[VIDEO] Beethoven Sonata op. 2 no.1 part 1

[zeusje]

Hi all,

This sonata is still in progress, but I thought I'd post the first part. The first part and second part I now have memorized, which is fun to be busy with. The moving images are from my phone and the sound is from my ipad, which I now put about 4 meters away from my piano, since somehow the software wont allow me to reduce the recording volume, and having it closer will cause too many cracking sounds. Anyway I think I got the sound and video synchronized at the end.

Hope you enjoy,

Bert

[birba]

That sounded like an urtext performance from the urtext edition of the beethoven sonatas.  The tempo was good (though, I prefer it a touch slower), the hand balance good, nice technique, etc. etc.  But it was like one of those piano rolls you put in and it plays all the holes in the roll at exactly the right moment and you get a flawless note-reading interpretation.
Now we need something extra.  Something yours.  This sonata was dedicated to one of Beethoven's teachers and you can hear the influence - though it certainly doesn't have the maturity and wit that his teacher had.  It's in a minor key but there's certainly not anything tragic or even sad about it.  It's playing around at the keyboard having fun with those little triplet "grace" notes, the descending legato line at bar 20 contrasting with the staccato ascending line of the main them, the very long development embellishing on all those elements.  I'm not saying you have to play around with the tempo, but, for example, at bar 40, beethoven writes "con espressione", which means he wants something different from what went before. The measures leading up to bar 6 and bar 106 where you have the "corona" qualify for some sort of stentato, I think.  That stupendous pianissimo section from 92 to 107 in the development!  Wow, there is SO much you can do with that!  Go back and look at all the colors Beethoven has written.  He is so meticulous about what he wants.  And bring out ALL the variations of piano and forte.  This preparation has the makings of a splendid performance.  You just have to go beyond that printed note.  This is where the fun starts!

[zeusje]

Hi Birba,

Thanks alot for your detailed comment!

I agree the performance needs more thought on dynamics. Actually this what my teacher also repeatedly tells me, she told me often that there is too little difference between piano an forte. I need to work on what I want with this piece, I hope I get better insights in this as I progress through the other sections.

Thanks, Bert

[starstruck5]

Can't add much else to Birbas inspirational comments - I just want to say it is a wonderful place to be - you know the notes and now you get to really explore the music - Hope you post an update in a month or so!