Beethoven Piano Sonatas (please quick reply needed!)

[pianohenry]

Has anyone played Beethoven's Piano Sonata in E minor (Op. 90)? Its on the grade 8 syllabus at the moment. There are a couple of tricky sections in it, namely the left hand semiquavers in bars 55-65 and then again in bars 198-208.

For the first time its ok because the middle note - the F# that stays the same, its easier to reach because the note is slightly raised, (for fingering I use '3' and sort of pivot around it...) But later in the piece I find it more difficult because the B in the middle isnt raised - its more difficult to reach and also the B flat gets in the way of my 3rd finger.

now, in each bar there are 3 groups of semiquavers, and the second 2 groups are ok to play the middle B with 3rd finger because my wrist is turned more and the B flat doesnt get in the way - but for the first group (with the notes E,G,B,G) should i use '2' instead of '3' for that middle B? what does everyone else do at this bit?

thanks for anyones advice and comments!

[teresa_b]

Hi pianohenry,

I have played this, and on another thread discussing the same problem, I think I commented that Beethoven wrote a grade 8 piece with a grade 20 (or whatever) passage in it!

I had a lot of trouble with these two spots, too, and there is no great solution as far as I know. 

I used finger 3 on that middle B because my hand is too small for me to comfortably use 2.  If you have a big hand with a good stretch between thumb and finger 2, why not try that? 

Practice slowly, and with different rhythms.  Sounds like you are moving your wrist appropriately.  What suggestions does your teacher have?
 Good luck! 
Teresa

[lostinidlewonder]

For those Lh semiquavers when the F# is repeated you SHOULD NOT pivot on the 3rd finger. You should move from 2 to 3 to 4 as you move up the keyboard with those 10ths. Actually look at the fingering here.

https://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/compositions_b/btsn90.pdf

[pianohenry]

thanks very much for both of your help

Gee teresa I dunno about a grade 20 passage  Ive been practicing it and for some reason now I can do the second section better than the first.. anyway using second finger the first group helped in the end, its much smoother now. its not too much trouble because my hands are very large

Lostinidlewonder, thanks also for the link, ive been looking for the music to the second movement too! Thats a good version as well, my one doesnt have fingering at those tricky sections.

[pianochild]

If i can just quickley put in that a good way to controll the semiquavers is not to lift the wrist or hand upwards at all. Try to swing your hand from side to side ( Kind of swaying), that works for me.

[BoliverAllmon]

For those Lh semiquavers when the F# is repeated you SHOULD NOT pivot on the 3rd finger. You should move from 2 to 3 to 4 as you move up the keyboard with those 10ths. Actually look at the fingering here.

https://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/compositions_b/btsn90.pdf

why not, I find it pretty easy to just stay with the 3.

[lostinidlewonder]

why not, I find it pretty easy to just stay with the 3.

In  my opinion if you keep your third in the RH you simply cramp your position, altering through the fingers makes the shape of the hand more constant/relaxed. I guess it is a matter of prefference again.