Hammerklavier

[ryguillian]

Typically composers won't just come out and purposefully write difficult music. *cough* Sorabji. I'm not a huge fan of Sorabji's music (although, I will admit I do like that part in the interludium primium where he actually plays a melody ;-)), it's a bit long winded... a bit... egotistical? But anyways... for people interested in that sort of a thing you might listen to Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata Op. 106... I would consider it one of the most difficult "listenable" pieces of music. So it's essentially a Transcendental Clavicembalisticum. ;-) Really, listen to it... (little secret: it actually sounds good :-O) ... before you barrage me with comments like, "Opus Clav. is atonal, it won't sound good to you western ears, ANGLOPHILE!" ... hehe... just think... music ought to be enjoyable... "Hammerklavier" is one *** of a piece. Beats the *** out of OC if you askme. Again, for people interested in intense, dark, intelligent, enigmatic music. That final movment, ***, never have I heard so many trills. (P.S. I'm not trying to say that Beethoven purposefully wrote this piece to be difficult, but it's clear he indulged himself just a little bit... but it's very subtle... much more subtle than that 3.9 hour sonic disaster.)

[willcowskitz]

Waiting for the explosion... waiting for the explosion...

[chopin2256]

Does anyone have the download for the OC from sorabji.  I usually dislike that sort of music but I want to listen to it now out of curiousity.  I can't seem to find the music anywhere.  Is it that bad that its so hard to find the download??

[ryguillian]

Eh. My hope for this thread is that it'll be more about Hammerklavier than about OC. -- Ryguillian

[Brian Healey]

Please don't open up another argument about the OC. All I will say is that I do find listening to the OC enjoyable, just as much so, maybe even more than I enjoy listening to the Hammerklavier. If you don't like Sorabji's music, then fine. But when you call his work a sonic disaster, it just sounds like you're looking for a reaction. There are plenty of arguments in the existing OC threads.

Chopin, there is a link to a recording in one of the existing OC threads. If you search for it, it shouldn't be hard to find.

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Go to www.pianofiles.com. You can email somebody who has it and ask them to send it to you. That's what I did. Be prepared to trade something of your own though, because most of the people will only send it to you if they get something in return.

As for Ryguillian, please, don't start. There have been enough arguments on this topic. Please, just.... no. 

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Oh, by the way, I really don't care for the Hammerklavier. Truthfully, I find the 4th movement to be terribly dissonant... for Beethoven at least. I think the entire fugue just sounds... weird. With Sorabji, at least you know what to expect.

[bravuraoctaves]

I like the fourth movement! The rest are ok. but only ok.  I think, in my opinion,  that it isn't the best of Beethoven's sonatas, but it is still good.

Atonal music I can listen a while, but after an hour, I get overloaded.

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

I don't hate the 4th movement. I just think it's kind of weird, and not really that pretty. I think it's one of those situations where it's more fun to play than it is to listen to.