Beethoven's 32 Piano Sonatas

The thirty-two Piano Sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven form one of the most important segments of piano literature. In this accessible, compact, and comprehensive guidebook, renowned performer and pedagogue Stewart Gordon presents the pianist with historical insights and practical instructional tools for interpreting the pieces. In the opening chapters of Beethoven's 32 Piano Sonatas, Gordon illuminates the essential historical context behind common performance problems, discussing Beethoven's own pianos and how they relate to compositional style and demands in the pieces, and addressing textual issues, performance practices, and nuances of the composer's manuscript inscriptions. In outlining patterns of structure, sonority, keyboard technique, and emotional meaning evident across Beethoven's compositional development, Gordon provides important background and technical information key to understanding his works in context. Part II of the book presents each sonata in an outline-chart format, giving the student and teacher ready access to essential information, interpretive choices, and technical challenges in the individual works, measure by measure, all in one handy reference source. In consideration of the broad diversity of today's Beethoven interpreters, Gordon avoids one-size-fits-all solutions or giving undue weight to his own tastes and preferences. Instead, he puts the choices in the hands of the performers, enabling them to create their own personal relationship with the music and a more powerful performance.

Stewart Gordon is a Professor of Keyboard Studies at the Thornton School of Music of the University of Southern California. He is the author of Etudes for Piano Teachers, Mastering the Art of Performance, Planning Your Piano Success, and A History of Keyboard Literature. He has edited the thirty-two Beethoven piano sonatas, the Debussy etudes, and is preparing an edition of the Mozart piano sonatas.

PrefaceMeasure Numbering Part I ConsiderationsChapter One: SourcesChapter Two: Beethoven and the PianoChapter Three: Performance PracticesChapter Four: Beethoven's Expressive LegacyChapter Five: The Windmills of Beethoven's Mind Part II The Sonatas The Opus. 2 setOpus 7The Opus 10 setOpus 13 "Pathétique"The Opus 14 setOpus 22Opus 26 The Opus 27 set: sonatas like a fantasy; no. 2 "Moonlight";Opus 28 "Pastoral"The Op. 31 set: no. 2 "Tempest;" no. 3 "Hunt"The Op. 49 set: Two "Easy" sonatasOpus 53 "Waldstein"Opus 54Opus 57 "Appassionata"Opus 78Opus 79 "alla Tedesca"Opus 81a "Lebewohl"Opus 90Opus 101Opus 106 "Hammerklavier"Opus 109Opus 110Opus 111
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