This comment is from the producer of this recording, and the founder and owner of the classical CD label, Musica Omnia, based in the United States. This recording was made (along with Beethoven's op. 110 & op. 111 sonatas) in April, 2010 in the First Presbyterian Church, Ypsilanti, MI in the USA. The fortepiano is from within a few years of Beethoven's life, built in 1835 in Vienna by the master builder, Conrad Graf. Beethoven's last piano was by Conrad Graf, built around 1824, and quadruple-strung in the treble (rather than the usual triple strung instruments, including the present one). The CD, devoted to the last three sonatas, was released under the title "Magnificent Landscapes", following the title of an unsigned 1824 review of all three sonatas in the prominent Leipzig Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung, which compared Beethoven’s music to being led through a “magnificent landscape, through forests, meadows, valleys and rocky gorges, with glimpses presenting the most ravishing vistas” yet “the most captivating moments of calm could be followed by rapidly changing features next to one another…causing one to hesitate along the way.” The artist for this CD is the highly distinguished American fortepianist, Penelope Crawford, who has made many recordings for Musica Omnia, including as a member of the Atlantis Ensemble, with the Dutch violinist Jaap Schroeder, many of which are also available on this channel. This particular CD is one of the very finest we have produced, with a level of technical and musical understanding that sheds real light on these familiar and challenging "late" Beethoven works. One of the sounds that you will hear on this fortepiano is the "moderator" pedal, which inserts a strip of felt between the (leather-covered) hammers and the strings, providing an effect that cannot be imitated on the modern piano. It was essential to the composers who knew this kind of instrument, right through to Mendelssohn and Schumann, both of whom owned instruments by Graf: Mendelssohn's own Graf was just a couple of serial numbers away from the one you hear on this recording. Another way in which Penelope Crawford's work can be heard on this channel is as the producer for all of the solo Bach harpsichord recordings released by Musica Omnia, which are all being provided here with scores. She is one of America's leading musicians. Peter Watchorn
What's strange to me is that it's not more popular. It's not like it's unknown, but compared to the Moonlight, or Pathetique, or Waldstein...maybe it just needs a catchy nickname.
@@erichodge567 unfortunately Beethoven's last 4 sonatas were not famous at that time, because they were considered impossible to play (until Liszt in 1836 tried to play and perform in Paris) and also because Beethoven was already ahead of his time and music critics did not understood the style of his composition (with the exception of the fugue of the sonata no. 31 in the Bach/Händel style), they thought that Beethoven, because of his deafness, was no longer understanding how to compose
@@PEDRO_boaro , that makes perfect sense. I actually remember hearing op. 109 for the first time and thinking, "This is nuts." I think I had to hear it three times before I finally "got it". That third time, though, it utterly blew me away. Anyway, thanks.
Some graphologists have estimated his IQ to around 160. It wouldn´t be surprising. No artist reach such heights with an average IQ. Schubert was brilliant as well.
I can't believe someone made a video with Beethoven's own score! It's amazing, I'm so thankful for this! I have to try what beethoven crossed out at 5:57
This performance is mesmerizing. I had already heard the Opp. 110 and 111 from this collection, and I was already familiar with Op. 109, so I knew that I would be in a different realm for twenty minutes. It is everything I expected. When it was over, I was completely refreshed in mind and spirit.
Absolutely! And, something I miss reading by UA-cam crowd, is the fact that Mrs. Crawford puts down one of the finest renditions of this Sonata I know of!
@@bartjebartmans It sounds to me when I listen that one of the high notes, perhaps E, is out of tone. Is this how it would usually sound or does the piano need tuning or is this because the piano is old?
The handwriting only looks messy. All of the notes are in the right places and the expression marks are clear. I spend a lot of time working with manuscripts by 19th century Viennese dance composers and, trust me, there are much worse. These composers wrote under time pressure. Repeated passages are inevitably not written out. Dynamic and expression marks are often inconsistent and left to the copyist to sort out. I've seen scores where the composer has not bothered to write the right notes, just the right rhythmic shape in approximately the right place, and assumed the copyist would fix the harmonies. Some composers worked by committee, letting assistants fill in some parts. Others (thank you!) produced scores so neat you could easily play from them.
I wonder if everything you see is Beethoven’s handwriting. For example the additions in what seems to be written with a pencil, such as the bar numbers. Does anyone know?
This comment is from the producer of this recording, and the founder and owner of the classical CD label, Musica Omnia, based in the United States. This recording was made (along with Beethoven's op. 110 & op. 111 sonatas) in April, 2010 in the First Presbyterian Church, Ypsilanti, MI in the USA. The fortepiano is from within a few years of Beethoven's life, built in 1835 in Vienna by the master builder, Conrad Graf. Beethoven's last piano was by Conrad Graf, built around 1824, and quadruple-strung in the treble (rather than the usual triple strung instruments, including the present one). The CD, devoted to the last three sonatas, was released under the title "Magnificent Landscapes", following the title of an unsigned 1824 review of all three sonatas in the prominent Leipzig
Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung, which compared Beethoven’s music to being led through a “magnificent landscape, through forests, meadows, valleys and rocky gorges, with glimpses presenting the most ravishing vistas” yet “the most captivating moments of calm could be followed by rapidly changing features next to one another…causing one to hesitate along the way.”
