Beethoven - Rondo from Sonata No. 4 Opus 7

Carey

I sometimes find it hard to believe that the Opus 7 "Grande Sonate" was composed in 1796-97. Beethoven was only 26 at the time, and just beginning to find his "voice." Sadly, he also was experiencing the early symptoms of his profound hearing loss. This recording of the final Rondo movement was made during my Masters recital in 1973. I'm grateful that I still have the recording after 51 years. smile The photos in the video of excerpts from the score are taken from the first edition of the sonata published in Vienna in October, 1797.

rogerch

Carey That is a wonderful performance!

Rob

Carey That was just perfect listening for a Sunday morning, here in Western AustraliaI
It is great that you still have the recording of your beautiful performance.
The video was an excellent accompaniment.

BartK

Oh, I love Beethoven and I like this sonata, especially the stormy section. Great choice for a masters recital too as it's not one of the overplayed sonatas that everyone has heard a bazillion times.

Great playing too! 🙂👍

Carey

BartK Thanks, Bart. Yes, it definitely is not overplayed., and it was challenging to pull off both technically and musically. My teacher at the time had performed the sonata as a doctoral student, which is why, I suppose, he assigned it to me. The slow, second movement is also very effective. I hope to create a video for that also in the near future) Cheers !! . 😃

Sophia

So I went straight from the snappy "what is this tune" by Rob to your Beethoven performance... talk about culture shock 😃 But I love this TOO, so beautiful... so different. Music is just so incredibly versatile, with endless moods and variations, even within this very piece. It's hard to fathom that some mastermind could have written such gorgeous and timeless music. What a far cry from the electronic "stuff" (for lack of a ruder word) you are forced to endure while shopping for groceries etc...

Such spirited playing too, I agree with everything Bart said.

Carey

Sophia Sophia - Thanks so much. I agree with your assessment of the piece. It was groundbreaking iwhen Beethoven composed it and it still speaks to us today. While the current "electronic stuff" can be fun and has its place in modern society , the music of Beethoven and other great composers is timeless and feeds the soul. 😊

Carey

rogerch Thank you, rogerich. It certainly was one of my more successful performance experiences back then. I'm grateful to have the recording. 😃

Carey

Rob Thank you, Rob. Great to hear from you. I actually have distant cousins living in Western Australia. I'm very pleased that you enjoyed the performance and the video. Even though the recording is over 50 years old, I still vividly remember the recital (which took place on a rainy Sunday afternoon) as if it were yesterday.

twocats

Carey it's my first time hearing this piece, thank you for sharing this very special recording!

Carey

twocats Thank you, twocats. The sonata isn't as well known as Beethoven's Pathetique, Moonlight, Tempest, Waldstein, Appassionata, etc. but it deserves to be heard more often than it is. It is the longest and arguably the most difficult of the early sonatas. I think you'd like the other movements as well. 😃

twocats

Maybe it needs a catchy name to be more popular 😉

Carey I think you'd like the other movements as well. 😃

Look forward to hearing them!