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It doesn't. The third and the fourth are one continuous movement, attacca.

Oh my ...
well, better get started then ...

Looks like PS88 may get her wish. I'm about to start watching the Week 2 lectures on the Opus 7 sonata.

Awesome !

The problem is he hasn't really done any analysis.

Well, he can't really do any hardcore analysis given the broad audience for the course. (I think... But maybe there might be ways to say things for a broad audience that get at things more complex than what Biss gets into? I don't know.) Let me clarify my desire: I hope to hear what you have to say in response to what Biss says about the sonatas.

The 3rd week is up. Let's see if there's some real analysis in this one.

Wow. Most of his tempos are ridiculously fast.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one thinking it.

I'm not particularly impressed by these lectures. For example, far superior are the 33 Andras Schiff lectures, which are more comprehensive and better delivered.

I just finished listening to the last of the lectures, and I have to say that I loved this course. I didn't really know much of anything about Beethoven's sonatas when I started this course. But now I at least have a sense of their role and influence in the development of music styles, and why Beethoven is considered such a great composer (not just because his music sounds good!). And it was just really fun to listen to someone who has studied this music for so long, knows it intimately, and obviously loves it.

Biss is back with more content on Coursera. Started today.

Thx you

Anyone know if the assignments are required for those who are taking Coursera courses for free (e.g. "previewing" the course)?

I'm looking at several of the free courses there, but wondering about the time commitment. I do understand that you get out of the course what you put into it, and doing the assignments has real value, even if not for a grade or certificate. Just trying not to overcommit my time.

Assignments are never required, unless you are paying for a course and want to achieve a course certificate.

You can do as much or as little as you choose for any Coursera course, whether or not you are paying for the course.

Nobody sees your achievements in a course unless you share them yourself. Coursera doesn't penalize you for work left undone in a course, or low marks or anything.

Look at them as pure learning opportunities. It's like a library: a library doesn't penalize you for returning books unread or partially read or where you skipped ahead and read the last page first.

You can also pace your learning at whatever pace you choose, and complete the course either much faster or much slower than nominally is indicated on the course schedule.

The only place where the considerations can be different is where you're paying for a course either to get access to the assignments or to earn a course certificate, because there are typically time limits associated with those, although the only penalty for missing the time limit is having to pay again if you want to continue.

It's really a lovely experiment in learning for the sake of learning.

The Schiff lectures and the Biss lectures on the Beethoven sonatas are total candy! Thanks to whoever on PW alerted me to these! Both Schiff and Biss have strong opinions informed by broad knowledge of music and deep experience with playing these pieces. Each has his favorites, and both are so good at explaining why.

Schiff Wigmore Hall lectures on Beethoven sonatas

Biss Curtis Institute Beethoven lectures (Coursera)

And this, by Jeremy Denk, on Beethoven the trickster, made me start the Schiff lectures in the middle with Opus 31:

Jeremy Denk on Beethoven’s Opus 31 Sonatas

Such richness for free!