Beethoven sonatas

[BoliverAllmon]

I need to learn a Beethoven sonata this year. I have his first volume of sonatas. If I could I would just reather play one of those instead of buying new music. So, I have listened to most of them. I really dig 10/1 what do you think of it? good choice? I also like 2/3 but I think that it is going to be too hard to learn all of it. (Though I am going to ask my teacher anyways.) which one do you recommend?

boliver

[jason2711]

opus 10 is nice.. i'm currently studying it (well... started the last movement an a hour ago  ).  It's not too difficult, though the last movement might be quite hard to get to speed, and it requires an effort to keep the second movement interesting

I'm not really familiar enough with the Beethoven sonatas to suggest any others, but I at least know this one and can recommend it

[BoliverAllmon]

opus 10 is nice.. i'm currently studying it (well... started the last movement an a hour ago  ).  It's not too difficult, though the last movement might be quite hard to get to speed, and it requires an effort to keep the second movement interesting

I'm not really familiar enough with the Beethoven sonatas to suggest any others, but I at least know this one and can recommend it

yeah, the Adagio will be a challenge musically. The third mvt. doesn't look too bad. Speed is there yes, but I don't think anything else will be a problem.

[musicsdarkangel]

I love op 10 no 1 in c minor, I actually performed it for undergrad auditions..... it is wonderful, and that third movement is a beast (to get up to speed and relaxed).


Go for it...the Richard Goode recording is impressive.

[paris]

op.2/3 is a lot harder than op.10/1  (called 'little pathetique' or somethin like that)

[BoliverAllmon]

op.2/3 is a lot harder than op.10/1  (called 'little pathetique' or somethin like that)

that is what I was afraid of. Not sure if I could get it done right now.

[paris]

what r u currently workin on? 

[steinwayguy]

I recommend Op. 10 No. 1 or Op. 28. Op. 2 No. 3 is horribly overplayed and I really don't like it all that much. 10/1 is rarely played but appreciated by pianists most everywhere. Op. 28 I just love to death because it is sooo beautiful.

[Goldberg]

How about op. 26? That, to me, is one of Beethoven's most interesting early piano works (well, I'm sure many would agree as well). He starts out with theme-and-variations, goes into scherzo, then funeral march, and finally an allegro section, not unlike a symphony (or op. 7 for that matter, somewhat). There is some wonderful music in there as well.

I also will throw out op. 14, either one. I recently heard the first sonata of that opus completely butchered by an unfortunately unconfident girl at my school, but if pulled off correctly it would be tremendous. I personally favor the second one, however, and I really don't think anyone could be bored at all by any of its three movements--plus, it's easy but not too easy! A great Beethoven introduction, I'm sure.

And there is always op. 27 no. 1, which was my own first sonata. That could be a little tricky--it took me close to a year (but at the time I was 50x crappier than I am now, and I'm sure you're not nearly as bad as I was then)--but it's certainly rewarding.

[Rach3]

How about op. 26? That, to me, is one of Beethoven's most interesting early piano works (well, I'm sure many would agree as well).

op. 26 is hard - the variations are much harder than op. 2/3, for instance. Absolutely beautiful, though.

-Rach3

[BoliverAllmon]

what r u currently workin on? 

Chopin's first waltz in Eb.
bach prelude and fugue in d min. book1
Shostakovich prelude and fugue 15.
and then the sonata.

I need to learn all of this stuff up to competition standards by Nov. I am pretty confident that I can do it, but I have a tendency to bite off too much and never get to perform when or how I want to. I am trying to avoid that this time.

boliver

[paris]

you have plenty of time until november 

i were you, i'd go for it. since i'm not...you'll have to make decision     

wish you luck with it!

[BoliverAllmon]

you have plenty of time until november 

i were you, i'd go for it. since i'm not...you'll have to make decision     

wish you luck with it!

go for which one?

[BoliverAllmon]

I listened to the pastoral today and have to admit that I think it is a better sonata than 10/1.  I think it will all come down to my teacher's decision.

boliver

[paris]

i meant op.2 n.3

[BoliverAllmon]

i meant op.2 n.3

really think I have time?

[dancingfingers]

2/3 is pretty damn difficult; I spent over a year on it. You have an easier time with a less large scale/virtuosic work.

What about 2/1? That's a great sonata, though the last movement is something of a challenge. Or 10/2-- it's often neglected, but really a fun, delightful piece.

At any rate, good luck to you!

[paris]

really think I have time?

from my point of view i think you can make it.

but i don't know you, i've never heard your playing, i don't know your practising habits...i think you should talk with your teacher.

there is big difference between op.10/1  and op.2/3. , the second one is a lot harder. you have to be aware of all difficulties in this sonata, musical and tehnical.

if you're willing to spend time learning and polishing it, just go for it 

[quantum]

I'd go with either Op.10 Nr.1 or Op.28, since you seem to like them. 

If this is your 1st Beethoven sonata please don't do Op.2 Nr.3.  It's a beautiful sonata and you don't want to butcher it.  It's filled with technical challenges, such as thirds, double trills in thirds, 1st inversion chord runs, broken octave runs, some very fingery scale passages, to name a few of the top of my head. 

I've played the 1st and 2nd movements of Op.28 (I hope to finish the sonata one day).  I was just caputred by the beauty of the sonata.  Don't be fooled though, Op.28 has it's own challenges.  The 2nd mvt will probably pose a high interpretational challenge, as well as intricate pedaling. 

[BoliverAllmon]

I'd go with either Op.10 Nr.1 or Op.28, since you seem to like them. 

If this is your 1st Beethoven sonata please don't do Op.2 Nr.3.  It's a beautiful sonata and you don't want to butcher it.  It's filled with technical challenges, such as thirds, double trills in thirds, 1st inversion chord runs, broken octave runs, some very fingery scale passages, to name a few of the top of my head. 

I've played the 1st and 2nd movements of Op.28 (I hope to finish the sonata one day).  I was just caputred by the beauty of the sonata.  Don't be fooled though, Op.28 has it's own challenges.  The 2nd mvt will probably pose a high interpretational challenge, as well as intricate pedaling. 

I played the first mvt. to his first sonata is all I have done.

[sonatainfsharp]

I performed 2/1 on my undergrad recital. Of course the first movement is overdone, but the entire sonata is not. The second movement is a challege because everything is so exposed, and it feels long if you aren't mature in your expression. The third movement is famous for the parallel 6ths--some people say the movement is famous for having the most difficult technique ever expressed in Beethoven for such a short amount of time for an easy piece (thought I don't personally agree). The 4th movement I found to be easier than the 1st, believe it or not--I didn't even start it until 5 or 6 days before my recital, memorized it in one sitting, and away I went--it's just arpeggios, so I guess it all depends on your technical abilities in regards to the specific movement.

I think the first sonata would be a wonderful idea! Personally, I love taking peices were only one part is "known," then playing the whole thing: i.e. Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise, etc..

[quantum]

I played the first mvt. to his first sonata is all I have done.

Well seeing that is the case, I would finish either that Sonata or another one in it's entirety before considering Op.2/3.  Get yourself familirized with Beethoven's writing style in a sonata that you can manage to play without too much dificulty before tackeling  one of the more virtuosic sonatas. 

[BoliverAllmon]

Well seeing that is the case, I would finish either that Sonata or another one in it's entirety before considering Op.2/3.  Get yourself familirized with Beethoven's writing style in a sonata that you can manage to play without too much dificulty before tackeling  one of the more virtuosic sonatas. 

yeah, I am leaning that way also. I think the pastoral is more up my alley.

boliver