Beet's grosse fugue

[Mozart]

Just curious, what do you people think of this piece?

[FideLeo]

gross? 

(And dark and rich like fudge.)

[71 dB]

I have always loved Beethoven's music for string quartet. His musical style seems to fit perfectly for this set of instruments. So, Grosse Fugue is among my favorite Beethoven.

[Mozart]

What in particular do you admire about it?

[71 dB]

What in particular do you admire about it?

Timbral aspects. Beethoven is not a great orchestrator imo and I find his orchestral music often underorchestrated and timbrally clumsy (Missa Solemnis and the 6th symphony are exceptions). In his string quartets Beethoven has an amazing timbral balance and "maturity" 

[Mozart]

Beethoven is not a great orchestrator imo

Can we stay on subject? This comment will obvious derail this topic so just ignore it 

[71 dB]

Can we stay on subject? This comment will obvious derail this topic so just ignore it 

Whatever... ...I just find that Beethoven's music for string quartet works excellently in timbral sense. He has the timbral dimension in the music working together with other musical dimensions.

[The new erato]

Whatever... ...I just find that Beethoven's music for string quartet works excellently in timbral sense. He has the timbral dimension in the music working together with other musical dimensions.

Holy c..p!   Note to self: MUST stay on subject.

I find the Grosse Fuge admirable but not lovable. I think he tries to hard, and although late Beethoven usually strains at the traditional forms, here he really succeeds and produces something that is really hard to listen to. I tend to play this far less than the rest of his late quartet works.

[71 dB]

I find the Grosse Fuge admirable but not lovable. I think he tries to hard, and although late Beethoven usually strains at the traditional forms, here he really succeeds and produces something that is really hard to listen to. I tend to play this far less than the rest of his late quartet works.

I agree, it is one of my least favorite (it has a feel too much is said in 15 minutes) of Beethoven's late string quartet works but still great.

[BachQ]

Beethoven is not a great orchestrator imo and I find his orchestral music often underorchestrated and timbrally clumsy (Missa Solemnis and the 6th symphony are exceptions).  

[Harry Collier]

I admire the Grosse Fuga enormously, and listen to it often. But, I agree, it is not exactly enjoyable. It is also, in my opinion, one of the very few string quartet movements that is interesting when transcribed for full string orchestra (cf recordings by Klemperer, Weingartner, Furtwängler, Busch, Alsop). When played by massed strings, you lose the sense of struggle that is inherent in the music. But you are also better able to appreciate the fugal writing and the overall structure.

[bwv 1080]

Its a great work.  Stravinsky called it "this absolutely contemporary piece of music that will be contemporary forever ... it is pure interval music, this fugue, and I love it beyond any other" The quote is in the Joseph Kerman Beethoven Quartets book which goes on to say that there are records for only 14 performances of the piece up to 1875

[O Delvig]

<Insert Hyperbole Here>

All I can say is that few pieces of music impact me as strongly as the Grosse Fuge, though in my opinion it must be listened to as the finale of the Op 130 Quartet! I find it best not to try to constrain it to any classical forms (especially since I have very little detailed knowledge of classical form), and just let it go where Beethoven wanted it to. The late quartets are always so difficult to describe, as is my reaction to them! Perhaps I should settle for just enjoying them. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Its a great work.  Stravinsky called it "this absolutely contemporary piece of music that will be contemporary forever ... it is pure interval music, this fugue, and I love it beyond any other" The quote is in the Joseph Kerman Beethoven Quartets book which goes on to say that there are records for only 14 performances of the piece up to 1875

Yes, it's so modern it's scary. But good scary...

[BachQ]

Just curious, what do you people think of this piece?

BTW, if spelling out the composer's complete name is too much effort, you might consider using "LvB" instead of "Beet" .........

[Mozart]

BTW, if spelling out the composer's complete name is too much effort, you might consider using "LvB" instead of "Beet" .........

I like Beet better dude.

[BachQ]

I like Beet better dude.

It's your thread, dude .......

[Stonemason]

It's been my favourite piece of music for several months now.

I listen to it at least 3 times a day. Each time I pick up something new. I love listening to it in any state of mind, high, sedated, normal, manic, suicidal, hypomanic, and depressed.

[Lilas Pastia]

All you need to know about Beets, Harvard style:
http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-21,harvard_beets,FF.html

Besides, you might want to chexk your spellyng. It's Grosse Fuge, dude...

[Bonehelm]

Lol D Minor you're hilarious