Getting back into Beethoven
Do any of you have a composer who, while you enjoy listening to their music, just seem to have trouble deriving the same enjoyment from playing it? For me, that composer is Beethoven. Don't get me wrong, I love the piano sonatas--I just could never really bring myself to like playing them. My piano teacher tried to introduce me to Beethoven, but I
( Read more... )
Listen to Schnabel recordings. Just do it.
In terms of analysis, have a look at how Beethoven takes a tiny thematic idea and develops it and develops it into a whole piece. The most obvious and amazing example is probably the 5th symphony. The opening 4 notes - that's it, that's all he wrote virtually - the whole symphony is created out of that simple little 4 note motif. Pure genius.
Regarding chamber music, do look into Brahms. It's divine and I always found it incredibly rewarding to play.
Back on the analysis thing, are you maybe getting too hung up on the academic analysis/understanding and forgetting to listen to the sounds you make when you play it. Including the sounds as you work out the fingering etc. Listen to the sounds of the chords. Of the motifs, the ornaments, out of the strict time context. Get those sounds into your head. Then try to play or practice it closer to speed. Remember, it's music; Beethoven wrote it for playing and for listening to, not for dissecting and/or thinking about.
And for finger dexterity, track down the Dohnanyi exercises. But follow Dohnanyi's instructions for practice and the notes on the page with extreme accuracy. They are brilliant exercises, they give you total independent control over your fingers, but they are a bugger to learn and get right. And you HAVE to learn them at dead slow speeds. They repay the effort a thousand fold. And make Hanon look like a beginners effort. Well, that's my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
Reply
Leave a comment