Schiff Dicusses Beethoven's COMPLETE Piano Sonatas

[PerfectWagnerite]

You can download ALL of it, for FREE ! Isn't this WILD ! Why pay the Teaching Company $80 when you can get it for nothing, and it is even in convenient MP3 format for my IPOD.

http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/page/0,,1943867,00.html

[orbital]

Vow, thank you,  excellent commute material 

[Scriptavolant]

Well this is the kind of stuff I love! I was trying to study Beethoven's Sonata No. 14 No. 2 on the Bent last night, but I've to admit that listening to Schiff is much more amusing.

Thanks.

[Mark]

I'm busily downloading the lot right now. Been meaning to probe a bit deeper into the sonatas, so this might help.

Thanks.

[Scriptavolant]

Discussing the first Piano Sonata:

"It's very difficult to talk about music, it's really not my métier. Music should be played and listened to (...)"

I think I love that man!

[PerfectWagnerite]

Discussing the first Piano Sonata:

"It's very difficult to talk about music, it's really not my métier. Music should be played and listened to (...)"

I think I love that man!

Yeah, I like how he goes: F -minor, that's four flats, for those of you who can read music.

But the ways he says it he doesn't sound condescending. The same words, if coming out of the lips of a blowhard like Ben Zander, would sound mighty condescending.

Also listen to Schiff talk about the Moonlight, it is a revelation.

For those of you who have the Greenberg lectures from the Teaching Company maybe you can elaborate on who is more enjoyable and for the record I love Greenberg.

[jwinter]

Wow, thanks for the link!  I have Greenberg's series as well, I'll have to check these out and see how they compare...

[PSmith08]

Thanks for the heads-up. Schiff is, to my ears, an engaging and interesting lecturer. There were several moments, as Schiff talked about the Hammerklavier, when he reminded me of Leonard Bernstein. Schiff clearly cares deeply about these sonatas and loves to talk about them. He also has a dry wit that makes them more amusing than any lectures on music have any right to be.

[Steve]

You can download ALL of it, for FREE ! Isn't this WILD ! Why pay the Teaching Company $80 when you can get it for nothing, and it is even in convenient MP3 format for my IPOD.

http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/page/0,,1943867,00.html

Thanks for the tip. 

[Lethevich]

They're good enough to pay for IMO, considering they are free (and 900mb in total - thank you very much for supplying them in a tolerable bitrate, Guardian) it's astounding. So much more useful than stuff like Barenboim's recent lectures.

[orbital]

I listened to the first three lectures so far, I want to go by it chronologically. Perhaps he may get me more into some of the sonatas that I normally skip. He does give some insightful knowledge about them.

[Mark]

I've sampled two lectures so far, and already I've learned a lot. Great find, these.

[George]

I've sampled two lectures so far, and already I've learned a lot. Great find, these.

Indeed. I need to hear more...

[Mark]

Indeed. I need to hear more...

Took me two hours to download all 33 files ... but well worth the time. They need proper tagging for the MP3 player, though - Guardian didn't do too grand a job.

[toledobass]

Took me two hours to download all 33 files ... but well worth the time. They need proper tagging for the MP3 player, though - Guardian didn't do too grand a job.

You get what you pay for...hehe

Allan

[karlhenning]

Discusses needs another s.

(Just saying.)

[Scriptavolant]

I've really enjoyed the discussion on the first Sonata. The joke about his collegue trying to play Schoenberg in a factory, his insights on the triad Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven. Beethoven goes to heaven, Mozart comes from heaven. 
His remark on Stamitz and Dittersdorf (good composers, but not great) will probably feed the fires here.

[aquablob]

I actually was downloading these files as they were being posted by Guardian a few months ago, always eagerly awaiting the next batch. I have listened to them all and find them extremely educational and pleasurable.

He spends almost a full half-hour on the tiny Op. 49/1 G minor sonata!* And he gives over a half-hour to the oft-neglected Op. 54!

On the other hand (a minor quibble), Opp. 78 and 79 -- particularly the latter -- don't get much attention.

These lectures are gems!

*(though much of the discussion is more about Haydn's influence than the sonata itself)

[George]

I actually was downloading these files as they were being posted by Guardian a few months ago, always eagerly awaiting the next batch. I have listened to them all and find them extremely educational and pleasurable.

He spends almost a full half-hour on the tiny Op. 49/1 G minor sonata!* And he gives over a half-hour to the oft-neglected Op. 54!

On the other hand (a minor quibble), Opp. 78 and 79 -- particularly the latter -- don't get much attention.

These lectures are gems!

*(though much of the discussion is more about Haydn's influence than the sonata itself)

Yes, the lecture on Op. 111 is priceless. 

[mahlertitan]

this is brilliant, is there anything else like this?