Getcher Classical on! Psst...Dieman.

[Johnny Swallow]

So I just got my latest Amazon order yesterday..."Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas" as performed by John O'Conor.

I've been telling myself I would go and teach myself the Piano that is out in my garage and this might either inspire me or discourage me. Either way it's great music...'Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.12 'Pathetique': II. Adagio cantabile' has become one of my favorite pieces since I heard it months ago. So Dieman tell me what are a few of your favorite pieces from this collection?

Here is the tracklisting:

Disc: 1

1. Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.12 'Pathetique': I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio Listen Listen

2. Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.12 'Pathetique': II. Adagio cantabile Listen Listen

3. Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.12 'Pathetique': III. Rondo: Allegro Listen Listen

4. Sonata No.14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op.27:2 'Moonlight': I. Adagio sostenuto Listen Listen

5. Sonata No.14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op.27:2 'Moonlight': II. Allegretto Listen Listen

6. Sonata No.14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op.27:2 'Moonlight': III. Presto

7. SONATA NO.23 IN F MINOR, OP.57 'APPASSIONATA': I. Allegro assai

8. SONATA NO.23 IN F MINOR, OP.57 'APPASSIONATA': II. Andante con moto

9. SONATA NO.23 IN F MINOR, OP.57 'APPASSIONATA': III. Allegro ma non troppo

Disc: 2

1. Sonata No.21 In C, Op.53 'Waldstein': I. Allegro con brio

2. Sonata No.21 In C, Op.53 'Waldstein': II. Introduzione: Adagio molto

3. Sonata No.21 In C, Op.53 'Waldstein': III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato

4. Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31:2 'Tempest': I. Largo - Allegro

5. Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31:2 'Tempest': II. Adagio

6. Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31:2 'Tempest': III. Allegretto

7. Sonata No.26 In E-Flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': I. Das Lebewohl (Les Adieux): Adagio - Allegro

8. Sonata No.26 In E-Flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': Abwesenheir (L'Absence): Andante espressivo

9. Sonata No.26 In E-Flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': III. Das Weidersehen (Le Retour) Vivacissimamente

Disc: 3

1. Sonata No.15 In D Major, Op.28 ' Pastoral': I. Allegro

2. Sonata No.15 In D Major, Op.28 ' Pastoral': II. Andante

3. Sonata No.15 In D Major, Op.28 ' Pastoral': III. Scherzo-Allegro vivace

4. Sonata No.15 In D Major, Op.28 ' Pastoral': IV. Rondo-Allegro ma non troppo

5. Sonata No.16 In G Major, Op.31, No.1: I. Allegro vivace

6. Sonata No.16 In G Major, Op.31, No.1: II. Adagio grazioso

7. Sonata No.16 In G Major, Op.31, No.1: III. Rondo-Allegretto

8. Sonata No.18 In E-Flat Major, Op.31, No.1 'Hunt': I. Allegro

9. Sonata No.18 In E-Flat Major, Op.31, No.1 'Hunt': II. Scherzo-Allegetto vivace

10. Sonata No.18 In E-Flat Major, Op.31, No.1 'Hunt': III. Menuetto-Moderato e grazioso

11. Sonata No.18 In E-Flat Major, Op.31, No.1 'Hunt': IV. Presto con fuoco

Disc: 4

1. Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Op.2: I. Allegro

2. Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Op.2: II. Adagio

3. Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Op.2: III. Menuetto: Allegretto; Trio

4. Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Op.2: IV. Prestissimo

5. Sonata No.2 In A Major, Op.2: I. Allegro vivace

6. Sonata No.2 In A Major, Op.2: II. Largo appassionato

7. Sonata No.2 In A Major, Op.2: III. Scherzo: Allegretto

8. Sonata No.2 In A Major, Op.2: IV. Rondo: Grazioso

9. Sonata No.3 In C Major, Op.2: I. Allegro con brio

10. Sonata No.3 In C Major, Op.2: II. Adagio

11. Sonata No.3 In C Major, Op.2: III. Scherzo: Allegro

12. Sonata No.3 In C Major, Op.2: IV. Allegro assai

Disc: 5

1. Sonata No.5, Op.10, No.1 In C Minor: I. Allegro molto e con brio

2. Sonata No.5, Op.10, No.1 In C Minor: II. Adagio molto

3. Sonata No.5, Op.10, No.1 In C Minor: III. Finale: Prestissimo

4. Sonata No.6, Op.10, No.2 In F Major: I. Allegro

5. Sonata No.6, Op.10, No.2 In F Major: II. Allegretto

6. Sonata No.6, Op.10, No.2 In F Major: III. Presto

7. Sonata No.7, Op.10, No.3 In D Major: I. Presto

8. Sonata No.7, Op.10, No.3 In D Major: II. Largo e mesto

9. Sonata No.7, Op.10, No.3 In D Major: III. Menuetto: Allegro

10. Sonata No.7, Op.10, No.3 In D Major: IV. Rondo: Allegro

11. Sontan No.12, Op.26 'Funeral March': I. Andante con Variazioni

12. Sonata No.12, Op.26 'Funeral March': II. Scherzo: Allegro molto

13. Sontan No.12, Op.26 'Funeral March': III. Marcia funebre

14. Sontan No.12, Op.26 'Funeral March': IV. Allegro

Disc: 6

1. Sonata No.30, Op. 109 In E Major: I. Vivace, ma nnon troppo; Adagio espressivio - Beethoven

2. Sonata No.30, Op. 109 In E Major: II. Prestissimo - Beethoven

3. Sonata No.30, Op. 109 In E Major: III. Tema: Molto cantabile ed esressivo; Variazioni I-VI - Beethoven

4. Sonata No.31, Op.110 In A-Flat Major: I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo - Beethoven

5. Sonata No.31, Op.110 In A-Flat Major: II. Allegro molto - Beethoven

6. Sonata No.31, Op.110 In A-Flat Major: III. Adagio ma non troppo; Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo - Beethoven

7. Sonata No.32, Op.111 In C Minor: I. Maestoso; Allegro con brio ed appassionato - Beethoven

8. Sonata No.32, Op.111 In C Minor: II. Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile - Beethoven

Disc: 7

1. Sonata No.9, Op.14, No.1 In E Major: II. Allegro

2. Sonata No.9, Op.14, No.1 In E Major: II. Allegretto

3. Sonata No.9, Op.14, No.1 In E Major: III. Rondo: Allegro comodo

4. Sonata No.10 Op.14, No.2 In G Major: I. Allegro

5. Sonata No.10 Op.14, No.2 In G Major: II. Andante

6. Sonata No.10 Op.14, No.2 In G Major: III. Scherzo: Allegro assai

7. Sonata No.19, Op.49, No 1 In G Minor: I. Andante

8. Sonata No.19, Op.49, No 1 In G Minor: II. Rondo: Allegro

9. Sonata No.20, Op.49, No.2 In G Minor: I. Allegro ma non troppo

10. Sonata No.20, Op.49, No.2 In G Minor: II. Temp di menuetto

11. Sonata No.22, Op.54 In F Major: I. In tempo d'un menuetto

12. Sonata No.22, Op.54: II. Allegretto

13. Sonata No.24, Op.78: I. Adagio cantabile

14. Sonata No.24, Op.78 In F-Sharp Major: II. Allegro vivace

15. Sonata No.25, Op.78 In G Major: I. Presto alla tedesca

16. Sonata No.25, Op.78 In G Major: II. Andante

17. Sonata No.25, Op.78 In G Major: III. Vivace

Disc: 8

1. Sonata No.27, Op.90: I. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Audruck

2. Sonata No.27, Op.90: II. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen

3. Sonata No.28, Op.101 In A Major: I. Etwas Lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung

4. Sonata No.28, Op.101 In A Major: II. Lebhaft. Marschmassig

5. Sonata No.28, Op.101 In A Major: III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll; Geschwind doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit

6. Sonata No.29, Op.106 'Hammerklavier' In B-Flat Major: I. Allegro

7. Sonata No.29, Op.106 'Hammerklavier' In B-Flat Major: II. Scherzo: Assai vivace

8. Sonata No.29, Op.106 'Hammerklavier' In B-Flat Major: III. Adagio sostenuto

9. Sonata No.29, Op.106 'Hammerklavier' In B-Flat Major: IV. Largo Allegro risoluto

Disc: 9

1. Sonata No.4, Op.7 In D-Flat Major: I. .Molto allegro e con brio

2. Sonata No.4, Op.7 In D-Flat Major: II. Largo, con gran espressione

3. Sonata No.4, Op.7 In D-Flat Major: III. Allegro

4. Sonata No.4, Op.7 In D-Flat Major: IV. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso

5. Sonata No.11, Op.22 IN B-Flat Major: I. Allegro con brio

6. Sonata No.11, Op.22 IN B-Flat Major: II. Adagio con molta espressione

7. Sonata No.11, Op.22 IN B-Flat Major: III. Menuetto

8. Sonata No.11, Op.22 IN B-Flat Major: IV. Rondo: Allegretto

9. Sonata No.13, Op.27, No.1 In E-Flat Major: I. Andante

10. Sonata No.13, Op.27, No.1 In E-Flat Major: II. Allegro molto e vivace

11. Sonata No.13, Op.27, No.1 In E-Flat Major: III. Adagio con espressione

12. Sonata No.13, Op.27, No.1 In E-Flat Major: IV. Allegro vivace

[Gickies Gageeze]

holy crap, how much did that cost?

