What do you think?
Rate this book
Beethoven: Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Opus 57 (Appassionata)
Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 is considered by many, including Beethoven, to be one of his greatest sonatas. The nickname appassionata probably came from a four-hand version entitled Sonata appassionata, published in Hamburg in 1838. The famous opening thematic statement played two octaves apart and repeated immediately a half step higher sets a mood of tension and conflict in this majestic sonata. Dr. Stewart Gordons editions of Beethoven's most popular piano sonatas provide the key to a stylistic performance. Thorough research of the earliest available sources has enabled Dr. Gordon to produce the most accurate reflection of the composers intent. Each sonata contains helpful fingering suggestions and performance recommendations.
40 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1985
2 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Ludwig van Beethoven
7,410 books242 followersFrom classical composition, well-known musical works of Ludwig van Beethoven, a partially and then totally deaf German, include symphonies, concertos, sonatas, string quartets, Masses, and one opera and form a transition to romanticism.
Ludwig van Beethoven lived of the period between the late and early eras. A mother in Bonn bore him.
People widely regard Ludwig van Beethoven as one greatest master of construction; sometimes sketched the architecture of a movement and afterward decided upon the subject matter. He first systematically and consistently used interlocking thematic devices or “germ-motives” to achieve long unity between movements. He equally remarkably used many different “source-motives”, which recurred and lent some unity to his life. He touched and made almost every innovation. For example, he diversified and even crystallized, made and brought the more elastic, spacious, and closer rondo. The natural course mostly inspired him, and liked to write descriptive songs.
Ludwig van Beethoven excelled in a great variety of genres, piano, other instrumental for violin, other chamber, and lieder.
People usually divide career of Ludwig van Beethoven into early, middle, and late periods.
In the early period, he is seen as emulating his great predecessors Haydn and Mozart, while concurrently exploring new directions and gradually expanding the scope and ambition of his work. Some important pieces from the Early period are the first and second, the first six, the first three piano, and the first twenty piano, the famous “Pathétique” and “Moonlight."
The Middle (Heroic) period began shortly after Beethoven’s personal crisis centering around his encroaching. The period is noted for large-scale expressing heroism and struggle; these many of the most famous. Middle period six (numbers 3 to 8), the fourth and fifth piano, the triple and violin, five (numbers 7 to 11), the next seven piano (the “Waldstein” and the “Appassionata”), and Beethoven’s only Fidelio.
Beethoven’s Late period began around 1816. The Late-period are characterized by intellectual depth, intense and highly personal expression, and formal innovation (for example, the Op. 131 has seven linked movements, and the Ninth Symphony adds choral forces to the orchestra in the last movement). Many people in his time period do not think these measured up to his first few, and his with J. Reinhold were frowned upon. Of this period also the Missa Solemnis, the last five, and the last five piano.
Ludwig van Beethoven lived of the period between the late and early eras. A mother in Bonn bore him.
People widely regard Ludwig van Beethoven as one greatest master of construction; sometimes sketched the architecture of a movement and afterward decided upon the subject matter. He first systematically and consistently used interlocking thematic devices or “germ-motives” to achieve long unity between movements. He equally remarkably used many different “source-motives”, which recurred and lent some unity to his life. He touched and made almost every innovation. For example, he diversified and even crystallized, made and brought the more elastic, spacious, and closer rondo. The natural course mostly inspired him, and liked to write descriptive songs.
Ludwig van Beethoven excelled in a great variety of genres, piano, other instrumental for violin, other chamber, and lieder.
People usually divide career of Ludwig van Beethoven into early, middle, and late periods.
In the early period, he is seen as emulating his great predecessors Haydn and Mozart, while concurrently exploring new directions and gradually expanding the scope and ambition of his work. Some important pieces from the Early period are the first and second, the first six, the first three piano, and the first twenty piano, the famous “Pathétique” and “Moonlight."
The Middle (Heroic) period began shortly after Beethoven’s personal crisis centering around his encroaching. The period is noted for large-scale expressing heroism and struggle; these many of the most famous. Middle period six (numbers 3 to 8), the fourth and fifth piano, the triple and violin, five (numbers 7 to 11), the next seven piano (the “Waldstein” and the “Appassionata”), and Beethoven’s only Fidelio.
Beethoven’s Late period began around 1816. The Late-period are characterized by intellectual depth, intense and highly personal expression, and formal innovation (for example, the Op. 131 has seven linked movements, and the Ninth Symphony adds choral forces to the orchestra in the last movement). Many people in his time period do not think these measured up to his first few, and his with J. Reinhold were frowned upon. Of this period also the Missa Solemnis, the last five, and the last five piano.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 28, 2013
I am totally hooked by this piece, for last two days. The wounded descendent of the third movement after the sweeping of the second, thrilled me most. I am totally blank about Beethoven's genius as he composed it with deteriorated hearing, but one thing for sure, genius he all is (not 'was').
So here is a story: In level-2 theory exam, I made one wrong answer- the question asked to transpose a piece to a given interval determining its scale first. The key of the scale was as obscure as anything can possibly be; there was no tonic, subdominant, and the dominant was common in both major and minor scales. So, I flipped a coin on my mind and picked the wrong answer, which I later found out. After that,I asked my theory teacher Younshaya and her reply was "You need to play the pianoforte in your mind to solve it." And here is Beethoven, who composed pieces like this (and the other major rival would be 'hammerklavier')with deafness!
If you are to listen, I would suggest you Tzvi Erez; his interpratation of this piece is amazing.
So here is a story: In level-2 theory exam, I made one wrong answer- the question asked to transpose a piece to a given interval determining its scale first. The key of the scale was as obscure as anything can possibly be; there was no tonic, subdominant, and the dominant was common in both major and minor scales. So, I flipped a coin on my mind and picked the wrong answer, which I later found out. After that,I asked my theory teacher Younshaya and her reply was "You need to play the pianoforte in your mind to solve it." And here is Beethoven, who composed pieces like this (and the other major rival would be 'hammerklavier')with deafness!
If you are to listen, I would suggest you Tzvi Erez; his interpratation of this piece is amazing.
Displaying 1 of 1 review