The artist for this CD is the highly distinguished American fortepianist, Penelope Crawford, who has made many recordings for Musica Omnia, including as a member of the Atlantis Ensemble, with the Dutch violinist Jaap Schroeder, many of which are also available on this channel. This particular CD is one of the very finest we have produced, with a level of technical and musical understanding that sheds real light on these familiar and challenging "late" Beethoven works. One of the sounds that you will hear on this fortepiano is the "moderator" pedal, which inserts a strip of felt between the (leather-covered) hammers and the strings, providing an effect that cannot be imitated on the modern piano. It was essential to the composers who knew this kind of instrument, right through to Mendelssohn and Schumann, both of whom owned instruments by Graf: Mendelssohn's own Graf was just a couple of serial numbers away from the one you hear on this recording.
Another way in which Penelope Crawford's work can be heard on this channel is as the producer for all of the solo Bach harpsichord recordings released by Musica Omnia, which are all being provided here with scores. She is one of America's leading musicians. Peter Watchorn
This is my favorite piano sonata, and a top 10 favorite piece in all of music. It is absolutely stupendous.
My favorite Beethoven sonata
What's strange to me is that it's not more popular. It's not like it's unknown, but compared to the Moonlight, or Pathetique, or Waldstein...maybe it just needs a catchy nickname.
@@erichodge567 unfortunately Beethoven's last 4 sonatas were not famous at that time, because they were considered impossible to play (until Liszt in 1836 tried to play and perform in Paris) and also because Beethoven was already ahead of his time and music critics did not understood the style of his composition (with the exception of the fugue of the sonata no. 31 in the Bach/Händel style), they thought that Beethoven, because of his deafness, was no longer understanding how to compose
@@erichodge567 the Pathetique sonata was the great mark of the consolidation of the early romantic period, with the piano as the main instrument
@@PEDRO_boaro , that makes perfect sense. I actually remember hearing op. 109 for the first time and thinking, "This is nuts." I think I had to hear it three times before I finally "got it". That third time, though, it utterly blew me away. Anyway, thanks.
Yep that's Beethoven's handwriting 😆
But it's Beethoven, "i absolve you"
Yes!👍
Yes!👍
Some graphologists have estimated his IQ to around 160. It wouldn´t be surprising. No artist reach such heights with an average IQ. Schubert was brilliant as well.
@@metteholm4833 Well, IQ tests aren't a good way to measure intelligence
My absolutely favourite piece of all of music. Everything I ever wanted from music is there within the less than 20 minutes.
Who is the pianist? This version is superb! Now my favorite version.
Paul Badura Scoda has another great piano forte version.
Unfortunately his instrument and recording doesn't come close to this. His playing yes, but the rest, no.
@Daniel Durovsky if you click on the tab "show more" you will see Penelope Crawford
I can't believe someone made a video with Beethoven's own score! It's amazing, I'm so thankful for this! I have to try what beethoven crossed out at 5:57
There is (how I remember) a video in UA-cam with Beethoven's handwriting of his 9th symphony.
Plus my uploads of his 6th Symphony and Moonlight Sonata. All in his hand.
good luck reading that
This performance is mesmerizing. I had already heard the Opp. 110 and 111 from this collection, and I was already familiar with Op. 109, so I knew that I would be in a different realm for twenty minutes. It is everything I expected. When it was over, I was completely refreshed in mind and spirit.
I love 13:42~13:53 sound so much
I can play only this part!!
Wonderful piano, pianist and presentation. Thank you.
Wow, Beethoven's handwriting!
Absolutely beautiful
When one listens to this and reads his sheet music in his writing, you are reaching back in time 220 years. It’s truly fascinating.
Yet it's effect is timeless!
Thank you!
Thank you sooo much for the tremendous work you did!
Wonderful.
Thank you so much for associating the music with the original manuscript!!!!!
I've never seen this done before. How interesting!!!
This sounds much better on a classic fortepiano imo.
Absolutely! And, something I miss reading by UA-cam crowd, is the fact that Mrs. Crawford puts down one of the finest renditions of this Sonata I know of!
@@bartjebartmans
It sounds to me when I listen that one of the high notes, perhaps E, is out of tone. Is this how it would usually sound or does the piano need tuning or is this because the piano is old?
@@chris93703 perhaps as the instrument is tuned to A = 430 Hz and not 440 Hz?
Agreed. The clarity is outstanding.
Many thanks!
I feel harbinger of Romantic period
The handwriting only looks messy. All of the notes are in the right places and the expression marks are clear. I spend a lot of time working with manuscripts by 19th century Viennese dance composers and, trust me, there are much worse. These composers wrote under time pressure. Repeated passages are inevitably not written out. Dynamic and expression marks are often inconsistent and left to the copyist to sort out. I've seen scores where the composer has not bothered to write the right notes, just the right rhythmic shape in approximately the right place, and assumed the copyist would fix the harmonies. Some composers worked by committee, letting assistants fill in some parts. Others (thank you!) produced scores so neat you could easily play from them.
Also...in the final movement theme and variations does anyone else note a similarity to Bach's Goldberg variations, particularly in the theme?
Very much so.
Delightful!
I wonder if everything you see is Beethoven’s handwriting. For example the additions in what seems to be written with a pencil, such as the bar numbers. Does anyone know?
Probably the editor/copyist! Most likely Beethoven would've only written the page numbers (if he did).
2:16
are these the original notes by Beethoven? fascinating to see
yes
Omg yes
É uma escuta transportadora, imaginemos a sala de Beethoven, ele ao piano.
15:10
This is a recording of a forte-piano? How come it sounds so much like a modern piano?
01:06
looking at his writing style, i would thin he is left handed.
he was
Who is the performing artist?
If you click on the tab "show more" you will see the info: Penelope Crawford
@@bartjebartmans Thank you. I overlooked it in favor of all that other historical material.