Beethoven's Tempest Sonata

[lovethepiano]

I am wondering if anyone has any advice for efficient practicing and learning of this sonata.  I have a urtext edition, so there is limited pedaling and I am wondering about that.  I find all three of the sonata's movements very beautiful, but trying to learn all three at once is far from efficient.

[mike_lang]

I find all three of the sonata's movements very beautiful, but trying to learn all three at once is far from efficient.

Part of efficiency is focus -- start with one movement (the first is not a bad choice)!

[pianoplayjl]

Part of efficiency is focus -- start with one movement (the first is not a bad choice)!

Quite right, and it is common sense to divide it into smaller sections. treat them like a mini mvt of a movement of a sonata. that's what I do.   

[keyboardkat]

What do you do with that famous place in the middle of the first movement, the recitative, where Beethoven marks a single pedal held all the way through?   It worked on his piano, and gave a sort of fuzzy, far-away effect, but the sound decay was fast enough so that the music remained clear.   But try taking that pedal marking literally and do that on a modern Steinway model D concert grand, and see what happens.   The recitative turns to mush.

Only a few literal-minded pedants would do that today.   Most pianist use a half-pedal, and use finger-pedalling, holding as many notes of the chords with your fingers as possible, to approximate Beethoven's effect.

Once in around 1970 in Baltimore, I was playing this sonata in a short recital in a senior citizens' center, to inaugurate their new Yamaha baby grand.    Just at that spot in the sonata, where I was trying for soft, half-pedaled effects, someone who was not a concert attendee came clomping into the room (it was the rec room in the center), went over to the soda machine, loudly dropped her coins into the machine, took her soda can and clomped out!    I thought, "I'll kill her.   I'll find out who it is and I'll kill her!"   

We pianists deal with all kinds of problems.   At least this was somewhat humorous.

[kellyc]

Hi : When ever I start a new piece such as a Sonata I like to get the over all feel of the piece, and get an idea where I would like to take this music to. Kind of my artistic impression. Then I like to look thru the score and identify any areas that are especially ,technically challenging for me, work out the harmony and also the fingering. Then and only then do I begin work on the piece. Pedaling is one of the last things I work out , because it is so different for each pianist that general rules are only a guide line, a place to start.  I tend to do a tremendous amount of finger substitution and use as little pedal as possible. But it also depends on what piano I'm playing on, the sound characteristics  of where I'm playing , how far away the listeners are, if any and a whole bunch of other factors. Try recording yourself with out pedaling and see how it sounds and where you think it needs to be added.

Good luck with the sonata.

Kelly

[mike_lang]

What do you do with that famous place in the middle of the first movement, the recitative, where Beethoven marks a single pedal held all the way through? 

This well-known example is a strong argument for pedaling with your ears!

[precipitato]

hi there! i have played tempest myself for ltcl last time, and it is indeed a very rewarding work!

What do you do with that famous place in the middle of the first movement, the recitative, where Beethoven marks a single pedal held all the way through?   It worked on his piano, and gave a sort of fuzzy, far-away effect, but the sound decay was fast enough so that the music remained clear.   But try taking that pedal marking literally and do that on a modern Steinway model D concert grand, and see what happens.   The recitative turns to mush.

Only a few literal-minded pedants would do that today.   Most pianist use a half-pedal, and use finger-pedalling, holding as many notes of the chords with your fingers as possible, to approximate Beethoven's effect.

Once in around 1970 in Baltimore, I was playing this sonata in a short recital in a senior citizens' center, to inaugurate their new Yamaha baby grand.    Just at that spot in the sonata, where I was trying for soft, half-pedaled effects, someone who was not a concert attendee came clomping into the room (it was the rec room in the center), went over to the soda machine, loudly dropped her coins into the machine, took her soda can and clomped out!    I thought, "I'll kill her.   I'll find out who it is and I'll kill her!"   

We pianists deal with all kinds of problems.   At least this was somewhat humorous.

haha a very interesting story! and yes, i just wanted to point that out too. perhaps you could try something else, like what i did last time? silently grab a huge handful of notes at the lower bass of the piano, making no sounds in the process. meanwhile, half-step on the pedal. realise that pressing those notes, it does carry on the sound, try it!

and yeah, just practise it slowly, the speed up, as simple as that. watch out for 2nd movement, tempo and the left hand arpeggios. 3rd movement, typical beethoven. 1st movement, the beginning has to be accurate, and i realise, quite some pianists tremolo too much! i strongly disagree with it, as it does not seem to be what beethoven wants. follow the urtext, they drew out all the notes there, please don't add extra to it or reduce the amount. generally a very beethoven work i'll say, tempo and dynamics, yeah.

[nyiregyhazi]

This well-known example is a strong argument for pedaling with your ears!

I'd disagree. I'd say it's an argument for cross-referencing what the hand is doing with what the foot is doing. The recitative can sound just fine with a long- IF all the sounds are placed in the right balance. Frequently it's poor balancing of dynamics in what is being played that makes for the worst "pedalling"- not what the foot is doing.

[keyboardkat]

This well-known example is a strong argument for pedaling with your ears!

Absolutely right!   I couldn't have said it better!