Beethoven & Mozart

[thelittlepianist]

How different do you think these composers are? What would you recommend to a person like myself, who would like to play a Mozart sonata but has only played Beethoven up to this point? Are there many stylistic/technical differences between the two?

Thanks,

Diana

[pianowelsh]

Hi Diana

Yes they are really qute different. Mozart is much more paired down typically than Beethoven. Also generally more singing whereas Beethoven tends to be more gestural. THAts just a start.

[webern78]

Mozart = Casadesus

Any questions? 

[teresa_b]

I am not the worlds' expert, but these are two of my favorites!  Stylistically Mozart must be played with more grace and refinement (but very important--NOT "precious" or too delicate).  Of course there are passages in Beethoven that are delicate and some in Mozart that are more rolicking, but in general. 

Technically, Mozart tends to have less challenges than Beethoven as far as sheer difficulty; the difficulty in Mozart, of course, is in getting the right feel, and not making too many mistakes because they stick out like a sore thumb! (Believe me, I know  )

Beethoven can get bumptious, even raucous at times, and Mozart does not.  Phrases in Mozart almost always are rounded off, the Alberti basses quieter so the beautiful melodies can sing, and the scales clear and crystalline, almost no pedal.  (Beethoven specified much more pedal, although on modern pianos we tend to lessen it.) 

That said, Mozart's music can be boring if you don't make it expressive and dynamic. 

Have fun!
Teresa

[ramseytheii]

This is about Beethoven and Schubert, but it might help you:
https://www.vanderbilt.edu/~cyrus/schubert/10diffs.htm

Walter Ramsey