Beethoven Opus 119 Bagatelles Notes by Margaret Scialdone The Opus 119 Bagatelles appeared in London in 1823 as “Trifles for the Piano Forte, Consisting of Eleven pleasing Pieces Composed in Various Styles by L. Van Beethoven”. They are quite accessible to non-celebrity but accomplished pianists, and it’s possible to hear brilliant interpretations by people you […]
Beethoven’s Final Sonata Opus 111 Notes by Margaret Scialdone After completing his 32nd and final piano sonata, Beethoven is said to have made the astonishing remark that the piano is “after all, an unsatisfactory instrument”. This work does indeed strain the limits of both piano and performer, the latter spiritually as well as technically. The […]
Beethoven’s “Der Erlkönig” Notes by Margaret Scialdone Goethe’s poem “Der Erlkönig” tells the story of a boy riding home on horseback in his father’s arms. He is frightened when he hears the seductive voice of the Erl King, a powerful and creepy supernatural being. The Erl King attempts to lure the child into joining him, […]
Beethoven’s humor—“The Test of Kisses” Notes by Fred Haight This song, “Prüfung des Küssens, WoO 89” (The Test of Kissing), was composed between 1790–1791, for Bonn’s Electoral singer, Joseph Lux. It is for a bass and orchestra. The author of the text is unknown, but this song, in the Italian opera buffa style, is skillfully […]
When Beethoven Becomes Hilarious! Notes by Fred Haight We have had several episodes on Beethoven’s sense of humor. Today, we cross over into utter hilarity. Beethoven composed folk songs in many languages, including English, Italian, Danish, and Russian. The first piece today is not a folk song but a setting of Goethe’s The Flea from […]
Beethoven and Tragedy: The Coriolan Overture Notes By Fred Haight We have already talked about Beethoven’s sense of the heroic; and the power and optimism expressed in his Third Symphony, his only opera Fidelio, and the Egmont Overture. However, an important part of trying to create a positive outcome for society, involves the study of […]
Beethoven’s Sense of Humor by Fred Haight No-one is quite sure what the story is behind Rage Over a Lost Penny. But Beethoven seems to be making fun of those who obsess over the trivial. Listen and tell us what you think!
Happy Veterans Day! – Beethoven – 5 Military Marches Notes by Margaret Scialdone Although not known as a composer of military band music, Beethoven composed a number of military marches, usually commissioned for special occasions. In honor of Veterans’ Day, we present five of Beethoven’s marches for military band, dating from 1787 to 1816.
The Third Symphony’s Finale: Creativity, and Heroic Humor Notes by Fred Haight In two recent episodes of Daily Doses of Beethoven, we examined the monumental first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”, which addresses the idea of a hero—a world-historic figure. We also heard his epic second movement, a Funeral March, expressing the loss […]
Beethoven and the Heroic Part 4: The Egmont Overture Notes by Fred Haight Part 4: The Egmont Overture The cause of human liberty and freedom led political discussion around the late 18th-early 19th century, and the poets Goethe and Schiller collaborated to tell the story of Switzerland’s fight for freedom. In his play Wilhelm Tell, […]