[Johnny Swallow]

$66 bucks with free shipping. I'm planning on getting the 'Beethoven: Complete String Quartets' next. Cuz Ima balla.

[Diemen]

Nice choice, Swallow. O'Conor is a good pianist, I like his Beethoven. The String Quartets are also really good. The Cleveland Quartet has a good complete series.

The Andante cantabile from the Pathetique was the first piece I performed in public (at church), and it's always been one of my favorites. The Appasionata is probably my favorite Beethoven sonata, but there are just so many good ones it's hard to narrow it down. The Tempest, Pastorale, Hammerklavier, Waldstein and Les Adieux are all great. I think the Tempest and Pastorale are my favorites out of that bunch. Out of the non-named ones, Op. 2 #1, Op. 2 #3, Op. 10 #1, Op. 26, Op. 27 #1, Op. 31 #3, and Op. 111 are standouts imo. (though all of the sonatas are interesting, really). Op. 111 was the last piano piece Beethoven wrote, when he was basically completely deaf, and there's so much emotion in it, especially in the last movement - it just sounds like such a relief of tension, almost like he's making peace with himself finally - it's quite something.

I've played Op. 10 No. 1, Op. 26, the Pathetique, the Tempest, Pastorale, and Op. 90. I really should start work on another one...

[Gickies Gageeze]

Originally posted by Johnny Swallow
$66 bucks with free shipping. I'm planning on getting the 'Beethoven: Complete String Quartets' next. Cuz Ima balla.

that reminds me dear diary,

i know what i would like for valentines... can you guess what it is?

[Johnny Swallow]

Originally posted by Diemen
I've played Op. 10 No. 1, Op. 26, the Pathetique, the Tempest, Pastorale, and Op. 90. I really should start work on another one...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dieman. I always love hearing you talk about classical music, you do it with such a longing and deep appreciation that it makes me wish I had been taking Piano lessons since I was old enough to sit straight. From what I remember you saying you don't play as much since you have finished school right? You seem to still have such a passion for it you should keep on kicking major piano ass, I'd love to hear you play. I would love to have a jam session with a pianist, Piano/Drum/Bass trios are such a great combination. I am so in love with music right now...I'm on disc 3 and loving it.

[Diemen]

Actually, I've been playing more often lately. Not the 4-5 hours/day I did in my last couple years of college, but I try to get in at least an hour and a half a day. Today I did about 3 hours. I grew up listening to classical music, and playing piano is one of my really big passions, and there's just such a huge variety in classical music that I don't think I'll ever get tired of playing it. You could spend your entire life studying classical music and still leave big areas completely untouched, and that's not even getting into jazz and more modern styles.

I mean, even listening to Beethoven, there's such a variety from his earlier work to his late work, and he's only one small (albeit important) stroke on the huge canvas of classical music.

Glad you're enjoying the music.

[Johnny Swallow]

How do you think Beethoven rates compared to Mozart, Bach and other great composers on what he wrote for piano?

His piano compositions are my favorite so far, and if there is anything better I'd love to hear it.

[Diemen]

I much prefer Beethoven to Mozart, but it's kind of hard to compare Beethoven to Bach. It's been said that in piano music, Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier is the Old Testament, and Beethoven's sonatas are the New Testament.

In terms of impact on the music scene, I'd rate Bach and Beethoven about equal, and Mozart slightly behind them, but still very important. To give you an idea of how huge Bach's shadow was, even in Beethoven's day, Beethoven strongly believed that practicing the Well-Tempered Clavier daily was one of the best ways to achieve good technique at the piano. Even Chopin, who might seem like he doesn't have much to do with Bach, said something to the effect that every piece of music Bach wrote was flawless.

As far as piano compositions, you're really only scratching the surface. I'd definitely check out Chopin - the Polonaises, Ballades and Scherzos are impressive works, he also has a couple sonatas, and Rachmaninoff's Etudes and Preludes are also incredible. Then there's Debussy's Preludes, and Liszt's Years of Pilgrimage and transcendental etudes and transcriptions, and Schubert's Impromptus, and Scriabins Etudes, and Brahm's Intermezzos...you get the idea.

Brahms has a style somewhat similar to Beethoven, although more romantic, you'd probably dig his music a lot.