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Ever since practicing the 2nd movement of Ravel's Concerto in G, I've gained an even greater respect for slow movements of works! What are some of your favorite slow movements? Sonatas, concerti, symphonies, ANYTHING!
And I have to go back to my old habits and bring up Alkan... I got to briefly talk to Edward Auer about the cello sonata Op. 47, and he said he loved the second movement.
EDIT: Near the very end of the movement, Alkan brings back the main theme from the first movement! Hehe...
Last edited by Orange Soda King; 07/25/1010:47 PM.
Slow movement of Rach 3 is my favourite. I think it's better than the slow movement of Rach 2 as well.
The slow movement of his second sonata is incredibly beautiful as well. And I also love the 3rd movement of Chopin's 3rd sonata. And all of the slow parts of the Liszt Sonata. If we're talking about the "heaven" themes of the Dante Sonata, they're my favourite parts of the work. You can't forget the slow movement of the Hammerklavier too.
Argghh!! Too many slow movements to choose from! But I think Rach 3 is the best (right now,though I might have a different answer next week).
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
The 'slow' movement of the Busoni concerto. 'Nuff said.
Well okay, how about that sublime moment in Beethoven's Op. 101 before the finale? Do I hear an early anticipation of Wagner's Tristan? And look what happened subsequently: the whole world of classical music changed forever! People went insane, Hanslick was shocked (problems with the wife?), the French feinted, the British pretended it never happened. It put the world in the biggest tizzy prior to the cataclysmic events of 1914.
Ick slow movements...in my experience, all the slow movements from sonatas/concerto that I've learned have either been really simple/boring or really weird.
Yes I know there are some really beautiful slow movements out there...let me think. I really really like the slow movement (the andante that is) from Brahms sonata no 3.
argerichfan, which movement is that? There are multiple slow movements. I can't pick a favorite movement. I especially love the wonderful beginning movement, the dramatic third movement, and the fifth movement with the men's choir that sums it all up.
Ick slow movements...in my experience, all the slow movements from sonatas/concerto that I've learned have either been really simple/boring or really weird.
Yes I know there are some really beautiful slow movements out there...let me think. I really really like the slow movement (the andante that is) from Brahms sonata no 3.
It was Brahms that said writing a good slow movement is one of the most difficult compositional achievements.
Some favorite slow movements of lots of different kinds of ensembles I love that are most inspiring:
Symphonic orchestra--Bruckner Symphony No 8 adagio mvt Piano concerto--Samuel Barber Piano concerto Clarinet concerto--Gerald Finzi Piano arrangement--Khachaturian Adagio from Gayne ballet suite; a simplified arrangement by unknown that actually had my eyes wet while trying to play this piece Choral piece--"Life A Right Shadow Is" Gerald Finzi Tuba Concerto--Ralph Vaughan Williams Renaissance Viol consort--"Mille Regretez" Josquin de Prez String Quartet--1st movement of the Ravel 4tet, not exactly adagio but slow enough to be meditative Brass ensemble--some pieces I don't remember the titles of by Heinrich Schuetz
Joseph
"If at first you succeed, try to hide your astonishment."
Ick slow movements...in my experience, all the slow movements from sonatas/concerto that I've learned have either been really simple/boring or really weird.
Yes I know there are some really beautiful slow movements out there...let me think. I really really like the slow movement (the andante that is) from Brahms sonata no 3.
It was Brahms that said writing a good slow movement is one of the most difficult compositional achievements.
He was probably right! I mean I know a lot of slow pieces in general that I love, but not a lot of them are from multi-movement works like sonatas, concertos, symphonies.
Schubert's Sonata, D 960, 2nd movement. One of the most profoundly moving slow movements I've ever heard. Best heard immediately following the 1st movement. Many years ago I heard a live performance of this sonata that just took my breath away. The first movement left me with such a deep, bittersweet warmth that I thought there was nowhere left to go (musically). But then---that amazing 2nd movement, which pulled me down to the bottom emotionally, but ended with hope. (sigh) Amazing movement.
Noone mentioned Barber's Violin Concerto second movement yet, which is a crime.
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Schubert's Sonata, D 960, 2nd movement. One of the most profoundly moving slow movements I've ever heard.
I love this, too. But the Andantino from his D 959 I love at least as much, maybe more. I wish Richter would have recorded this sonata as well. I'm sure his take on the Andantino would've been interesting.