Beethoven's Birthday Challenge!
Coming up in November, we celebrate Beethoven's birthday with a 4-week challenge where we all play his music!
Stay tuned for the launch date of November 18th, when you can start sharing your progress and pieces, culminating in a watch party celebration on his birthday: December 17th!
In the meantime, start thinking about what you might like to play and/or learn!
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I think I’ll use this as an opportunity to finally get around to learning the last movement of 14/2.
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Gail Starr That would be a perfect keystone addition to your graceful and spirited renditions of the other two movements.
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Peter Golemme Well, I'm kind of like Dorie in "Finding Nemo". Got distracted by a shiny, new project: starting Op. 28 for this challenge.
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Like Gail, I will play the op 14 no 2. I’ve learned the first movement before (not concert ready level), but the other two movements will be completely fresh. I’m looking forward to learn it with this challenge and group of piano friends!
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Sindre Skarelven those movements are still fresh for me, too !
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Sindre Skarelven everything you play is concert ready I can’t wait to hear you perform again!
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After a lot of thinking, I've decide to try The Tempest Sonata op 31 n2. It's a very good opportunity to do it.
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Juan Carlos Olite Perfect! A great challenge and amazing sonata!
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Sindre Great choice Juan Carlos. This is going to be a change of pace from your Bach explorations -- a stirring caldron of overflowing emotions, complete with an anguished recitative in the middle of the first movement! I know that your performance is going to be insightful & revealing.
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What a great challenge
. I would like to participate with op 78, the sonata No 24 in F Sharp Major 
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Ursina Boehm Ursina, this is a beautiful sonata, rarely played, and I'll really look forward to your take on it. I heard Russell Sherman play this live in Jordan Hall in the 1970's (part of his complete Beethoven cycle) and was enraptured. I then learned it myself and played it as an audition piece. Haven't revisted it for a long time.
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Ursina Boehm can't wait to hear this. That second movement is a real monster
but so cool
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What great idea! I will learn variations nos. 24, 31 and (try) 32 of op. 120.
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Hi everyone! I’d like to take part with the Pastoral Sonata. It’s fairly new to me. Will see how far I get. Looking forward to preparing for Beethoven‘s Birthday Party together.
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Hi piano friends, I will work on Op 79 for this challenge, but can only start in early November, as I'm away.
Looking forward to learning it, if there is any sonata of Beethoven's that can even come close to being described as cute it is this one. I also understand that working on this exempts me from other scales exercises, so this sonata actually saves time too! :D
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Natalie Peh I would add energetic, playful and high spirited. Beethoven had many such moments despite his reputation for Sturm und Drang, and we'll enjoy hearing your exploration of these moods.
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Peter Golemme I will explore and try to express those moods. It is a chirpy piece!
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I will work on Op 27/1 in E Flat Major- the overlooked but so beautiful sibling of that slightly famous Moonlight one
This one is also a Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia. -
Vidhya Bashyam Another rarely played piece Vidhya. can't wait to hear you play it. I always thought that this Sonata was a close replica of how Beethoven might have improvised. looking forward to hearing you.
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It looks like I'll be working on a German Dance in C Major, WoO 8. I already have Clementi and a Bach piece, so we're choosing to go a little lighter on the Beethoven.
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Michelle R This will be a great addition to your repertoire Michelle. One thing I always find when I revisit Beethoven after working on other composers, as great as they may be, is this sense that every single note is perfect, and perfectly chosen. And by implications the perfect decision on which notes to leave out. I think you're going to find this a very satisfying piece to work on.,
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I really need to polish up Fur Elise and work on making it more musical. Plus it’s my mothers absolute favorite so it’ll be for her as well.
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I just saw this…I think I’ll try bagatelle op 126 no 4 in b minor. The question will be whether to play it presto, as written, or to take Gould’s marvelously slow tempo.
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Marc M whatever the tempo, please make one of your delightful videos (unless you prefer to play live in the watch party).
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Gail Starr Haha, I'll try to do that! :D
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