beethovens sonata op31 no 3

[matt haley]

   hey guys...

    ive been playing this now for a few weeks and doing a good job with the 1st movement....... (also learnt the 3rd movement as its relatively easy)..

but the 2nd movement looks rather tricky(crisp staccatto in the left hand), to me looks very difficult technically..

may i have any advice on this movement and the sonata as a whole..

  how advanced is the piece both technically and musically???

i think this sonata is awesome in its various movement,

   cant wait to here from you all

     thank you

  Matt Haley

[pianistimo]

i've not played this one, but looked it up on the internet.  libetta plays this on a cd
www.vaimusic.com/CD/1209.shtml  (scroll down)  if he plays it - with all the other stuff that he is - it must be fairly difficult to play well.

and he has some notes there.  a few interesting things #3 has a scherzo and minuet (despite beethoven saying he was taking a 'new path') but no slow movement.  also, it says saint-saens wrote a set of variations on the theme of the trio in the 3rd movement!  i like libettas program!  it's nice to think of programs when you start one work (and how it would tie into another) maybe playing the saint-saens, too?

[tds]

ive played this sonata. yeah, its a great work. the sonata sounds so well balanced when you play all the repeats in the 3rd movement. my 2 cents

[crazy for ivan moravec]

i played it before and i found it technically and musically difficult.

the opening chords of the 1st movement are hard to play beautifully. and sometimes i get a feeling that i play the entire thing too softly, so i suggest listening really carefully to the sound you're making. everything has to be beautiful sounds, not a single harsh one. i guess control is really impt, but of course, try not to neglect the dynamic markings of beethoven. the sfz's are everywhere. try listening to clara haskil's recording, it's just the right playing, IMO.

the 2nd movement has spots where you can breathe. make sure you find them and use them wisely. the left hand can be taxing if the technique is not consistent.

i find the 3rd movement a little difficult in terms of the balance of tones. i don't know why, maybe i was/am not capable of singing with a balanced and even accompaniment.

i hated the 4th movement. that's all.

i must say i played it badly, and i asked my teacher to change that sonata for my 2nd semester with a beethoven concerto, the Bb. but as years have passed, i appreciate the work more and more. and i realized a lot of things that i could have done.

maybe next time.