Rare page - 8 Variations on Gretry's Air "Une fievre brulante"

[Rod]

Originally posted by Andrea:
A very lovely, peaceful and at times energetic piece. As I played it, the sun came out here in Heiligenstadt. It's like Beethoven himself smiling down on us.

This never works in London Andrea, you must have some special connection with the master there in Heiligenstadt. Perhaps you could become a professional weather changer - you could earn a fortune!

Concerning your reference to myself and Napoleon elsewhere, I just think of the time I saw his momumental tomb when I went to Paris last year. If I get something even approaching this I'll be most happy on Olympus! Remember, if the Prussians hadn't arrived at Waterloo after loosing the chasing 30,000 (I think) French troops sent after them, the subsequent history of mainland Europe (at least) would have been rather different, I suggest certainly no worse.

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[This message has been edited by Rod (edited January 18, 2003).]

[Peter]

Originally posted by Rod:

Concerning your reference to myself and Napoleon elsewhere, I just think of the time I saw his momumental tomb when I went to Paris last year.

I believe that there is a good deal of controversy as to who is actually in it - it is rumoured that he escaped to America and one of his doubles was the man who died on St.Helena! I can't recall but is there a quote of Beethoven's reaction to Napoleon's supposed death?

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'Man know thyself'

[Gurn Blanston]

Originally posted by Rod:
I have a first class recording of the Handel variations, but each variation is a seperate track so posting them all would be rather complex.

Rod,
Oh well, c'est la vie! Could you let me know what the label and artist are? Perhaps if I know that I can find a copy. I have mixed feelings about the habit of making each variation in a set separate like that. I don't know about you, but I never listen to just one variation in any case. Brendel's Diabelli is no fewer than 34 tracks! When I ripped it, I compiled the tracks into 1, of course it came out to 48 meg, but that's no problem on a hard drive, I would just hate to have to upload it through my phone line at 19.2 kbps though!
Regards, Gurn

[Chris]

Originally posted by Rod:
I have a first class recording of the Handel variations, but each variation is a seperate track so posting them all would be rather complex.

You should be able to rip them all as one file or at least join them afterword with little trouble.

[This message has been edited by Chris (edited January 18, 2003).]

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
I believe that there is a good deal of controversy as to who is actually in it - it is rumoured that he escaped to America and one of his doubles was the man who died on St.Helena! I can't recall but is there a quote of Beethoven's reaction to Napoleon's supposed death?

I've never heard this story about Napoleon escaping before. I don't know about Beethoven's reaction to his 'supposed' death, this would be interesting though as I'm sure it would have given us his final analysis of the man.



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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Rod]

Originally posted by Chris:
[B] You should be able to rip them all as one file or at least join them afterword with little trouble.
B]

Not using iTunes!

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Sorrano]

Originally posted by Rod:
The point of the rare music page is not the instruments but the relative rareness of the pieces in question. There is currently no version of this piece on the fortepiano. Brendel does quite a good job of these lesser known variations, but the the Eroica variations and sonatas are a different matter from what I've heard. Beethoven composed quite a few sets of vatiations that are never heard, some quite substantial, yet all are very listenable and tastefully put together, as the current recording shows.

Several months ago I picked up (from Amazon.com) the "complete" Piano Solo Variations and have picked up recordings of most of them to listen to. I've played what I am able to, as well. I find these some of the most delightful piano music I've ever heard. There is such freedom in the expression and such fluidity (sp?) in the chordal progressions and key modulations that I don't hear in other composers. I often get a feeling of total spontaneity yet I realize that the music itself is highly ordered. Since you posted the variations I've been playing them over and over on the piano as well as giving them another listen to. I can't get enough!

[Peter]

Originally posted by Sorrano:

Several months ago I picked up (from Amazon.com) the "complete" Piano Solo Variations and have picked up recordings of most of them to listen to. I've played what I am able to, as well. I find these some of the most delightful piano music I've ever heard. There is such freedom in the expression and such fluidity (sp?) in the chordal progressions and key modulations that I don't hear in other composers. I often get a feeling of total spontaneity yet I realize that the music itself is highly ordered. Since you posted the variations I've been playing them over and over on the piano as well as giving them another listen to. I can't get enough!

I think they come closest to giving us an idea of Beethoven's improvisations for which he was famed. Another piece that gives a good impression of this is the fantasy Op.77

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'Man know thyself'

[chopithoven]

Originally posted by Peter:
Now available to members at
www.kingsbarn.freeserve.co.uk/rare.html

Could you provide some data about the "G" catalogue of Beethoven's works and its author? When was it written? Why it includes many works not included in the Hess and WoO catalogues?

[Gurn Blanston]

Originally posted by chopithoven:
Could you provide some data about the "G" catalogue of Beethoven's works and its author? When was it written? Why it includes many works not included in the Hess and WoO catalogues?

Chop,
"G" is Grove, the numbers were originally assigned in the Grove Music Dictionary. I asked a question here a few months ago about "Bia" numbers, and when it wasn't cleared up, I searched it out to the point that I found the entire Biamonte Catalog which not only has all Grove, Hess and WoO #'s, but many other works not included on ANY of those lists. This can all be very confusing, but the Biamonte list is clearly the most all-inclusive. I will find the link that I got it from and post it here tomorrow, and you can then refer to it anytime.
Regards, Gurn

[chopithoven]

Originally posted by Gurn Blanston:
Chop,
"G" is Grove, the numbers were originally assigned in the Grove Music Dictionary. I asked a question here a few months ago about "Bia" numbers, and when it wasn't cleared up, I searched it out to the point that I found the entire Biamonte Catalog which not only has all Grove, Hess and WoO #'s, but many other works not included on ANY of those lists. This can all be very confusing, but the Biamonte list is clearly the most all-inclusive. I will find the link that I got it from and post it here tomorrow, and you can then refer to it anytime.
Regards, Gurn

Oh! I will be waiting for that link.

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
I think they come closest to giving us an idea of Beethoven's improvisations for which he was famed. Another piece that gives a good impression of this is the fantasy Op.77

I think the Bagatelles are also to be looked at in this respect. They are quite different in nature from the more formal sonatas.

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Gurn Blanston]

Originally posted by chopithoven:
Oh! I will be waiting for that link.

ANd here it is, as promised. Look around on this site, it is quite interesting, many pictures that I hadn't seen elsewhere.
Regards, Gurn
http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Oeuvres/ListBiamonti01.html

[Sorrano]

Originally posted by Rod:
I think the Bagatelles are also to be looked at in this respect. They are quite different in nature from the more formal sonatas.

These minatures define some of Beethoven's greatest output. I compare these with other minatures, such as by Mendelssohn and Schumann and I can see that Beethoven takes his hat off to no one. Every note has its place and is an important part of each of these little masterpieces.

[Joy]

Originally posted by Sorrano:
These minatures define some of Beethoven's greatest output. I compare these with other minatures, such as by Mendelssohn and Schumann and I can see that Beethoven takes his hat off to no one. Every note has its place and is an important part of each of these little masterpieces.

I agree. I have the Bagatelles on a 2 CD volumn and enjoy listening to these immensely. They're always a pleasure to put on and each one is it's own mini masterpiece
in it's own right. Just wonderfully composed.

Joy