Beethoven Beethoven Can Do The Greatest

Beethoven Can Do

HE CAN DO:

Soothing Chamber Music

Quintet in E flat major for 3 horns, oboe and bassoon / second movement

 

Absurd and Zen-like! (the Diabelli variations are in the “Piano freaks only” section)

In the second half, there is a remarkable pianissimo passage where the treble holds a chord for four full bars while the bass repeats a little three-note figure over and over, eight times, after which the melody proceeds as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

As if nothing out of the ordinary had happened! I love it.

Diabelli variation 3

 

Can Do: “Spooky”

The Ghost Trio was so named by Czerny because the second movement reminded him of Hamlet’s Ghost in Shakespeare. In fact, Beethoven’s notes reveal that he was working on an idea for an opera based on Macbeth, and interspersed with these notes are the sketch of a slow movement for the Trio.

Piano trio 5 in d major second movement

 

Fun, humorous, “cheeky” ala Mozart

Piano sonata 15 third movement

 

Simple/Profound

These two pieces are examples of the “simplest” pieces of music being the most difficult to play properly! He “casts a spell” with the most basic melody, and I think epitomizes claims to his being “The Greatest”

Fur Elise

 

Moonlight Sonata


  • Jim
    October 10, 2008 at 7:52 am

    Sorry Bill – I guess it’s mainly because I’ve focused on the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras. I’ve barely investigated, or scratched the surface of more “Modern” genres. Apologies!

    Jim

  • Bill Wella
    October 10, 2008 at 7:18 am

    Hi – great web site, a joy to behold. I’m a bit baffled as to why you’ve neglected to include America’s best 20th composer, namel, Charles Berry ?

  • Alex
    September 16, 2008 at 9:45 am

    Hi Jim
    Listening to Beethoven chamber music, sounds lovely, will listen to more in the next few days, as time permits.
    Thanks
    Alex