Piano Fantasy in G minor (Op.77) 1809 This time a rare performance as well by Schnabel.
As a pianist Beethoven was appreciated most of all for his improvisations, and his sometimes rather wild and intense fantasies could move his audience to tears. Josef Gelinek, a Bohemian priest, was a great virtuoso who enjoyed the favour of the aristocracy. After being 'beaten' by Beethoven at a competition of piano improvisation, he said 'He is not a man, but a devil. His improvisations are the most amazing thing I have ever heard.'
Carl Czerny called the Fantasy Op.77, dating from 1809, wholly characteristic of Beethoven's improvisational style. The work starts of in G-minor, ends in B-major and goes through all kinds of passion with pathetic recitatives and lovely melodies succeeded by gay passages and a goblin-like presto. A peculiar piece of music which gives a fascinating insight into the way Beethoven created his piano works. The piece was published in 1810 by Breitkopf and Hartel, dedicated to Count Franz von Brunsvick.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chkpb7bp-fM[/YOUTUBE]
As a pianist Beethoven was appreciated most of all for his improvisations, and his sometimes rather wild and intense fantasies could move his audience to tears. Josef Gelinek, a Bohemian priest, was a great virtuoso who enjoyed the favour of the aristocracy. After being 'beaten' by Beethoven at a competition of piano improvisation, he said 'He is not a man, but a devil. His improvisations are the most amazing thing I have ever heard.'
Carl Czerny called the Fantasy Op.77, dating from 1809, wholly characteristic of Beethoven's improvisational style. The work starts of in G-minor, ends in B-major and goes through all kinds of passion with pathetic recitatives and lovely melodies succeeded by gay passages and a goblin-like presto. A peculiar piece of music which gives a fascinating insight into the way Beethoven created his piano works. The piece was published in 1810 by Breitkopf and Hartel, dedicated to Count Franz von Brunsvick.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chkpb7bp-fM[/YOUTUBE]
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