Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

[ibanezmonster]

I happened to be reading the Wikipedia entry for the "Hammerklavier" sonata and came across this sentence; which struck me as somewhat ironic:

Even as progressive a musician as Richard Wagner, who appreciated the work and fully admired the late string quartets, held reservations for what he perceived as a lack of succinctness in its composition. (Emphasis mine.)

I saw that, too. Hilarious.

[not edward]

Naturally there is much amusement to be found in Wagner, of all people, saying this; I'd be interested to see the quote in context, though, as I would have no argument with him if he was merely saying that sheer scale of the slow movement of the Hammerklavier can make it difficult to bring off successfully in performance. (I'm not sure what prominent pianists even played the work regularly in Wagner's lifetime--other than Alkan in his later years, whose concerts were decidedly a small-scale affair, and restricted to Paris.)

[Florestan]

Even as progressive a musician as Richard Wagner, who appreciated the work and fully admired the late string quartets, held reservations for what he perceived as a lack of succinctness in its composition. (Emphasis mine.)

Maybe Wagner thought of himself as a practitioner of succinctness in music - in which case I wonder how long would the Ring have been had he succumbed to overindulgence. 

[snyprrr]

ack , the Composer Discussion has been taken over by the Oldies (LvB, Brahms, Brian, Haydn,...)

[Karl Henning]

So start talking Ottevanger!

[ibanezmonster]

I've listened to several of Kempff's sonatas, and... okay, they are interesting and very original performances, but I just don't like his way of interpreting. Any specific one I should listen to next out of the collection?

[mszczuj]

I've listened to several of Kempff's sonatas, and... okay, they are interesting and very original performances, but I just don't like his way of interpreting. Any specific one I should listen to next out of the collection?

Try op.31/2. I don't like Kempff at all but this one is not so pale.

[ibanezmonster]

Try op.31/2. I don't like Kempff at all but this one is not so pale.

Okay, I'll try that one. 

[starrynight]

ack , the Composer Discussion has been taken over by the Oldies (LvB, Brahms, Brian, Haydn,...)

oldies but goodies

[Mandryka]

I've listened to several of Kempff's sonatas, and... okay, they are interesting and very original performances, but I just don't like his way of interpreting. Any specific one I should listen to next out of the collection?

Op 2/2 for sure. And the Pastoral -- op 28 -- maybe.   And I liked op 26. And Op 110: you may like it -- some people do.

[prémont]

The Pastoral -- op 28 -- maybe. And Op 2/2. And Op 110: you may like it -- some people do.

I would add op. 78 and op. 90.

[ibanezmonster]

Okay, cool... I'll keep those in mind when I revisit those sonatas and want to try out Kempff.

Anyone else have the "complete" DG Beethoven set? I see that it's missing a few things, such as WoO 200-201 and some of the arrangements, such as the op.41 piano + flute arrangement of the op.25 Serenade.

Also, what's amusing is how short the songs with the high WoO numbers are. Try WoO 169 or 173. 15 seconds each- Beethoven's grandest and greatest masterpieces!  Take that, Webern and Napalm Death! 

[Ataraxia]

Take that, Webern and Napalm Death! 

LOL.

[Karl Henning]

Pow!

[Ataraxia]

I don't know why this thread isn't pinned to the top.

[Karl Henning]

(* ba-ba-ba chortle *)

[ibanezmonster]

I don't know why this thread isn't pinned to the top.

He's the favorite composer here and between my post and yours, over a month... 

[Karl Henning]

One of the times when you know Schroeder is not playing Beethoven.

[Gurn Blanston]

He's the favorite composer here and between my post and yours, over a month... 

Well, if he is actually everyone's favorite composer (he wins all the polls, after all) then he shouldn't need to be pinned. Just sayin'....

[mszczuj]

One of the times when you know Schroeder is not playing Beethoven.

Don't you ever dance to Die Grosse Fuge this way?