never played beethoven but played the piano for 13 years

[darcyhj]

whats a good piece to play by Beethoven, having never played anything by him

[healdie]

Well the sonatas are obviously a good place to start depending on your musical tastes but the Moonlight, Pathetique and Appasionata sonatas are the most performed and famous
 you will probably have heard alot of these sonatas before

[theodore]

As a set of beginning pieces by Beethoven, consider the Bagatelles which he wrote for his students and friends. They are of moderate difficulty and all quite short.

The following websites let you sample the sheet music for them:

For opus 33

https://www.pianopedia.com/w_687_beethoven.aspx

For opus 119

https://www.pianopedia.com/w_1837_beethoven.aspx

For opus 126

https://www.pianopedia.com/w_688_beethoven.aspx

Just left click on the eighth note corresponding to your selection and you will get to view the beginning page.

Theodore

[camstrings]

The opus 126 Bagatelles - the one in G(5th?), & the 3rd in Eflat though that may be a bit more difficult. Both are fine pieces imho.

[darcyhj]

Though I have never played him, i can play harder things, so don't just give me the easy things, i want to play things i'll enjoy.

[morningstar]

I quite enjoyed the Moonlight Sonata, was the only piece I could truly interpret properly. Especially enjoyed the first movement. You would more than likely have heard it before at least, which would help considerably.

[db05]

Though I have never played him, i can play harder things, so don't just give me the easy things, i want to play things i'll enjoy.

That is sooooooo vague, what pieces can you play exactly?

[guendola]

Beethoven was very productive and naturally changed his style over time. My suggestion: Search the internet for his music, perhaps start with his sonatas and print out the first two pages of some, try them and then decide by yourself.

There is a lot of talking about interpreting his works because he was a god, genuis to be worshipped etc., but after 13 years of playing piano, you might be able to deal with that (if not, don't bother trying and just play his music) .

[momopi]

whats a good piece to play by Beethoven, having never played anything by him

Wow!     
13 years and you never got infected by the Fur Elise virus!

[darcyhj]

That is sooooooo vague, what pieces can you play exactly?

Carnaval:Schumann
Sonata No.1: Berg
Tombeau De Couperin: Ravel
Bunch of Mozart Sonatas, A bunch of WTC and Schostakovich preludes and fugues, I'm around that standard.

13 years and you never got infected by the Fur Elise virus!

When i started i didn't know it and when i heard it because everyone played i didn't wan't to.

[db05]

Carnaval:Schumann
Sonata No.1: Berg
Tombeau De Couperin: Ravel
Bunch of Mozart Sonatas, A bunch of WTC and Schostakovich preludes and fugues, I'm around that standard.

When i started i didn't know it and when i heard it because everyone played i didn't wan't to.

Try Fur Elise. Seriously. It's an easy piece, should take only a few minutes, and you'd get a taste of Beethoven's noise, I mean, music. Moonlight 1st mvt is also considered easy, as long as you can reach a 9th. All Beethoven sonatas are available here free, so pick something that interests you.

btw, have you played Chopin? Anything Romantic?

[allemande]

Try Fur Elise. Seriously. It's an easy piece, should take only a few minutes, and you'd get a taste of Beethoven's noise, I mean, music. Moonlight 1st mvt is also considered easy, as long as you can reach a 9th. All Beethoven sonatas are available here free, so pick something that interests you.

btw, have you played Chopin? Anything Romantic?

Oh please...  for someone who's capable of playing schumanns op. 9, and has, as hard to believe as it may seem, NEVER played anything of beethovens. There are MUCH more interesting, challenging, and rewarding pieces to study than Fur Elise..or the 1st movement of the Moonlight Sonata..

[db05]

Oh please...  for someone who's capable of playing schumanns op. 9, and has, as hard to believe as it may seem, NEVER played anything of beethovens. There are MUCH more interesting, challenging, and rewarding pieces to study than Fur Elise..or the 1st movement of the Moonlight Sonata..

Yes it is strange, but I think the OP hasn't been exposed to much of Romanticised Classical or Romantic Music. Which makes sense if he's been taught by a Bach-beating, Czerny-churning Hanonist of a teacher. Just a wild guess... 

