That is a lovely Sonata but my favorite is Sonata No. 32 in C minor.
Posted by BaoQingTian (Member # 8775) on :
I'd have to go with Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor (Moonlight Sonata).
It's probably overplayed, but I still really really like it.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I'm more of a Pathetique sonata person myself. That piece is brilliant!
Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :
Well, I've always like Pathetique, but it's a bit overplayed now... I like Op 10, No. 1. No. 2 is good too.
Posted by Kristen (Member # 9200) on :
What about that beast the Hammerklavier? That would probably be my favorite if I went to see a pianist as I love to be wowed by virtuosity and complexity.
That being said, the Moonlight Sonata is the prettiest. Hands down.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I am also a Waldstein fan, though I prefer playing Pathetique.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
#24 F# Major
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Oh, I like that one that goes "la.... da..... dee.... lah dah dah dah dah dome" You know the one I mean. I forget what it's called. I used to hear a little bit of it played as the intro to this neat classical music show on the public radio station.
There was a story called "The Kreutzer Sonata" by somebody. Was it Tolstoy? Maybe Thomas Mann? I'll have to google it. (It was Tolstoy.) I wonder how many songs have their own story about them?
Posted by Launchywiggin (Member # 9116) on :
I've played a bunch of them (As a piano major)--but I'll be the first to agree with the_Somalian. Op. 53 no. 21 "Waldstein" is my favorite.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
I can't believe I'm the first one saying this, but aside from the obvious overuse and perversion of No.14 "Moonlight" by our culture, I would rank it as a favorite.
I am actually a bigger fan of No. 8 in C-minor. Still, sometimes as a music major I get jaded towards Beethoven after I've listened to too much Brahms or Debussy, and I forget the context of Beethoven.
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
I'm not very well versed in music, but I'm definitely going with the Moonlight Sonata. (I agree it's overused though - I heard it a while ago in a car commercial for example)
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
While you are all entitled to your own opinions, whoever misguided they may be, Sonata 32 is the best.
If you disagree, your wrong.
Unless of course, you were to say Sonata 31 was the best, that's kind of a Galadriel/Arwen sort of thing.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
You use what I am assuming is a "Lord of the Rings" analogy in your valoration of Sonata 31 and 32. This does not strengthen your argument.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Orincoro, you jest! LotR analogies strenghten any argument!
Posted by the_Somalian (Member # 6688) on :
Now, when all of you are talking about Moonlight Sonata, are you talking about only the first movement? Personally, I enjoy the third movement the most- fast paced, exciting. And I'm learning how to play the first movement now.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
Well, Mov.1 is the most identifiable part of the peice. A teacher once assigned No.14 on a listening quiz. No-one studied the recording, so of course he played us the second movement... First year music students are SO naive. Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :
I haven't heard many sonatas... And I've only played the one (Op. 10, No.1) But it's my favorite so far... Of course, I guess you're supposed to do more than play through the thematic index of the songs to pick your favorite... My bad.
No, but I did like Op 10. No.1, even before I played it.
Although I heard it from a crappy recording where this guy played it way too fast. He was known for playing the second movements of Beethovan's sonatas... The slow ones. Those were spectacularly played. But don't get me started on how he played the first movement.
Posted by Luet13 (Member # 9274) on :
It's pretty impossible for me to pick a favorite Beethoven sonata. I really like Op.2 No.3 (dedicated to Haydn, and you can sooo see the influence Haydn had on LvB), Op. 13 the "Pathetique", Op. 27 No.2 the "Moonlight" (3rd mvmt in particular) and of course Op. 31 No. 2 the "Tempest."
I love sightreading Beethoven. Fun for hours.
I also have this great boxed set of Daniel Barenboim playing ALL of Beethoven's sonatas. Heavenly. Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Tatiana, you're thinking of the Pathetique sonata. I think it's Op. 13. All of the movements are wonderful, but the one you're referring to is one of the most beautiful ever.
Luet, I adore Daniel Barenboim. He's actually quite an accomplished symphonic conductor now. I have a wonderful recording of the Brahms double concerto conducted by him with Yo-yo Ma on the cello and Itsak Perlman on the violin. Wonderful stuff. Posted by Baron Samedi (Member # 9175) on :
Oh, Narnia, is that the disc with the Mendellsohn violin concerto. I love that disc. I was just listening to it last week. I couldn't stop... I played it over and over again. I'm so glad I'm not the only one.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
![[Evil Laugh]](graemlins/evillaugh.gif)
First year music students are SO naive. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
All of the movements are wonderful, but the one you're referring to is one of the most beautiful ever.