In 2022, beethoven marks the 195th anniversary of his departure. If there are any pieces that can string together Beethoven's life, it seems to be his 32 piano sonatas.
Beethoven began writing his first piano sonata at the age of 26 and ending with his last piano sonata, Op. 111, a period of 31 years apart. In 31 years, a total of 32 songs were composed, on average, almost one song a year. As the British music scholar Louis Kentner said, these piano sonatas are Beethoven's autobiography.
A 1818 drawing by Auguste von Kléber by Beethoven.
Whether it is Blundell's precise interpretation, Barenboim's powerful playing, Schnabel's nobility and steadiness, or Kempf's grace and elegance, Sokolov's vivid interpretation, all have their own advantages. These piano sonatas, which are now enshrined in the "classical" temple, were placed more than 200 years ago, but they were experimental music, mainly experimenting with Beethoven's "motivational unfolding" composition.
The so-called "motivation unfolding style" is a development method that combines the original music into various tailoring combinations, reflecting the unified logical power in music. In addition, the traditional sonata model is generally three movements, while Beethoven's sonatas have no shortage of four movements. His gifted improvisational talent has given him more casual openness when weaving the weave.
Taking op.10, No.1, known as "Little Pathos", as an example, the whole song is motivated by a dotted note, bringing the impetus for the development of music. The ornamental tone of the slow plate is no longer used as a decoration, it melts into a gentle melody. The third movement appears as a rustic German-Austrian folk song, which later developed into the basic skeleton of Beethoven's piano sonatas.
It has to be mentioned that its most famous "Sonata of Sorrow" Op.13, the second movement is like a slow plate of songs, he left most of the notes in the middle and low area, the gentle phrases became solemn, and the fiery emotions were tempered in the fire of tragedy, like a moving bullet, which could directly destroy a heart. Proust's grandmother once gave her unique insight into the song, comparing goulash to the culinary world's "pathetic sonata" because of its simplicity.
In 1906, Li Shutong painted the charcoal painting "Le Sheng Bi Du Fen", "Bi Du Fen" is Beethoven, and some people have verified that this is the first beethoven portrait painted by Chinese.
"Moonlight Sonata" Op.27 is actually not related to moonlight. Indeed, Beethoven was in love with his 16-year-old schoolgirl, Julietta, during the creation of the Moonlight Sonata. Beethoven often said that he did not want marriage in his life, but in fact, he was in love all his life, and the longest relationship never exceeded 7 months, and his art and life needed love to ignite. He and Julieta were his longest love affair, and this classic masterpiece that has been passed down to future generations is an eternal testimony to their short-lived love.
In those years, the story of "Moonlight Song" in the primary school Chinese textbook was a beautiful imagination made by posterity based on the artistic conception of the music.
This sonata is also an experimental work by Beethoven. The first movement of the general sonata adopts a medium-speed sonata structure, and what opens the curtain of the "Moonlight Sonata" is a slow movement, the main melody is handed over to the little finger, and the subtle piano texture and simple tune create a sad, sentimental, ominous and dark atmosphere for the music. In view of the hazy and quiet foreshadowing of the first movement, the final movement evolved into a more frantic and raging rush than "The Tempest", with impulsive sound patterns like a tidal wave, and the music critic Charles Rosen believed that "this is an uninhibited expression of emotion, and to this day, 200 years later, its intensity is still surprising". Therefore, the essence of "Moonlight" ultimately points not to a certain lady, but to the passion that returns to the body's instincts. Moonlight is an aesthetic. What finally made Beethoven break through classical music was his sincere and deep feelings.