If it's so easy, it would just take a few minutes to learn, and then decide if you like to play the piece. Wouldn't hurt, right?

Though I have never played him, i can play harder things, so don't just give me the easy things, i want to play things i'll enjoy.

To tell the truth, I find this quite annoying. What's wrong with easy pieces? Sure, Fur Elise and Moonlight are overplayed, but how many times do you hear them interpreted masterfully? Most of the time they aren't even done justice imo.

Interesting, challenging, rewarding huh?
There is no uninteresting piece, only uninterested student. Every piece has its challenges and rewards if only you want them.

[j.s. bach the 534th]

here is a link to where you can find free downloadable and printable sheet music for almost all beethoven songs:

https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Beethoven%2C_Ludwig_van

I'd suggest, if you have been playing as long as you have, trying one of the Piano Sonatas. #8, Opus 13, is a good one.

[thierry13]

To tell the truth, I find this quite annoying. What's wrong with easy pieces? Sure, Fur Elise and Moonlight are overplayed, but how many times do you hear them interpreted masterfully? Most of the time they aren't even done justice imo.

Interesting, challenging, rewarding huh?
There is no uninteresting piece, only uninterested student. Every piece has its challenges and rewards if only you want them.

What's wrong with easy pieces? No substance, nothing to work on, no concrete challenge. Did you ever wonder WHAT was difficult in music? Unchallenging music is uninteresting music (from a learners point of view, a masterful performance of the 1st movement of the moonlight can of course be beautiful, it's simply not really fun to work on).

[eric_wong1387]

While it is surprising that you've played for this long without playing any Beethoven, I do suppose it is possible.   My teacher for example, rarely ever taught Beethoven outside of the Op. 49 "sonatas", and I do think she kind of fits under that hardcore Bach/Czerny/Hanon advocate category.

But hmm, if you can play the pieces you mentioned well, I'd think the majority of the Beethoven sonatas would be quite accessible to you already.

If I were in your situation, I'd be inclined to pick as follows:

If you want to start with a famous one, I'd say do the Tempest.  Moonlight/Pathetique are nice, but they may seem overplayed to a veteran.   Waldstein/Appassionata maybe jumping into the deep end too quickly.

If you want a less frequently played one, I'd be most likely to choose from Op. 26, Op. 27/1, Op. 28, Op. 31/3, or Op. 90.

And a few shorter pieces on the side like Bagatelles, Rondo Op. 51/1 or even Fur Elise could help you familiarize yourself with his style.

[aewanko]

"Les Adieux" Sonata, op. 81a
"Funeral march" sonata, op. 26
op. 31 no. 3

I don't know....

[darcyhj]

Thanks for all your ideas, i'm thinking of No.18 the hunt what do you think

[thierry13]

Thanks for all your ideas, i'm thinking of No.18 the hunt what do you think

I'm playing it right now it's a great piece, and would recommend it to anybody who's ready to take the time to learn it!

[quasimodo]

Skip Beethoven...

[healdie]

What's wrong with easy pieces? No substance, nothing to work on, no concrete challenge. Did you ever wonder WHAT was difficult in music? Unchallenging music is uninteresting music (from a learners point of view, a masterful performance of the 1st movement of the moonlight can of course be beautiful, it's simply not really fun to work on).

"Endeavour to play easy pieces well and beautifully; that is better than to play difficult pieces indifferently well. When you play, never mind who listens to you. Play always as if in the presence of a master."
-- R Schumann

I know i have used it before but now i think it is more relevent than ever

[j.s. bach the 534th]

Skip Beethoven...

  Tell me you did not just say that!

[imbetter]

why dont listen to a bunch of his piano sonatas and decide what you like.

[j.s. bach the 534th]

also, apparently Liszt transcribed the Beethoven Symphonies into Piano Solos. If you like any of the Symphonies, I'm sure you can find those transcriptions on IMSLP

[eric_wong1387]

The Liszt transcriptions aren't exactly accessible works.   It's fun to be able to play your favourite bits from the symphonies on the piano for sure, but playing the full work is far more work than most of the sonatas.

Anyways darcy, I think your choice of No. 18 / Op. 31/3 "The Hunt" should be a solid one.   Hopefully it's been coming along well.