Originally posted by PaulD
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I have this disc too. It's a very interesting peak into the past - a popular work of the day, played on an instrument of the day. -
Maybe we should enlist Beethoven's help in deciding which works were "weak".
One of my absolute favourites is the "32 Variations in C minor", to which the composer didn't deign to give an opus number.
The story goes that, many years after its composition, he heard somebody playing it and he asked who wrote it. When he was informed that it was himself, he shouted: "Beethoven - what an ass you were!"
I am still trying to figure out what he found wrong with this work but who am I to challenge Beethoven?
Another huge success during his lifetime was the beautiful melodic Septet for four strings and wind which was so popular that he arranged it for piano trio. He absolutely hated it afterwards and said that it was composed for "the rabble".
That's you and me, folks.
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I love all of Mozart's quartets (besides the first, K. 80). Although the op. 18 quartets are often referred to as "Mozartian", it took me along time before I got used to them. They are closer in form to Mozart's works than the middle or late quartets, but they certainly are not Mozart.Originally posted by Pastorale View PostWell, if I have to choose it would be his early quartets. I don't know why, but I hate that sound of almost mozartian music. I don't know what's your opinion on this quarters, but I don't like them at all...
I dislike the clichéd comparatives such as "The 1st or 2nd symphonies could have been written by Mozart", etc. Mozart was not Beethoven, and Beethoven was not Mozart.ZevyComment
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Here is a fine example of Beethoven's clever mind. Although Op. 18/1 was composed after 18/2 and 18/3, he published it at the head of the set. It gives a great boost to the group. It's hard for me to imagine op. 18 in a different order...Originally posted by Peter View PostZevyComment
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In this thread I counted "Der glorreiche Augenblick" op. 136 among the weak pieces from Beethoven as everybody seems to do it. Now I listened to the work again and I must admit: I loved the music !! I never had given the piece a real chance.
Just listen to the finale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndElO-UccIE
and here the the whole work (sung in Italian, in unfortuneately only a historic recording): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJqdAo1R9P0
It has just wonderful parts! I think the work just suffers from the ridiculous lyrics ...Comment
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Thanks for sharing that; I enjoyed it, too.
How about the early cantatas? They certainly don't match up well to the masses.
Originally posted by gprengel View PostComment
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My feelings exactly!Originally posted by Peter View Post"Life is too short to spend it wandering in the barren Sahara of musical trash."
--Sergei Vasilyevich RachmaninoffComment
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Perhaps Beethoven took some of his compositions more seriously than others. But what I find about his body of work is, what I find in any artist, a reflection of his life.
One can't be objective. There are times in my life I love 'Fur Elise' and a time when I couldn't listen to it. But I happen to enjoy it as much as any piece of Beethovens' at this time.Comment
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I think Beethoven found Opera a bit taxing. His one and only opera is Fidelio. I'm no sure if he attempted any other works for Opera.🎹Comment
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About ten minutes in full score of an pre-Fidelio opera, "Vestas Feuer", still survives. He used some of its material in the later work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGZGSsk5K7cComment
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I've always enjoyed this fragment, and I wish Beethoven had completed a second opera. But at least we have the magnificent Fidelio!Originally posted by Michael View PostComment
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