Thread: L. Beethoven

This new forum section has shown to be a pretty good idea. I guess I'll contribute by adding a classic, one of the "Three B's": Beethoven.
For a while my exposure had mainly been limited to his symphonies, sonatas and concertos. After that, I discovered just how much more there really is out there.

Outside of the "main" repertoire (symphonies, concertos and sonatas), some favorites include:

Choral Fantasy in C minor
The Consecration of the House
Egmont
The Ruins of Athens
Wellington's Victory (hard to ignore)
Fidelio/ Leonore
and Coriolan

And that's just his orchestral output.

String Quartets
Violin Sonatas - Kreutzer and Spring
Piano Trios - Archduke and Ghost
Cello Sonatas - I'm familiar with only #3 and very much like it.

I just got those violin sonatas, one of my favourite cds.

Symphony No. 6 has always been a favourite of mine-- the first piece of classical music I *really* just sat down and listened to as a kid.

The power of the the ninth symphony still amazes me.

Piano Concerto No. 5 is wonderful (but I love it most for the second movement)

I'm a sucker for Piano Sonata No. 14 if the 1st movement is actually taken at a slow tempo (I find Pollini's recording of it very good in that respect).

Most of all, I love Beethoven for the string quartets, particularly 12-16. The 15th & 16th are probably my favourites. The Julliard Quartet has an excellent recording of the 16th and is essential listening IMO.

Beethoven's final string quartets would probably be among my "desert island" collection.

I seem to be drawn to fast minor stuff, and being a beethoven fan, then of course I like sonatas no.8 Pathetique 1rst and 3rd movement, have been memorizing no. 17 Tempest, and also like his rondos, especially The Rage Over A Lost Penny.
Others of my favorites include the Emperor concerto, piano sonata Appassionata, Moonlight sonata, a violin sonata, and most of his symphonies. I am rather limited in my repertoire, but I sure like what I've heard.

I've not heard much Beethoven, but the pieces I have heard were immensely powerful and then beautifully melodic and delicate. What instantly springs to mind is the slow movement of the third symphony, especially the fugue in the middle. Perfect!

As for the quartets, they are excellent and some of the greatest quartets ever written, all 16 of them.

In "another place," someone posed the chestnut "whose complete works would you retain, if you were denied all others?" Even though my reputation as a "Wagnerolator" is following in my wake, I'd have to say that "Beethoven" is still my answer to that question.

To cite the Pink Floyd lyric... "does anybody else in here/feel the way I do?"

I just love Beethoven's 9th symphony. I'm usually in tears after it's over. :weeping
smiley:
judy tooley

Just about everything really. I especially like the late quartets and the piano sonatas..Also Missa Solemnis..Just one amazing man!!!!

Originally Posted by opus67

Violin Sonatas - Kreutzer and Spring

Do you not enjoy the amazing fourth sonata?

It seems like we're missing some BIG items:

The sublime Missa Solemnis
The charming "Archduke" Piano Trio
The flawed, but interesting Diabelli Variations

I've just recently really began listening to his Symphony No. 7.
It ranks closely behind his 9th and 5th for me..

Originally Posted by Rachovsky

I've just recently really began listening to his Symphony No. 7.
It ranks closely behind his 9th and 5th for me..

The 7th is great. It sounds like one large dance- all the rhythms have a certain levity and sweep to them. Gotta love that first movement theme.

Originally Posted by YsayeOp.27#6

Do you not enjoy the amazing fourth sonata?

I haven't heard it yet.

Originally Posted by BuddhaBandit

It seems like we're missing some BIG items:

The charming "Archduke" Piano Trio

Were we?

Originally Posted by Rachovsky

I've just recently really began listening to his Symphony No. 7.
It ranks closely behind his 9th and 5th for me..

Originally Posted by BuddhaBandit

The 7th is great. It sounds like one large dance- all the rhythms have a certain levity and sweep to them. Gotta love that first movement theme.

The 7th's just wonderful! I agree with BB about the dance-like rythms, especially in the final two movements. I've said this before: Kleiber does wonderful things in those last movements in the recording that's paired with the 5th. And the second movement reminds me of the funeral march from the Eroica.

The Eighth (though not as highly-regarded) has a nice dance theme in the second mv't. I actually heard it on a television commercial not too long ago, believe it or not.