Making Progress!
It’s been an interesting couple of weeks. It makes such a difference to be practicing regularly. The F minor, op.2 is feeling very good. I have found that many of these sonatas are playable, but the hard work is the control to ensure evenness of tone. I have some silly E major scales in the 9th sonata which are a piece of cake. But I won’t perform that sonata unless the sixteenth note passages are as clear and even as possible. I hear a few notes that jump out. Some of the hard work has not been learning the notes of some of the harder sonatas, the hard work comes from taking the easier sonatas which are playable but so exposed to any small technical glitch. The final movement of op. 14, “Moonlight” is feeling prepared. The “Moonlight” needs to be prepared for an upcoming concert. I have discovered a psychological issue coming into play with my practicing. It seems as though I find myself knowing how difficult certain sonatas are like the “HammerKlavier” and I set an overall tone of Micro-control that I need when practicing but I forget to let go of the Micro-control and need to try to live in the Macro-performance or mind set on some of the Sonatas that I have learned,
The issue is, some of the Sonatas are not technically difficult, but all of them really do have quite a bit to say. Some sonatas need a simpler approach that I feel is needed to enhance the complete picture of what Beethoven wants to say in certain sonatas. His 10th Sonata in G major is delightful and sings with a lighter approach. In the past two weeks, the Sonatas that have been most prevalent have been the Sonata 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 14, and 17. It has been a productive week.
I continue to practice Bach French and English Suites. I forgot how much I love Bach. I have returned to listening to my beloved Bach on a near daily basis. Melodies of his B -minor Mass swirl through my head in the mornings along with the sunny disposition of the E-major French Suite or an Orchestral Suite. I used to listen to the Brandenburg Concerti often and overplayed them but my spirit is longing for that home feeling I have when living with Bach.
I continue to practice Chopin, Spanish music and addded some Brahms in for some fun. I forgot hom much I love playing his OP. 116 fantasies and also his Op. 79, no.1 and 2 Rhapsodies. Anyway, most of the time is spent on the Beethoven and I am terribly content with that. I performed the 1st Piano Concerto in C, op.15 years ago and I plan on bringing that back out also.
If you are reading this blog, go and find a recording of Beethoven’s music and enjoy!
Until next time.
Sean