Favorite Beethoven Compositions

[RevThomas]

As a followup to the thread on Beethoven's genius, I'd like to now ask others what their favorite Beethoven compositions are and why?

I would be very interested to hear everyone's choices.

 

[rainbowbright]

That's a really hard question to answer b/c all of his music is great. As my music history professor in college said, his music is absolutely perfect, there is not one bad note in any of his music. He knew how to write everything. I can tell you which piece isn't my favorite and that is the Grosse Fugue. I can not stand that piece. I try so hard to give it a chance and listen to it, but I just can't make it through. It sounds like a bunch of jumbled discordant sounds to me (it reminds me of all the 20th century music which I hate) but I guess that tells me I know nothing and have so much more to learn about Beethoven.
What is your favorite peice?

 

[RevThomas]

As for my favorite pieces, that is very difficult. Since Beethoven's music means so much to me, and affect me so deeply, I cannot single out one piece above another.

However, since I asked the question, I should name a few that I never get tired of listening to.

Piano Sonata # 12
Symphony # 9
Piano Concerto # 1
Symphony # 5
Piano Sonata # 17

I admit I am biased. I have never heard a Beethoven piece I have disliked. But the above pieces are ones we could discuss or even add to.

 

[rainbowbright]

I could probably add some more.
4th piano concerto
symphony #3
Sonata no 21, esp 2nd mvnt
I agree with sonata #17
Kreutzer
Choral fantasia

that's all I can think of right now since I have a screaming baby

 

[RevThomas]

I like all of those selections. The Choral Fantasy is amazing and very beautiful.

As for the Grosse Fugue, it does take some getting used to. Compared to Beethoven's earlier string quartets, particularly the Op. 18 set, the Grosse Fugue is light years ahead of it style wise. It show the growth and exploration of his mind to compose in such a style.

The Op. 135 string quartet, his last one, is even more "revolutionary", if I can use that term.

 

[rainbowbright]

I love his last string quartets, I just recently started getting into them. I feel drawn to them since they are his last compositions before he fell deathly ill.
I also feel drawn to his earliest piano sonatas, the ones he wrote in Bonn, they have so much character compared to other music at that time.

 

[RevThomas]

Which of his earliest piano sonatas do you find yourself drawn to the most? The 8th and the 14th usually get the most attention, but as I have mentioned before, the 12th is one of my favorites. I also have a fondness for the 1st, the 4th, and the 7th. Having said that, I still love all the rest of his piano sonatas too. It is so difficult for me to select one over another.

Have you ever listened to his piano sonatas in order? It can be fascinating hearing the breath if his ideas and changing styles.

 

[willard3]

Beethoven's late period is so strange and bleak if you don't know what was going on at that point in his life. He had just gone almost completely deaf, and was already a legend by that point.

Then comes the fallow period, followed by the so-called last-period works--the last five string quartets and piano sonatas, the Diabelli variations, the Missa solemnis, the Ninth Symphony. Here we are on a rarefied plane of music. Nothing like it has been composed, nothing like it can ever again be. It is the music of a man who has seen all and experienced all, a man drawn into his silent, suffering world, no longer writing to please anybody else but writing to justify his artistic and intellectual existence.

Above quote from The Lives of the Great Composers by Harold Schonberg. A wonderful, wonderful book.

 

[rainbowbright]

Beethoven's late period is so strange and bleak if you don't know what was going on at that point in his life. He had just gone almost completely deaf, and was already a legend by that point.



Above quote from The Lives of the Great Composers by Harold Schonberg. A wonderful, wonderful book.

Several years ago, I had a real hard time listening to his late period, but later I realized exactly what this quote is saying, he is outpouring his emotions as a deaf man and struggling with ilness anf at the same time speaking to future generations.

Which of his earliest piano sonatas do you find yourself drawn to the most? The 8th and the 14th usually get the most attention, but as I have mentioned before, the 12th is one of my favorites. I also have a fondness for the 1st, the 4th, and the 7th. Having said that, I still love all the rest of his piano sonatas too. It is so difficult for me to select one over another.

Have you ever listened to his piano sonatas in order? It can be fascinating hearing the breath if his ideas and changing styles.

I would have to say of his early sonatas, number 3 especially the second movement- it's so haunting and bizarre and to think he wrot it when he was 24, Number 4, number 8, and then number 15. It's also so hard for me to pick one over the other. I used to be able to listen to them in order, but now I don't have anymore time.

 

[rainbowbright]

I wish they would fix cf, my last post is now #8

 

[Rich48]

I wish they would fix cf, my last post is now #8

It is annoying, right?? But they will get it fixed asap.

This is a hard on, but I guess I would have to choose his 9th symhony; although his Moonlight Sonata would be a close #2.

 

[JSGuitarist]

Symphony No. 5, movements I and IV
Symphony No. 6, 1st movement?
Symphony No. 9, 4th movement
Emperor, 1st Movement
Sonata 14 (Moonlight): All three movements, particularly I and III
Sonata 23 (Appassionata): Movements I and III
Tempest

 

[rainbowbright]

Symphony No. 5, movements I and IV
Symphony No. 6, 1st movement?
Symphony No. 9, 4th movement
Emperor, 1st Movement
Sonata 14 (Moonlight): All three movements, particularly I and III
Sonata 23 (Appassionata): Movements I and III
Tempest

Those are all great

 

[RevThomas]

Here's a question for everyone:

Of your favorite Beethoven pieces, do you have a favorite interpretation of those pieces? Some compositions, like the Moonlight Sonata or the Fifth Symphony, have been recorded by just about every artist and orchestra in the world.

Can you name a composition or two that is at the top of your list, and then give an artist or orchestra that you feel gave a respectible interpretation of the piece?

 

[rainbowbright]

I like recordings of the sonatas done by Alfred Brendal.
I also like Deutsche grammafon, which I don't think they make anymore- they have recorded all of his works.

 

[KimLCMS]

The Moonlight Sonata reminds me of my college day. After a long day, I would put it on "replay" on my CD player and let it play again and again until I fell asleep.

It is very soothing.

 

[willard3]

The Moonlight Sonata reminds me of my college day. After a long day, I would put it on "replay" on my CD player and let it play again and again until I fell asleep.

It is very soothing.

Just the first movement, I would hope. The third movement isn't terribly relaxing.

My music history teacher told a story about his wife being pregnant with their first kid. She asked if he could bring some "relaxing" classical music to the hospital to ease her labor pains.

Of course, my teacher believes there is no such thing as truly relaxing classical music, but tried his best. While in labor, his wife was yelling "You call THAT relaxing???", among other things, I assume.

 

[Rich48]

Moonlight Sonata is so very relaxing! Of course, the 1st movement is the best known and yes the third movement is not relaxing, but is still great! Here are all 3 movements.

First movement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6txOvK-mAk

Second movement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDNsX4DtzZs&feature=related

Third movement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSulR9Fymg&feature=related

 

[rainbowbright]

I tried playing the third movement when I was in eighth grade and failed miserably- I thought my fingers would fall off

 

[JSGuitarist]

The third movement was an instant hit with me when I heard it! Definitely not relaxing