Pathetique Sonata 1st Movement speed.

[musicluvr49]

I listened to a couple of recordings of this, like Horowitz's version. and I was wondering......Does this sonata really have to be played at that speed, or can it be slower, and still be acceptable?

[becky8898]

Hi Music. I think the key word here is acceptable.  Acceptable to who. If your talking about yourself that is one thing.  Is it acceptable to you.  If your talking about the average person out in the world that is another. If your talking about me, or someone like me that is another.  Besides who cares.  Learn it ,  get it down so the notes and dynamics are correct and if you want more speed it will come with time.  If you listen to concert artists doing it on you tube. Like Horowitz or Zimmeran, etc. , you arent going to be very happy with your results.  Do a search on you tube and listen to non concert artists playing it . You get more variety in tempo and a better idea of what it can sound like at different speeds. 

Cheers, Becky

[musicluvr49]

Good point,  like acceptable for recitals, and concerts, and college auditions and things like that.

[felipe717]

Hi!
About the "Grave" section, count 4 beats for each beat. That is, as the bar has four beats, count a total of sixteen beats, four for each quarter note. So, the semiquaver will worth one beat. In the whole measure, there'll be sixteen times, one for each semiquaver, four for each quarter note.
In the "Allegro molto con brio" section, follow the same rhythm, but the four beats will complete a full measure, and not just a quarter note.

[birba]

Tempi can really vary, as I'm sure you've heard on all the youtube takes.  If it's played musically with all the intentions Beethoven wrote into it and with great tension (musical, I mean) it can go as slow as 60-66.  Yes, it can, believe it or not.  Because, if it's convincing, if the pubblic or whoever is listening to it is taken up into the drama of the piece, any other sort of interpretation is completely forgotten in their minds.  Speed does not necessarily mean excitement.