đŸŽŒ Week 1: Pick Your Piece

 

Welcome to Week 1 of the Beethoven Challenge!
This week is all about choosing the piece you’ll work on for the month. 

Here are a few ideas to help you land on a good fit:

Beginner Options 

1. “Ode to Joy” (any simple solo arrangement)

2. Ecossaise in G major, WoO 23

3. Ecossaise in E-flat major, WoO 86

4. German Dance in C major, WoO 8 No. 1

5. Minuet in G major (attributed to Beethoven), WoO 10 No. 2
 

Intermediate Options

1. Bagatelle in G major, Op. 119 No. 1

2. Bagatelle in A minor, Op. 119 No. 9

3. Bagatelle in C major, Op. 33 No. 5

4. Six Variations on a Swiss Song, WoO 64

5. Bagatelle in E-flat major, Op. 126 No. 6 (first half only)

6. Sonatina in F major, Anh. 5 No. 2

7. Ecossaise in D major, WoO 83 No. 5 or No. 6
 

Feel free to pick any piece though - 
When you’ve picked your piece, post it below so we can all see where everyone’s starting!

118 replies

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    • YMT
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm going to finish Sonata 12 (opus 26) and also work on Sonata 8 (opus 13). 

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       

      My user name on DuoLingo is „Allegro13” to honor this Opus 😊

    • Sam_Smith
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I am going o stay within my time budget and pick the Bagatelle op 119#1. The end of the year is so busy! Hopefully I will make some progress on this - in addition to all the other things I am working on.

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

      Smart choice!

    • Mark_Cooper
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi all 

    very excited about another Beethoven challenge and to hear everyone’s contributions 

    I’m currently working on Sonata op78

    I intend to post my work on the first movement 

     

    cheers 

    mark

    • Sachi
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi everyone. I’m going to practice Bagatelle op.119 no 11 in Bb major. 
    I can’t promise anything regarding how far but I will spend some of my daily practice on Beethoven during the challenge 😊

    Thanks for this opportunity. 

    • Andrew_Smith
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi everyone -- I'm going to relearn the middle movement of op. 109 -- I love the intense driving rhythms and dynamic contrast. Plus it's relatively short! Thanks to Tonebase for organizing another challenge!

    • Rui
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I’m currently working on Sonata c minor 3rd movement (PathĂ©tique).  I hope to post a recording soon.

      • Victoria_Macdonald
      • 13 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Hi, I'm planning on submitting the 1st movement - at least a part of it. Now if we can find someone to do the 2nd movement!

      • rebecca_LAM
      • 12 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I am also working on the second movement. I learn it a while back and now am trying the polish it. 

    • Crystal_Liu
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi everyone, I am going to play Sonata in G Minor, op.49 no.1 1st movement.  I am not sure about the interpretation.

    • Deana_Dossey
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I continue to work on Fur Elise, but for this, my pick is Ecossaise in G major. I did see there is a lesson in tonebase. I'm really not sure what level I am, but want to have potential for success with my first tonebase challenge and have never learned this piece, or not that I remember. Putting it in writing here makes it more likely will do it...

      • Pediatrician
      • a_weymann
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       the Ecossaises are lovely! Great choice. 

    • Paul_Miller
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    This challenge sounds like a lot of fun. I plan to play Beethoven's Prelude op. 39.2.

    • Philippa.1
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Thank you for this challenge! I would like to work on Beethoven op 49 no 2 in G major. It is always so interesting to read everyone's comments. There is going to be a wonderful variety of repertoire. 

    • Ivy_Anderson
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi - This will be my first time participating in a tone base challenge. I’m going to work on Sonata Op. 10 No. 1, first movement. This may be cheating a bit, because I’ve been working on this with my teacher for quite a few months. But I think it will be a good introduction to participating in a tonebase event.

      • Pediatrician
      • a_weymann
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

      not cheating at all; that’s a tough piece! 

    • Andy.9
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I am going to work on the A flat major section for PathĂ©tique Sonata 3rd Movement.  I did a sloppy job of learning it the last time and got defeated by the 16th notes starting measure 107.  I will make it through this time!

      • Adena_Franz
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       Yes, you will!

    • Kyle_Johnson
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I'd love to see a full list of sonatas ranked by difficulty. I asked ChatGPT once but it didn't do a good job. 

      • hot4euterpe
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       

      Henle lists a difficulty score on a 9 scale for its published pieces.  If you look up Volume 1 and 2 of the complete sonatas on their website, you can see their ratings to get some idea (though it is a score for the complete sonata and not for individual movements).

    • Hae_Young_Kim
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I’m learning Sonata No.21. I love this sonata so much — there are many different techniques I need to learn and improve — but I enjoy playing it.

      • Pediatrician
      • a_weymann
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       we all look forward to listening to you, awestruck, as you conquer this masterpiece! 🙂

      • Hae_Young_Kim
      • 12 days ago
      • Reported - view

       aww thanks for the note. I see you love Beethoven’s music.  In fact, No.21 is way above my level. However, as a hobbyist, I just love to appreciate the music he gave us at my own level. :) 

    • Kristin_Whipple
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I need to learn the 1st 3 movements of opus 28. I have the final one done for my jury coming up and I will try to tackle the 1st one as I want to play the whole sonata for an audition next year.

    • Ambs
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm choosing Ecossaise in G major, WoO 23

Content aside

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