Practice Sessions

It’s 06-13-2024, It’s been refreshing to continue to study and practice every day. My plan is to have the Sonata in f minor ready for performance by the end of June. This sonata is technically an easy sonata, but I have heard some pianists play this as if it was a child’s piece or it is performed without the sense of gravitas that Beethoven put in all of his music. The Minuet and Trio is technically the easiest, but it also has some of the most interesting shifts between legato, staccato, forte, piano, static and a lovely, shaped line. The movement has a distinct play between agitato and espressivo. I have noticed this is a hallmark of Beethoven’s music.

I practice this Sonata and I can play , although there are a few times that I find myself wondering with a movable metronome beat. Sometimes it works and sometimes it loses its urgency as the beat needs to remain steadfast. I find it utterly frustrating as I should know better. I know I could perform it now but if I’m going to learn these, I am going to do the best to be technically sound and musically sound but also, hopefully musically inspiring.

Right now, I am practicing Sonatas 1, 3, 9, 10, 14. Most of these are somewhat learned and need touch up or cleaning up. The 3rd sonata in C Major has a wicked section of triple trills so it requires some good technique and I have decided to redo my Practice syllabus and include some technical exercises devised from certain sections of the different Sonatas.

Speaking of Sonatas, I took a break from Beethoven in different sections of my rehearsal and have pulled out the music for Dello Joio’s Sonata no.3. This is so beautiful. There are so many moments where the music is such a part of my own musical language that I can see sections of my life in moments of this Sonata. The music is poignant, carefree, and downright beautiful. I need to perform this complete Sonata. I performed only the first movement in College. The Sonata has been a friend and companion of mine since. Glad to have you back in my life Norman Dello Joio Sonata no.3!

Hopefully, I wont be so long in getting a blog up next time. Talk soon!

Sean