Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

[Symphonic Addict]

Beethoven's violin sonatas are rather underrated if compared with others combinations of forces or forms. I'm listening to the No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23. The 1st movement alone is a mini-masterpiece. Expert craftsmanship. It's also interesting because of its unexpected soft ending (so are in the other movements). A touch of genius. Sublime music sublimely played, btw!

[vandermolen]

During the Queen's funeral today a rather imposing march was played (several times). The announcer said that it was the 'Funeral March No.1' by Beethoven. However, there are other suggestions that it was composed by Johann Heinrich Walch or possibly Walch's arrangement of Beethoven's march. Any clarification please?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF71TKKgcwY

[JBS]

This from Classic FM
https://amp.classicfm.com/composers/beethoven/walch-funeral-march-royal-family-remembrance-sunday/

Walch's connection to Saxe-Coburg-Gotha suggests it came to the UK via Prince Albert.

[vandermolen]

This from Classic FM
https://amp.classicfm.com/composers/beethoven/walch-funeral-march-royal-family-remembrance-sunday/

Walch's connection to Saxe-Coburg-Gotha suggests it came to the UK via Prince Albert.

That's really helpful Jeffrey - thanks so much.
They are right in that there appears to be no CD recording featuring the march, which is strange as it is often performed at state/solemn occasions.
Thanks again
Jeffrey

[aukhawk]

Other parts of the music sounded like a Mahler mashup to me - lifted from the opening of Symphony No.5. 

[vandermolen]

Other parts of the music sounded like a Mahler mashup to me - lifted from the opening of Symphony No.5.

Yes, I thought at one point that the military band was about to launch into Mahler's 5th Symphony!

[gprengel]

I just finished a wonderful new project. Around 1803 Beethoven sketched 5 marches (Biamonti 381). 4 of them were realised recently by Italian musicologist G. Demini as marches for piano and I together with a friend orchestrated now all 5 marches - I love them and I hope you will too!


http://www.gerdprengel.de/Beeth_Biamonti_381-1_orch.mp3

http://www.gerdprengel.de/Beeth_Biamonti_381-2_orch.mp3

http://www.gerdprengel.de/Beeth_Biamonti_381-3_orch.mp3

http://www.gerdprengel.de/Beeth_Biamonti_381-4_orch.mp3

http://www.gerdprengel.de/Beeth_Biamonti_381-5_orch.mp3

Gerd

[Herman]

Yes, I thought at one point that the military band was about to launch into Mahler's 5th Symphony!

I have only seen a couple minutes when the procession was on the Long Walk road towards Windsor Castle and I thought I heard the funeral march from Chopin's 2nd sonata.

[Madiel]

I have only seen a couple minutes when the procession was on the Long Walk road towards Windsor Castle and I thought I heard the funeral march from Chopin's 2nd sonata.

You would have, yes.

[vers la flamme]

Anyone care to recommend me a great Beethoven Lieder recital disc? His Lieder are amazing, and kind of slept on.

[calyptorhynchus]

Does anyone know anything of any plans to issue a PI complete Beethoven SQs.

Seems like a no-brainer to me, but AFAIK the Rasumosky's have never been recorded on PI, the Op 18 only partly. The Mosaiques are brilliant in the late quartets, but they don't do the alternative finale to Op 130 :-(

[Brian]

Does anyone know anything of any plans to issue a PI complete Beethoven SQs.

Seems like a no-brainer to me, but AFAIK the Rasumosky's have never been recorded on PI, the Op 18 only partly. The Mosaiques are brilliant in the late quartets, but they don't do the alternative finale to Op 130 :-(

Yes. The Chiaroscuro Quartet on BIS intends to record the complete cycle. It may take 5-7 more years. They are proceeding in order and Op. 18 is complete.

[calyptorhynchus]

Great 

[Jo498]

Does anyone know anything of any plans to issue a PI complete Beethoven SQs.

Seems like a no-brainer to me, but AFAIK the Rasumosky's have never been recorded on PI, the Op 18 only partly. The Mosaiques are brilliant in the late quartets, but they don't do the alternative finale to Op 130 :-(

The op.18 has at least four complete HIP recordings, one with the Smithsonian Qt. more than 30 years ago, another with the Turner Quartet, another with the Mosaiques, the Chiaroscuro and there is probably more (pretty sure I have seen at least one more recent one). Some might be unavailable, though.

I am not aware of HIP recordings for op.59,1+2 and op.14 (and maybe the alternative finale of op.130). All the others have been recorded: 59/3 by Schuppanzigh, Turner, 74 by Turner, Eroica Qt. and op.95 by Chiaroscuro and Eroica.

[Jo498]

Anyone care to recommend me a great Beethoven Lieder recital disc? His Lieder are amazing, and kind of slept on.

Stephan Genz/Roger Vignoles. At least I remember this as very good, having most of the better known ones and it is a modern recording.

[asin]B00FY3SXX4[/asin]

A great favorite of mine is the following although these are technically only arrangements by Beethoven as he was given the melodies by the publisher.

[asin]B00005NQ9F[/asin]

The only fault of this disc is that it's missing some of my favorites from these songs, especially "O sweet were the hours" from op.108

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7kjYxZyBfU

That's another good recital with Scottish/Irish songs

[asin]B01N045ENV[/asin]

[Spotted Horses]

Seems like a no-brainer to me, but AFAIK the Rasumosky's have never been recorded on PI, the Op 18 only partly. The Mosaiques are brilliant in the late quartets, but they don't do the alternative finale to Op 130 :-(

That is inexcusable to me. Even if you think the Grosse Fuge is a more fitting finale to Op 130, why exclude the last movement that Beethoven wrote for string quartet (and it is brilliant whether or not you think it should replace the Grosse Fuge). That, on top of ignoring Beethoven's final wishes. (Would Beethoven really agree to change a string quartet he wrote "for a future age" against his wishes?)

[Lisztianwagner]

Anyone care to recommend me a great Beethoven Lieder recital disc? His Lieder are amazing, and kind of slept on.

About recent recordings of Beethoven's Lieder, the Goerne/Lisiecki set is really beautiful and atmospheric in my opinion.

[calyptorhynchus]

That is inexcusable to me. Even if you think the Grosse Fuge is a more fitting finale to Op 130, why exclude the last movement that Beethoven wrote for string quartet (and it is brilliant whether or not you think it should replace the Grosse Fuge). That, on top of ignoring Beethoven's final wishes. (Would Beethoven really agree to change a string quartet he wrote "for a future age" against his wishes?)

I agree, when I listen to op130 I listen to movements 1-5, the GF, and (when I can) the alternative finale. I think that the effect of 5 movements of sublime inspiration followed by a wild piece of experimental music from the C24 that dropped through a worm hole into Beethoven's mind, followed by "Ahem, sorry about that, here's how we could end this quartet in this century...' is an effect not surpassed in any other piece of music I know.

[staxomega]

Does anyone know anything of any plans to issue a PI complete Beethoven SQs.

For me this is the major hole in the Beethoven catalog to not have a complete cycle of the SQs on PI. I found Mosaïques much preferable to Chiaroscuro in op. 18 except for number 2 where Chiaroscuro are quite good. But I find Mosaïques only average in their set of late quartets

[Jo498]

It's certainly a bit surprising that we had already 3 or 4 complete HIP recordings of all Beethoven symphonies 30 years ago and many more since then and other, often lesser known chamber music seems also to be covered better than string quartets. At least beyond op.18. One could assume that the weight of these works and their discography is a factor but that would apply to at least some other works as well.