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Questions tagged [beethoven]

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), composer whose work spanned the boundary between the Classical and Romantic eras.

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Why does Brahms stand next to Bach and Beethoven?

I've often heard the expression, "Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms" as sort of a summary of classical music, or something. I feel that I understand why Bach and Beethoven should serve as pillars of classical music, but I haven't heard much about…
elliot svensson
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Why did Beethoven include "in the Lydian Mode" in the title of String Quartet, Op.132 - 3?

Beethoven himself gave a title to String Quartet No.15 in A minor, Op.132 - 3: A Convalescent's Holy Song of Thanksgiving to the Divinity, in the Lydian Mode From the language and context, and also the particular mention of the mode and not just…
Stinkfoot
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Trill measure 29 3rd movement "Moonlight" sonata (Beethoven op. 27 no. 2)

How do you play the trill in measure 29 of Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata?
Håkon Hægland
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What makes a piece sound like Beethoven?

I can't seem to find non-harmonic analyses of Beethoven's sonatas. And I'm not a classical music analyzer. That makes it hard to write a sonata in the style of Beethoven when I don't know what Beethoven's style is. I've been told that I don't have…
Caters
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E flat or E natural in score of Beethoven String Quartet Op 131?

I have heard recordings of Beethoven's C sharp minor string quartet Op. 131 where, in bar 53 the third crotchet of the first violin part is played as E flat, and at least one recording where it is played as E natural. The E flat (or D sharp),…
Shane O Rourke
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Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3: Last notes played by piano or not?

I have a (probably pretty amateur) question regarding the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3, more precisely the last notes of the third movement. I've listened to different recordings of this piece and noticed that sometimes the pianist plays the last…
Staki42
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Did Beethoven "invent" ragtime with Piano Sonata No 32 Op 111?

I had an interesting question. It is common knowledge that ragtime came about as a genre with Scott Joplin. However, I am curious if anyone has any information about Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 and any connection to the works…
Andrew the Programmer
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Why is there a key signature change in Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata (2nd movement)?

I have listened to the Hammerklavier Sonata many times, sometimes while following the score, and I have noticed that, in the second movement, there is a change in the key signature for just a little. This has baffled me for quite some time. I…
George
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Why is Debussy's remark brilliant (on going out and smoking, at the start of Beethoven's developments)?

From: Charles Rosen. Critical Entertainments. p. 117 Bottom - 118 Top.   In the same way, attacks on Beethoven could be profound and even persuasive, and would continue to be so after his death even to the present. Most musicians (outside of…
user26407
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How can I play Für Elise well?

I've always heard that Für Elise is an extremely difficult piece to play well, despite being relatively easy in a technical sense. An added challenge is that it's been extremely over-played (I'm just glad it's no longer a fashionable ringtone where…
user28
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Double basses in Beethoven's Eroica

I have just been listening to Beethoven's Eroica while following a miniature score: Eulenburg score at Amazon. I was paying particular attention to the double basses and I noticed that frequently they went down to the E♭ just below the bass clef…
badjohn
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Why is Beethoven's tempo so off?

There is one thing that brought me this question. Well 2 actually. First off is Wim Winters and his Authentic Sound channel where he argues that Beethoven is using double beat for his tempos. He relatively recently made a series of videos of a…
Caters
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Which hands to use for Für Elise by Beethoven?

In Für Elise by Beethoven, in many variations found on the net, starting from bar 13, and as I have seen in many videos playing this part, both hands are used consecutively while most to all of them can be easily played with just the right hand. Is…
Amir F
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Unplayable turn in Beethoven sonata

Beethoven's piano sonata Op. 2 No. 3, first movement, bars 179-180 (Henle edition). The turn decorating each eighth note can be played literally. Except for the one on bar 179's A sharp, because there's no good candidate for that turn's lower…
Camille Goudeseune
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How to play fast and very quietly on piano

So at the moment I'm learning the first movement of the Pathétique Sonata by Beethoven. The main problem I'm having is with the left-hand accompaniment which is similar throughout much of the piece, where you have to play alternating octave notes.…
Cataline
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