Late Beethoven Thread

This is for all your thoughts re: the late period words of Beethoven, defined as:

Cello Sonatas Op. 102, 1 & 2
Piano sonatas Op. 101, 106 (Hammerklavier), 109, 110 & 111
Bagatelles, Op. 119 & 126
Diabelli Variations, Op. 120
Missa Solemnis, Op. 123
Symphony No. 9, Op. 125*
String Quartet Op. 127, 130, 131, 132, & 135.


*Please keep all comments about the overexposed "Ode to Joy" to an absolute minimum, unless you have something original to say.

What does this have to do with Foo?

Mozart was better.

Originally Posted by Connemara

Click to expand...

Mozart was better.

This is said out of ignorance, and therefore I cannot respond with rancor. Some day, you will understand. And if you don't, oh well.

Originally Posted by Manton

Click to expand...

This is said out of ignorance, and therefore I cannot respond with rancor. Some day, you will understand. And if you don't, oh well.

+ infinity

Originally Posted by Connemara

Click to expand...

Mozart was better.

Originally Posted by Manton

Click to expand...

This is said out of ignorance, and therefore I cannot respond with rancor. Some day, you will understand. And if you don't, oh well.

True words Manton.

I really love the scherzo in the 9th. Dvorak 9 was my favorite for a long time (talk about overplayed 4th movements) and the influence is quite striking.

Mozart's music feels like masturbatory cerebral grandstanding to me, partially felt from the tone of Amadeus, the accuracy of which I'm unaware. The introspective gusto of Beethoven is more enriching and moving in my opinion, but I listen to Mozart more because he provides better noise for a creative work environment. Beethoven > Mozart

Originally Posted by Manton

Click to expand...

String Quartet Op. 127, 130, 131, 132, & 135.

For a long time op. 135 (F Maj) was my favorite string quartet, simply because I loved the insanity of the scherzo and the gorgeousness of the slow movement (the first few bars following the return of the parallel major might be the absolute prettiest music he ever penned.) I was a holdout on op. 131 (c# min) because it took me a long time (like, years) to "get" the central variations movement, but it's assumed the role of my favorite quartet. The archetectonic design (three "tentpole" movements with two shorter, more lyrical movements and two more that are essentially interludes) makes it the shortest-seeming long piece of music there is. Op 132 (a min) might be my new second favorite. I love the way it dances between austere abstraction and operaticism (recitatives and overtures) and hyper-expresssiveness. Even the explicit programmaticism of the Heiliger Dankgessang aside, is it possible to hear the section over the A drone in the second movement and not be reminded of some gauzy childhood memory?

I actually don't own any of Beethoven's late piano sonatas on CD. What performances are good?

*Please keep all comments about the overexposed "Ode to Joy" to an absolute minimum, unless you have something original to say.

Click to expand...

My absolute favorite piece of music ever, overexposed or otherwise. The assurance of being pulled back to variations of that populist little hummable melody gives Beethoven license to explore the further avant-garde reaches between variations. Unlike something by Mozart, it's not music where you can't change one note without ruining it (I would probably excise the entire fugue in the string section), but it has a slapdash brilliance that captures the text perfectly. Absolutely the most bizarre and inscrutable and transcendant symphonic warhorse there is.

Originally Posted by Connemara

Click to expand...

Mozart was better.

I thought you were a jazz guy.

Great music is best left to your elders.

Originally Posted by Connemara

Click to expand...

Mozart was better.

Too bad Kanye West couldn't be there at Beethoven's funeral procession. Right, Conne?

I mean, surely Mozart's was one of the best of all time, right? Oh, wait... he didn't have one!

Originally Posted by Manton

Click to expand...

This is said out of ignorance, and therefore I cannot respond with rancor. Some day, you will understand. And if you don't, oh well.
I was trying to rile you up.

Originally Posted by tagutcow

Click to expand...

transcendant symphonic warhorse

I like this.

Originally Posted by rnoldh

Click to expand...

Great music is best left to your elders.

Age need not be a factor.

I like Mozart much more than Beethoven, but I would admit that Beethoven was the better composer.

Originally Posted by tagutcow

Click to expand...

I actually don't own any of Beethoven's late piano sonatas on CD. What performances are good?

Anything by Uchida.