The genius of Beethoven

[Seán]

This is a wonderful set of documentaries

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3

[jaybee]

thanks Sean....

I think his piano sonatas are the finest body of work in music history.....

[jaybee]

let me just caveat....

in my limited knowledge of musical history!!

[james]

Excellent programs -- thank you.

[cybot]

Thanks again....

[fergus]

Thank you for posting them Seán; I will get around to them some time soon.

[Seán]

Lads, thanks for the positive feedback, it's much appreciated.

And to JB in particular, there are several great composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven who probably rank in many people's top four, not necessarily in that order. To my ear none of them surpass or even emulate Beethoven, his symphonies, string quartets and, in particular, his piano sonatas were written by a superior being. Suffice it to say that no composer (to my ear) comes close to Beethoven's piano music, not even the adorable piano music of Schubert, Chopin, Mozart or Debussy can match his exquisite output, so I agree with you on that score.

In classical music, Beethoven and Gustav Mahler, are my favourite composers. I don't suggest that they are the best but merely my favourites, I don't doubt that, over time, that will change.

[jaybee]

I'm also very fond of individual works of most composers (usually so long as they died fairly long ago!!)

I suppose most competition round these parts for a body of work in terms of Beethoven's Piano works would come from Bach's Choral Works?

I've listened to the collegium japan cycle, but I find it hard to warm to (I'd be a bigger fan of Vivaldi's choral works - limited as they are in numerical comparison!)

[Seán]

I'm also very fond of individual works of most composers (usually so long as they died fairly long ago!!)

I suppose most competition round these parts for a body of work in terms of Beethoven's Piano works would come from Bach's Choral Works?

I've listened to the collegium japan cycle, but I find it hard to warm to (I'd be a bigger fan of Vivaldi's choral works - limited as they are in numerical comparison!)

Me too, I can admire the producton values and the tonal qualties of the individual musicians on the BIS box sets but the limited supply of Suzuki's Bach in my collection leaves me cold, it's sterile. Herreweghe's approach, by comparison, fills my heart with joy and Gardiner's gets the foot, heart and blood racing, so I'd opt for Gardiner and Herreweghe instead.

[jaybee]

I looked at BIS on foot of the Daniel Taylor version of Bachs reworking of pergolesi on the Stabat Mater disc.... and it was beautiful....