missing?

[beebert]

Op 90 is definitely harder than many of the sonatas listed above it on the rankings. It deserves its place up there. It's a piece that never becomes comfortable to play, even when you "master" the technical challenges. There are many Beethoven sonatas that are harder to learn, but there aren't many that are harder to master. IMO, if we speak about mastering the sonatas, then I would say that this one is on par with some of the most difficult ones.

[kypiano]

op. 7 is the next longest Piano sonata by beethoven, and both barenboim and brendel said it was, after the last four and apassionata, the hardest.

Oh, really? Please support this claim.

[kevonthegreatpianist]

Oh, really? Please support this claim.

Well, it IS the second longest sonata, but not nesscesarly the 6th hardest.


Here's my list:

Scale of 1 to 10:

Op.2 No.1: 7.5
Op.2 No.2: 8
Op.2 No.3: 8.5
Op.7: 8
Op.10 No.1: 7
Op.10 No.2: 7.5
Op.10 No.3: 8
Op.13: 7.5
Op.14 No.1: 7
Op.14 No.2: 7
Op.22: 8
Op.26: 8
Op.27 No.1: 8.5
Op.27 No.2: 8
Op.31 No.1: 8.5
Op.31 No.2: 8.5
Op.31 No.3: 8
Op.49 No.1: 6.5
Op.49 No.2: 6
Op.53: 9
Op.54: 8.5
Op.57: 9
Op.78: 8
Op.79: 7
Op.81a: 8.5
Op.90: 8
Op.101: 9
Op.106: 9.5
Op.109: 9
Op.110: 8.5
Op.111: 9

[khantallis123]

Alright here goes:

Op. 49 No. 1, 2
Op. 79
Op. 14 No. 1, 2
Op. 10 No. 2
Op. 2 No. 1
Op. 13
Op. 27 No. 2
Op. 10 No. 1
Op. 78
Op. 10 No. 3
Op. 28
Op. 31 No. 3
Op. 26
Op. 22
Op. 2 No. 2
Op. 90
Op. 31 No. 2
Op. 27 No. 1
Op. 31 No. 1
Op. 90
Op. 2 No. 3
Op. 110
Op. 57
Op. 7
Op. 53
Op. 81a
Op. 111
Op. 109
Op. 101
Op. 106


There's my list.

Just to let you know, you forgot to mention Op. 54.

[chopinawesome]

Bringing back an old thread 

Interesting fact: One contemporary critic thought aside from 2 passages, Sonata Op.90 is one of the
easiest Sonatas ever written.

[chopinawesome]

G Henle:
Op.2 no.1-6
Op.2 no.2-6.5
Op.2 no.3-7
Op.7-7.5
Op.10 no.1-6.5
Op.10 no.2-6.5
op.10 no.3-7
Op.13-7.5
Op.14-6(Both sonatas are level 6)
Op.22-7
op.26-6.5
op.27 no.1-7.5
Op.27 no.2-7
Op.28-7
Op.31 no.1-7.5
Op.31 no2-7.5
Op.31 no.3-7
Op.49-3(both sonatas are level 3)
Op.53-8.5
op.54-6.5
op.57-9
op.78-7
op.79-7
op.81a-8
op.90-7
op.101-8.5
op.106-9
op.109-8
op.110-8
op.111-9