Author : Ludwig van Beethoven

Description

Author : Ludwig van Beethoven

Description

Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas have been referred to as the "New Testament" of music by Hans von Bülow. However, our selection adopts a less reverent approach, allowing us to explore the more "earthly" aspects of the composer. This includes lively dances, charming bagatelles, the distinctive character piece "Lustig und traurig" ("Happy and sad"), and the ever-popular "Für Elise." Consistent with our series "At the piano," all pieces are arranged in a progressive manner, ranging from easy to medium difficulty. There is no need to feel intimidated by Beethoven's piano sonatas; for instance, the Classical sonata in G major, which is essentially a sonatina, serves as an excellent introduction to the diverse realm of Beethoven's works. Additionally, we present Beethoven as the "poet at the piano" through the first movement of his "Moonlight" Sonata in C-sharp minor, alongside the funeral march from the Sonata in A-flat major—visionary pieces that foreshadow the Romantic era.

Author : Ludwig van Beethoven

Description

This distinguished volume features the later string quartets of Beethoven, presented in accurate and high-quality transcriptions. It includes Op. 74 in E-flat major; Op. 95 in F minor; Op. 127 in E-flat major, noted for its "overflowing vitality and brilliance of technique"; Op. 130 in B-flat major, characterized by "a flood of fresh melodies and large-scale designs, along with technical effects previously unseen in music"; Op. 131 in C-sharp minor, widely acknowledged as "the musically finest of them all"; Op. 132 in A minor, where "the Adagio is particularly regarded as one of the pinnacles of achievement in quartet composition and indeed in all music"; Op. 133 in B-flat major; and Op. 135 in F major, which features "the Adagio as one of the most profound expressions of Beethoven's genius that his oeuvre can provide."

Author : Nils Franke, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johann Nepomuk Hummel

Description

Author : Ludwig van Beethoven

Description

The two piano sonatas, Op. 49, which were initially published as "Sonates faciles," are frequently the first Beethoven sonatas that advanced piano students use to showcase their skills. Despite their relatively high opus number, it is important to note that these two-movement compositions were created around the same period as the piano sonatas, Op. 10, between 1796 and 1798. The delay in their publication, which occurred seven years later, can likely be attributed to the publishing efforts of Beethoven's brother, Carl, who initially approached several publishers without success. Ultimately, in 1805, a Viennese publisher accepted the works, unaware of the significant value they held. These charming pieces, designed in a format that is easy to manage, quickly gained popularity. This Henle Urtext edition is part of our successful revised series of Beethoven's sonatas, overseen by Murray Perahia and Norbert Gertsch.

Author : Ludwig van Beethoven

Description

Author : Ludwig van Beethoven

Description

Ludwig van Beethoven composed a total of 35 piano sonatas. The three sonatas from his early period in Bonn, published in 1783, lack an opus number and are therefore excluded from the recognized set of 32 sonatas. Nevertheless, these early compositions should not be overlooked, as they present significant technical challenges, particularly in their nuanced articulation, while their compositional style hints at the sophistication of his later Viennese works. Notably, the main theme of the Second Sonata in F minor's first movement foreshadows the theme found in the first movement of the Grande Sonate pathétique.

Author : Ludwig van Beethoven

Description

This collection of five "easy" sonatas serves as an ideal introduction for advanced piano students and enthusiasts into the unique realm of this esteemed composer's piano works. Organized by ascending levels of difficulty (op. 49, op. 14, and ultimately op. 2, no. 1), this edition benefits from the meticulous Urtext preparation by maestro Murray Perahia and Beethoven scholar Norbert Gertsch. It includes a detailed preface discussing the origins and publication history of the pieces, thorough source documentation, and an analysis of contentious readings found in the sources. Additionally, it features a comprehensive essay by Perahia on the sketches and structure of Sonata op. 14, no. 1, along with essential fingerings provided by him.

Author : Ludwig van Beethoven

Description

The six overtures compiled in this compact volume rank among the most frequently recorded, performed, and analyzed works within the orchestral canon. They provide both musicians and enthusiasts with the chance to explore Beethoven's brilliance in pieces originally intended as introductions to larger works, yet which are fully capable of standing alone as exceptional masterpieces.