I’ve made it all the way up to the Hammer-Klavier Sonata, opus 106. It’s probably the hardest of Beethoven’s solo piano works, written quite late in his life.
I’ve been reading through all the Beethoven Sonatas, in order, and it’s been an interesting journey. I’ve seen how his style has greatly expanded, how he includes more and more chromatic harmonies, and moves through an increasing number of keys. The motivic development and fragmentation is still there.
But I’m feeling a bit bogged down. There are SO many notes by now. My sight-reading has improved fairly substantially, but this is just so complexd and LONG. Apparently a performance of the entire sonata takes about 45 minutes. I know I’ve heard it before, but the speed at which I’m reading doesn’t bring anything to mind at all.
I stand by my best advice on how to improve sight-reading – just do it.
And I like this bit from a book I’m currently reading – Chopin’s Funeral by Benita Eisler – “…Chopin clung to the past. His musical touchstones were Haydn, Mozart – but especially Bach. He harbored doubts about Beethoven’s lapses of taste…”
I’m listening to Australian pianist, Gerard Willems playing Hammerklavier, in your honour.
And on an Australian piano
Beethoven Project
Thanks for the link, David. I haven’t heard of him before – but I listened to the first movement of the Waldstein on the website, and the sublime 2nd movement of the Emperor on You-tube. The piano is gorgeous – more suited for Beethoven, I think, than many of the heavy grands.
I’m sure you’re enjoying listening to the Hammerklavier more than I’m enjoying reading through it!
Gerard Willem’s DVD of the Emperor Concerto is terrific. I’m sure you and your readers would enjoy it. The Stuart Pianos were made in Newcastle, sponsored by Newcastle Conservatorium, which was the one i attended and where I met my wife in music theory classes in 1966.