Description
Beethoven composed a total of 32 piano sonatas, with the final collection, Volume 4, edited by Stewart Gordon, featuring Sonatas 25 through 32, created between 1809 and 1822 and published shortly thereafter. This volume includes autographs for all but Op. 106, which has been lost since World War II. Dr. Gordon's edition draws from the available autographs and first editions, offering insights into various aspects of Beethoven's life, the limitations of contemporary pianos, and his techniques regarding articulation, ornamentation, and tempo. Additionally, it addresses the ongoing challenge of establishing a definitive interpretation of Beethoven's works. The edition provides valuable performance recommendations, fingering suggestions, and realizations of ornaments, while also noting alternative conclusions from other editors, thus equipping students and teachers with the necessary tools for informed performance choices. The sonatas included are Op. 79, Op. 81a, Op. 90, Op. 101, Op. 106, Op. 109, Op. 110, and Op. 111, spanning a total of 264 pages.
