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Double Concerto / Piano Quartet #3

December 7, 2011 by Amari Holt

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“Beethoven enlarged the limits of the classical style beyond all former conceptions, but he never changed it is necessary structure or abandoned it, as did the composers who followed him. In the other rudimentary distinct elements of his musical language, as well as in the key relations within a single movement, Beethoven may be said to have remained within the classical framework, even while using it in startlingly radical and basi ways” said Charles Rosen in his classical survey ‘The Classical Style.’

Keeping in mind this quote, it gives us a clear view of the overall talent of Beethoven who invented eternal tunes and immortal symphonies, which in today’s world are considered as masterpieces. To understand the bona fide class of this maestro, it is primary to look at his background as to how he became the archetypal of the classical and romantic era.

Brief History

Ludwig Van Beethoven, of German Origin, was born on December 17, 1770 in the home of Johann who was proficient teacher of violin, piano and voice. Teaching music was his bread and butter as he was a chapel master (Kapellmeister). Since his early age, Beethoven used to sing soprano in the very same electoral chapel where his father was the chapel master who taught Beethoven, violin and piano. Since 8 years of age, he studied with rather a lot of local organists, even received piano lessons from Tobias Friedrich Pfeiffer, where violinist like Franz Rovantini present him violin and viola lessons. Even altho as a born artist, Beethoven’s musical splendor was related to that of Mozart’s, he never exceeded the elementary level in school education. In his teens in 1787, he went to Vienna for unknown reasons, but a great deal of say that he even met Mozart and took lessons from him. In a two weeks time when he came back his world abruptly changed for him as his mother passed away and his father became a drunkard. Beethoven, at the age of 19, formally requested to be known as the head of the house and started receiving half of his father’s salary to help his siblings.

Beethoven shifted to Vienna in 1792 where his father passed from physical life in the very same year. His father passed away in December that same year. He studied with Haydn for a fixed time as there was a personality clash. Beethoven then studied with the best known teacher in Vienna, Johann Georg Albrechtsberger. With him he learned contrapuntal and counterpoint exercises in free writing, in two to four-part fugues, in imitation, choral fugues, double fugue, double counterpoint at the respective intervals, canon and triple counterpoint. With this learning procedure he kept on composing more and more where in 1800, the initial symphony and a septet (op. 20) was performed by him. At the age of 20 he became deaf and the whole life of Beethoven exclusively transformed though he tried to hide his disablement form the world but could not succeed. Beethoven used a queer rod connected to the soundboard on a piano that he could gnaw -the vibrations would then move from the piano to his jaw to amplify his clear or deep perception of the sound. By 1814 he became completely deaf. After 1815, no successors came upfront to carry the patronage, and Beethoven relied primarily on retail composition rights and a meagre pension.

A born Genius

Now here the question arises how a outstanding composer like Beethoven wrote symphonies 2, 3 (Symphony 3, Eroica was titled as Bonaparte, which was a tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte) and 4 within 1800-1806, which were his early days of deafness? What one may say in regards to his imaginative thoughts as they were God gifted and no humane may create that by himself. If he would have been intellectual enough, he could have studied well in his school days. But he was the chosen one born to manufacture such a music, which is immortal. The talent was there within him it was just the brushing up of that talent was required that revolutionized the world of music.

Evident in the test of time, his symphonies were traditionalisti to be master pieces in conjunction with his other works. Beethoven loved a woman named Fanny, but never married. He spoke of her in a letter saying, “I found only one whom I shall doubtless never possess.” The romance in his sonatas is rather apparent of his unfeigned love. Beethoven finished plenteous music works allround his life. Each and each piece is a representation of his splendor having it is own style and design with variation and modulation. Even even though Beethoven’s music varied from symphonies to sonatas, his area of expertness was piano concertos, string quartets piano sonatas and symphonies, which were his favourites as well. Beethoven’s compositional career is ordinarily disunited into Early (upto 1802), Middle (1803-1814) and Late (1815 onwards) periods. In his Some classic pieces from the Early amount of time are the 1st and 2nd symphonies, the 1-6 string quartets, 1-3 piano concertos, and the original 20 piano sonatas, including the evergreen “Moonlight” sonata.

His Middle (laudable) amount of time started along with his detection of encroaching deafness. It is famous for wide base music that express struggle and heroism, Middle-period works include the fourth and fifth piano concertos, six symphonies (Nos. 3-8), violin concerto, the triple concerto, the next seven piano sonatas (this include Waldstein and Appassionata), five string quartets (Nos. 7-11) and Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio.

The last amount of time is very much considered as the Romantic period. Music from this time is branded by his intellectual depth, formal innovations, and intense personal expression. For instance, the Ninth Symphony, Missa Solemnis and the “Hammerklavier” Sonata are the best known masterworks of the last period. After his death in, each musician throughout the globe, is more or less and at any time of his music career is inspired by Beethoven’s music. The greatest example that may be cited it the European committee which designed the European flag adopted Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ from his 9th Symphony in 1972 which became the official anthem of the European Union in 1985. The composer has likewise been portrayed in a number of films, both theatrical and television releases. Since his death in 1827, the influence of Beethoven’s music on subsequent generations of composers is unfathomed and will carry on centuries ahead.


Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3 Picture

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3 Pic

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3 Picture

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3 Photo

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3 Pic

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3

Double Concerto Piano Quartet 3 Pic


Most helpful customer reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
5Great music played by great soloists
By Eric Schultz
The music of Brahms is powerful and enchanting. Who better to play his Double Concerto Op. 102 and Piano Quartet No. 3 Op. 60 than the masters of their respective instruments? Ma, Ax, and Stern are fantastic as individual players, and dynamite when heard together on this CD. These pieces are great representatives of the period Brahms composed in. I’ve not heard the original recording (done in 1988 and 1990), but this one, that has been remastered, is truly musical beauty. I only hope that you have a good sound system or a good set of headphones to fully appreciate how much work was put into remaking this music to make it more beautiful than you could have originally imagined.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
5Superb!
By Ellen D. Lanahan
I love classical music but know little about it. A friend lent me this CD and I listened to it at least a dozen times over the past two-weeks. I have never tired of listening to it. It is now on my Christmas wish list. All the solo performers and the orchestra under Claudio Abato are excellent. I disagree with the earlier commenter who thought little of the Piano Quartets. The final one provides one with a robust listening experience that goes well with the Double Concerto.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
5Brahms: Double Concerto
By Jose
Great quality and great sound, a must buy if you want a piece of Brahms master works, My dad loved it as a birthday present, I had the chance to listened with him and he was very pleased.

See all 6 customer reviews…


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