An Interesting Website for Classical Music Lovers

[Scott]

Here's an example of how the Internet can be used in music education. This is a creative weblog by a young Israeli musician in which she shares her thoughts about the inner workings of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and provides numerous musical examples from a number of pianists' recordings.

http://classicalmusicblog.com/

There is more on her site besides this.

[Harry]

Really a fine Blog, thank you.

[Haffner]

This is really interesting, thanks, Scott!

[karlhenning]

Separately:  That famous Beethoven work is one of a number of classics which put in curiously configured appearances in The Mousetrap.

[Scott]

This link had been sent to me by a friend who referred to the blogger as 'she'. But I've since learned that the blogger is a young Russian living in Israel, male, married, three kids. His website -- which actually isn't all that interesting -- is http://liebenson.com/

I had posted the initial link because it occurs to me that this is how music can be taught via the Internet.

By the way, I've gotten an e-mail from an amateur pianist I sent this link to who by chance is playing the Moonlight this Sunday in a recital. He says he learned a lot from the article and there are things he'd like to change in his interpretation but 'it's too late to change old habits by Sunday.'

[Haffner]

This link had been sent to me by a friend who referred to the blogger as 'she'. But I've since learned that the blogger is a young Russian living in Israel, male, married, three kids. His website -- which actually isn't all that interesting -- is http://liebenson.com/

I had posted the initial link because it occurs to me that this is how music can be taught via the Internet.

By the way, I've gotten an e-mail from an amateur pianist I sent this link to who by chance is playing the Moonlight this Sunday in a recital. He says he learned a lot from the article and there are things he'd like to change in his interpretation but 'it's too late to change old habits by Sunday.'

Check this out!:

http://www.lunanova.org/pierrot/anim.html

[Scott]

Check this out!:

http://www.lunanova.org/pierrot/anim.html

Marvelous. What a wonderful age we live in (at least in some respects!)

[Brian]

Goodness, that blog post was exceptionally informative; very worthwhile. I feel it has helped shape my understanding of the Moonlight... of course it may also force me to invest in some more CDs. 

One interesting aspect is how little difference there was in some of the clips - as little as a single note played a half-second longer or shorter. Even minuscule deviations from the score have caught this fellow's attention. In the future I will have to listen more carefully.

[Norbeone]

Pretty interesting, though I don't like the author of the blog's views on finding the so called 'perfect performance'. It really isn't possible for such a thing to exist and the person seems to be unable to comprehend the possiblity of interpretive mannerisms that wander even slightly outside of what's written on Beethoven's score. Apart from that, it's pretty informative, I suppose.

[BachQ]

Apart from that, it's pretty informative, I suppose.

"Apart from being deeply flawed, it's pretty good ........"

[hornteacher]

Nice analysis on Hilary's Paganini CD as well.

[m_gigena]

Pretty interesting, though I don't like the author of the blog's views on finding the so called 'perfect performance'.

Me neither. He said he doesn't like Hofmann's Moonlight at all. And after listening to András Schiff lecture on this sonata, he doesn't understand how is it that this great pianist can give such an awful exposition on the subject.

[Roni22]

Thank you everyone for your comments.  I have only just started the Classical Music Blog, so it will take some time before it becomes more of real a resource. I am glad it already has value for some.

Pretty interesting, though I don't like the author of the blog's views on finding the so called 'perfect performance'. It really isn't possible for such a thing to exist and the person seems to be unable to comprehend the possiblity of interpretive mannerisms that wander even slightly outside of what's written on Beethoven's score. Apart from that, it's pretty informative, I suppose.

Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that there isn't really a 'perfect performance', and I wasn't looking for one. As I wrote in the beginning of the review, quote: "Obviously, the technical aspects of the playing should be nothing less than perfect. But, first of all, we are looking for an interpretation, which is musical, in the full sense of the word. It must flow. It must sing. The three movements should be played in one breath.". That was the first thing I was looking for - an interpretation that is whole. Also, note that Kissin's interpretation is not strictly as per Beethoven, but I found it highly musical and insightful.

All in all, as much as it was possible to encompass different aspects of playing and interpretation, the top 10 are all very good deliveries, and the reader is free to choose the one he liked more. For that reason I have tried providing different "sound quotes" - and Amazon allows you to listen to parts of the individual tracks as well.

Me neither. He said he doesn't like Hofmann's Moonlight at all. And after listening to András Schiff lecture on this sonata, he doesn't understand how is it that this great pianist can give such an awful exposition on the subject.

Manuel, I must thank you for directing me to Shiff's lecture - it prompted me to check out more of Beethoven's drafts, where indeed I found the Don Giovanni quote. I have now incorporated it into the post. Thank you again. But, just as everyone has their own views and tastes, I, personally, found his lecture to be much detached from reality. At times he contradicts himself (like with the subject of tempo).

[Josquin des Prez]

He doesn't to mention Moravec in his analysis. Pure fail.

[Roni22]

We live and learn! Thank you for point me onto this outstanding recording.

[The Ninth]

Funny, I found that blog a few weeks ago.

Some interesting musical analysis there.