Beethoven - Sonata Op. 90

[monkeydudexd]

Hello everybody. This is my new recording of Beethoven's Sonata Op. 90. Please tell me what you think All comments (good, bad, anything) are appreciated.

I feel kind of awkward posting this compared to the 'greats' on this forum (aka becky, ladypianist, enzo, and other amazing pianists)...

Thanks!

[coldmiser]

I would like to say that you (or anyone on this forum) should ever feel awkward to post one of their MP3s as this song shows that you have a wonderful amount of talent and I think it is played wonderfully.

Being that I'm new here, I have not yet heard becky or enzo (although I did listen to one of ladypianists this morning and I was completely floored!) but I want you to remember as you listen to one of their songs and think to yourself how you wish you had their talent, I listened to this song and I wish I had your talent (although wishing won't make it so, I'll get there).  I've only been playing for 2 years and I'm not quite up to your level, but just listening to this shows how much talent and hard work you have put into it and it shows.

*applause*

[musicluvr49]

Nice job.

I'm not very familiar with this piece, and I didn't have the score in front of me when I was listening. But it sounds great. The only thing I could say... Is that it needs a little more drama. You had nice dynamics, but I think more dynamics couldn't hurt.

[becky8898]

Now thats funny. There may be a lot of great pianists around im not , for sure . besides who cares anyway. Its nice to hear you post.  Beethoven is a pain.  I like him, but he is a pain to get right. Just a quick thought , it seemed a little dis jointed. Maybe try getting the different parts to blend together a little better.  

Keep posting the audition room needs you.  

Cheers, Becky

[monkeydudexd]

thank you very much everyone for your critiques!

coldmiser: thank you for your kind words, you should really give enzo (i think his username is emill or something like that) and becky a listen, they are amazing (and anything anyone says otherwise is a LIE)

musicluvr: yes, my teacher tells me the same thing. there's a lot of contrast in this piece and she says piano needs to be quieter and forte needs to be heavier (basically more contrast)

becky: you are a musical prodigy, no joke. and beethoven is my favorite composer, but yes, i also find it hard to keep his music sounding cohesive and smooth. but that's all just more fun for me to learn more about him

[birba]

I'm assuming you're going to do the rest of it, too, right?
This to me is the most problematic sonata of all 32.  I've studied it.  I played it. (once, for Kempff!).  But I have to admit it.  I just don't get it.  I used to think that Beethoven's deafness got in the way here, but that's a weak excuse for not understanding genius, I suppose. 
It IS disjointed, like someone pointed out.  But it's composed disjointedly and it's up to the pianist to make a whole out of it.  ONe problem might be the keyboard you're using.  Is it a digital piano?  It has a very wierd forte sound.  If it's not digital, I think you're trying to get more out of the instrument then it's willing to give up!  Use the pedal to help you and don't come down so brusk on the keys.  Because the forte sort of disappears immediately.  Don't anticipate the rits.  I must say you cope with that "alberti" bass grandly.  That is a typical Beethovenish trick.  Almost as devilish as the one in the ronḍ capriccio.  But like here, I can imagine the sound he wanted.  And it can only be accomplised with physical ease.  You must have quite a stretch.
Look at the bridge from the development to the reprise.  You can do more with that.  I think that's the most interesting part of the whole sonata!  Echos of Les Adieux. 
AT any rate, let's hear the second movement!

[monkeydudexd]

Schiff described it as a battle between the head and the heart, but I have a heard time imagining it except in a few places throughout the piece. the transitions are very awkward in many places. the alberti bass is no problem for me because my hands can (at full stretch) reach an 11th (C to F), so a 10th comes very easily (I LOVE playing octave passages).

my piano at home is actually a baby grand Yamaha G1. I love its touch, but I HATE its sound. the timbre is much too bright and it annoys the *bleep* out of me when I try to play darker pieces like Rachmaninoff and Beethoven. the problem may be my recorder, I think I accidentally turned the input too low and so it didn't catch enough sound. I'll be sure to adjust that next time.

thanks for the kind words, I will work on that second movement! It's a very lyrical and soothing melody

[rachfan]

Hi monkeydudexd,

I think you played this movement of Op. 90 quite well.  This piece has always seemed kind of abstruse to me--not easy to fathom what exactly Beethoven had in mind.  It's mercurial in temperament to put it mildly.  You never know quite what's coming next!  I give you a lot of credit for selecting and learning it.  I also played the second movement, but it's repetition drove me to distraction.    

My recording of this 1st movement was the first on Piano Street back in 2006.  You can still find it in the Index to Audition Room if you'd care to hear another pianist trying to make sense of this music.  

Thanks for posting your recording.  I enjoyed hearing it.

David  

[monkeydudexd]

dear rachfan,
i listened to your recording and it was great to hear an interpretation so different from my own! you really put a lot of emphasis on the downbeat, and i the style in general gave me a different feeling than my own version did. thanks for sharing!

[rachfan]

Hi monkeydudexd,

Glad you enjoyed my recording.  It's always interesting to hear two or more pianists who look at the same score (maybe even the same edition) yet bring forth very different interpretations.  It's fascinating.  Probably my emphasis on the downbeat was to introduce some element of predictability to this capricious sonata movement.

[emill]

Hi!
It definitely sounds Beethoven!
And it is played very well.
CONGRATULATIONS..

emill

[pianovlad1996]

Hello!
I am currently learning beethoven sonata op.90. I want to ask you if this sonata is harder than moonlight all three movements or pathetique. My teacher said that if I will not be able to play the left hand passage  ( very hard), she will give me another sonata, probably moonlight or pathetique .

[monkeydudexd]

hi! i have never played moonlight, but i have played pathetique, but i can imagine that both are much more difficult technically (except for maybe the left hand section. i have a big hand span, so it never came as a problem for me, but with practice you should be fine). however, this sonata is very confusing to 'understand.' in moonlight and pathetique, it is often obvious the emotion beethoven is trying to express through the music, but in this, i don't really understand it as much. i would take on the pathetique before trying this because it is more fun to play, more impressive, and easier musically.