Beethoven Variations Community Challenge - General Discussion Thread!
Hey everyone! 👋 Looking for a place to chat with fellow participants about things that don't belong in the main updates thread or the rules thread?
- Perhaps you have a pianistic question inspired by the challenge?
- Want to chat about general topics of piano technique, practice tips, etc.?
- Or just looking to chat with fellow challenge participants about music?
This is what this thread is for 😊
Feel free to discuss anything about this challenge that doesn't fit in any of the other threads. You are also welcome to start your own thread, if you prefer!
20 replies
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I would not have even attempted something like this a month ago. Tonebase has really unlocked something for me. Looking forward to seeing how much of this piece I can get through in three weeks.
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This will be a fun challenge! Theme and variations is a nice way to have a look at the composers creativity with a theme. From a composer standpoint I find that highly interesting and useful.
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Thank you Dominic and Tonebase for these challenges. It is the only way I can get myself to work on a piece over a few weeks. Usually I play bits of pieces, do the parts I can, then leave the rest saying to myself ''well maybe in the future.'' But I love the challenges! They work for me.
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Hi Domenic
sorry I missed the last performance week of the Schubert-Liszt; I had it ready to play right through up to tempo but the computer gremlins prevented recording until a day after your deadline.
i pray for better luck this time with the Beethoven, seems quite gracious and good humored early Beethoven although I have never heard it.
No technical challenges (I have been playing his 32 variations since a teenager) and look forward to recording my performance soon.
Nick
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Hey Dominic,
Thank you so much for your valuable work on Tonebase! 👏
You tempted us with Beethoven so here I am!!! 😉
This is really a nice and approachable piece. I have already gone through the entire score and there are a few technical challenges that arise from within the apparent simplicity of the piece, including some fingerings and all the detailed instructions in terms of dynamics, articulation, slurs, etc. I also had some doubts about the speed fluctuations throughout the different moods/sections.
Apart from that, it was great to confirm my first impressions about the Theme appearing somewhere else!! 🤔 Especially as I reached Variation IV, it was clear that Beethoven had used the same thematic material in one of his sonatas; I just could not recognize immediately which one it was... After a few searches, I finally found the right spot and the corresponding introductory note in the Henle Verlag edition: «WoO 77 on a theme from the finale of Piano Sonata op. 22»!!!
Let us keep in touch!
Joao
Here it is, by my favourite pianist, Claudio Arrau.
The theme appears clearly after 0m39s & 4m22s (major) and after 2m17s & 2m42s (minor).
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.11 in B flat, Op.22 - 4. Rondo (Allegretto)
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Ah Beethoven, my favorite! I have played his 6 Vars. On a Swiss Song and 6 Vars. on Nel Cor Piu non Mi Sento. I look forward to learning this piece now. I missed the final stretch of the Liszt challenge due to unforeseen circumstances - but hope I can be more dialed in this time! Thank you, Dominic, for organizing these fun challenges!
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This is really interesting! Thank you for that connection and the link to another fine Arrau performance. What a different character our little theme seems to have in the context of that Sonata - strong and declarative. I really look forward to hearing your performance!
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Hi Friends!
I just discovered the video here Tonebase regarding home recording made by Martin over in the guitar area.. just in case anyone else needs to learn how to do this. I certainly do!