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Topic: Beethoven’s late works (Read 571 times)

sonata_5

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I heard that in Beethoven’s late works when he went completely deaf, he had perfect pitch but at that age his perfect pitch was wonky so he heard his late works like op. 126 a half step lower than it should be, like the Grosse fugue at a major instead of Bb major.
Is this true?

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Bach p&f in c minor wtc book 1
Beethoven op 2 no 1 first movement
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sonata_5

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Re: Beethoven’s late works

Reply #1 on: June 05, 2024, 10:51:02 PM

Sorry I accidentally posted this topic twice

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I am currently working on:
Bach p&f in c minor wtc book 1
Beethoven op 2 no 1 first movement
Chopin Black keys etude

frodo4

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Re: Beethoven’s late works

Reply #2 on: June 06, 2024, 12:00:00 AM

Quote from: sonata_5 on June 05, 2024, 10:50:05 PM

I heard that in Beethoven’s late works when he went completely deaf, he had perfect pitch but at that age his perfect pitch was wonky so he heard his late works like op. 126 a half step lower than it should be, like the Grosse fugue at a major instead of Bb major.
Is this true?

I haven't heard that one. But I know many believe his inability to hear was the cause of him writing what they view as "ugly" passages. Examples include piano playing extremely low in the LH and extremely high in the RH at the same time. Also, "ugly" sounding textures in his string quartets as some hear in the grosse fugue and sections of other late quartets. My theory is Beethoven knew exactly what he was doing.

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frodo4

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Posts: 130

Re: Beethoven’s late works

Reply #3 on: June 06, 2024, 12:14:49 AM

Hey - my last post was at Today at 12:00:00 AM! Just got lucky I guess.

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Topic: Beethoven’s late works (Read 571 times)

Piano Street Magazine:Enfant Terrible or Childishly Innocent? – Prokofiev’s Complete Piano Works Now on Piano Street

Piano Street Magazine:
Enfant Terrible or Childishly Innocent? – Prokofiev’s Complete Piano Works Now on Piano Street