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What are your guys' favorite Beethoven slow movements? Right now mine's 10-3's. It's SO powerful. I actually wish that the fourth movement came right after the 2nd because in my mind, the end of the second really dies down and ends and then the beginning of the fourth almost sounds like something coming to life right at the beginning, like a heart beat almost. But I guess you can't reorder sonata movements, huh? :P.

Op. 7

Me too!

Op. 2 No. 3. Not only does it have a beautiful, contemplative melody filled with lots of dramatic pauses, and beautiful voice leading, but it has several very tension-filled, very spare sections with dramatic bass outbursts. In it, IMO, are some of the greatest contrasts to be found in a Beethoven slow movement (at least until the late sonatas).

For me, the second movement of the Pastorale, and also the second movement of the Pathetique. Maria Grinberg plays them beautifully.

Op. 125

Hammerklavier.

BTW, we all know what the slow movement of Op. 10 #3 is supposed to depict, right?

*RIGHT?*

I love the slow movements of the Beethoven sonatas. Some of my faves are Op. 7, Op. 22, Op. 31, No. 2 (sublime) and Op. 57. Since we are all wrapped up in the Cliburns right now, one of my absolute favorite moments in 2005 was Davide Cabassi playing the Andante con moto of Op. 57. I can still see his face and the absolute joy he found in making music. (He was the absolute heart and soul of that competition.)

And sort of OT, has anyone noticed the similarity between the slow movement of Op. 2, No. 3 (the end of the e minor section right before it repeats) and Dario Marianelli's wonderful score to "Pride and Prejudice"?

Beethoven wrote so many great slow movements that it is hard for me to narrow my favorites down to one or two. Among my favorites are the slow movements to the following works:

3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th symphonies
4th and 5th piano concerti
violin concerto
piano sonatas op. 2 #3, op. 10 #3, op. 13, op. 27 #2, op. 28, op. 31 #2, op. 111
Archduke trio
string quartets op. 59 #2, op. 95, op. 130, op. 132. op. 135

Op. 40 and Op. 50 are also very lovely.

Opus 7 hands down - followed by Opus 13.

I'll need to go listen to the Op 7 slow movement, I've listened to it before but never really gave much attention to it. It seems to be getting a number of favorites.

Opus 31 #1. Beethoven at his most floridly extravagant, yet -as always- music of profound satisfaction. That sonata is unfortunately neglected, yet truth to tell, the slow movement is the most interesting. It's certainly one of the most unusual in the canon.

Op. 109 #3, as played by Arrau or Barenboim (surprise surprise!)

The second movement of the Op. 109 is marked 'Prestissimo', so I would assume you meant the 3rd movement? Of which I would agree, and has there ever been a greater set of variations?

Good on ya, quick edit Digitus!

Archduke Trio
Op. 31 #2
Op. 22

Op 106 definitely.

I also really like,
Op 10 No 1
Op 22
Op 27 No 2 (Does that count?)
Op 53 (Ok just an Intermezzo, but incredible use of one page of score!)
Op 109 (If Op 27 No 2 counts, then this does too)
Op 111 (see Op 109)


Yes I agree.


Nope!



Daniel

Heheh...yeah...trying to type while on the phone is not so easy!

Has there been a greater set of variations? Depends on your point of view I guess, but for me no. I have 7 different recordings of the Beethoven sonata cycle and most of them take this movement at too quick a tempo. Arrau and Barenboim (in his DVD cycle from Berlin) are sublime!

I hold that the Emperor Concerto's middle section is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. And, for the violin sonatas, I tend to favor the middle section Op 30 No 1. But, as far as the piano sonatas are concerned, I find the third movement of the thirteenth sonata (Op 27, No 1) to be the most stirring.