A worthy passion
Today I’d like to talk a bit about Beethoven’s 23rd piano sonata “Appassionata”.
This is considered to be one of his superior pieces among his middle sonatas. (I will write about early sonatas, middle sonatas, and late sonatas in other blogs.)
“Appassionata” was composed between 1804 and 1805. As you may know, the number of keys and type of piano used by Ludwig changed over time.
Beethoven was using the piano produced by Érard (French) when he wrote Appassionata. This piano had 68 keys covering a low F to a high C.
The piano he was using before 1803 had only 61 keys. This piano was produced by Walter. Definitely, this development stimulated the composer’s incentive to make the fullest use of the wide range of keys this piano had to offer.
This piece is known as the one that Beethoven got back on his feet from despair with. As you may be privy to, the Heiligenstädter Testament hinted that his suicide was planned out by himself in 1802.
His exacerbated hearing loss brought him to the brink. It is not too much to say that hearing is a musicians‘ life.
However, Beethoven wrote the piano sonata ”Waldstein”, the symphony “eroica”, “Appassionata” and many more inspired pieces in those few tumultuous years. This fact alone gave him the reputation as being one mentally tough dude to people in later times.
When this piece was published in 1807, the title was “piano sonata No. 54 Op.57. “ It was in 1837 that this piece started to be called “Appassianata”.
I’m sure that we can all agree that it is important to know the background of a composition including the instruments used and the composer’s personal life.
This leads to a deepened appreciation of the work and, more importantly, the determination to give the work our utmost dedication.
Adding “piano sonata No. 54 Op. 57” to our repertoire is definitely a worthy passion.
This is considered to be one of his superior pieces among his middle sonatas. (I will write about early sonatas, middle sonatas, and late sonatas in other blogs.)
“Appassionata” was composed between 1804 and 1805. As you may know, the number of keys and type of piano used by Ludwig changed over time.
Beethoven was using the piano produced by Érard (French) when he wrote Appassionata. This piano had 68 keys covering a low F to a high C.
The piano he was using before 1803 had only 61 keys. This piano was produced by Walter. Definitely, this development stimulated the composer’s incentive to make the fullest use of the wide range of keys this piano had to offer.
This piece is known as the one that Beethoven got back on his feet from despair with. As you may be privy to, the Heiligenstädter Testament hinted that his suicide was planned out by himself in 1802.
His exacerbated hearing loss brought him to the brink. It is not too much to say that hearing is a musicians‘ life.
However, Beethoven wrote the piano sonata ”Waldstein”, the symphony “eroica”, “Appassionata” and many more inspired pieces in those few tumultuous years. This fact alone gave him the reputation as being one mentally tough dude to people in later times.
When this piece was published in 1807, the title was “piano sonata No. 54 Op.57. “ It was in 1837 that this piece started to be called “Appassianata”.
I’m sure that we can all agree that it is important to know the background of a composition including the instruments used and the composer’s personal life.
This leads to a deepened appreciation of the work and, more importantly, the determination to give the work our utmost dedication.
Adding “piano sonata No. 54 Op. 57” to our repertoire is definitely a worthy passion.
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