Piano Forum

Topic: Beethoven Sonata op 109 2nd Movement  (Read 2534 times)

Offline russell174

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 3
Beethoven Sonata op 109 2nd Movement
on: November 09, 2013, 04:48:53 AM
I've been studying Beethoven op 109 for a while now, then noticed something strange.  In the 2nd movt. bar 146, you would think the LH should be a simple recap of the corresponding bar 45 (transposed).  But instead, the 2nd and 3rd eighth notes are inexplicably inverted.

I checked a few other editions that all show the same reading, and was surprised not to find any commentary on this.

I also listened to a few Youtube recordings and all the ones I listened to played the reacp as you would expect, not as written.

Anyone else noticed this or can explain it?

Thanks

Offline faulty_damper

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 3929
Re: Beethoven Sonata op 109 2nd Movement
Reply #1 on: November 09, 2013, 05:04:15 AM
Simple: those pianists are just making a mistake.  It goes by so fast that it really doesn't matter, does it?

Offline russell174

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 3
Re: Beethoven Sonata op 109 2nd Movement
Reply #2 on: November 09, 2013, 05:12:00 AM
Yes, it goes by so fast, it really doesn't matter.  I was kind of curious if anyone else had noticed this, and decided (like me) to just play it wrong!

Offline faulty_damper

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 3929
Re: Beethoven Sonata op 109 2nd Movement
Reply #3 on: November 09, 2013, 05:24:09 AM
Not all recordings play it wrong, btw.

Actually, a more interesting decision is the final tema mit variazioni, m200: do you play it as a chord, which is what the orig. ed. and autograph indicate, ore do you play, by analogy, it as an arpeggio?  I'm pretty certain Beethoven was right that it should be a chord and not an arpeggio.  An arpeggio lessens the impact and slows the flow down while a chord maintains the pulse and allows the arpeggio in the next measure to blossom.

Offline russell174

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 3
Re: Beethoven Sonata op 109 2nd Movement
Reply #4 on: November 09, 2013, 05:37:10 AM
I am using the Henle edition, which has the arpeggio but notes the discrepency between the autograph and the original.  I'll try it without the arpeggio tomorrow and see how it sounds.    Actually this would make it consistent with bar 192, where the arpeggio is also ommitted.

Thanks!
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
The Many Voices of Alfred Brendel

Alfred Brendel, the Czech-born Austrian pianist, essayist and poet, died peacefully at age 94 on June 17, 2025, in London. Celebrated for his deeply intellectual interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Liszt, he reshaped classical performance with clarity, wit and literary flair. His legacy endures through recordings, writings and mentorship. Read more
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert