I can listen to and enjoy most pieces of classical music, but there are a few works where I would not be bothered at all if I were never to hear them again. One is Richard Strauss’ tone poem “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks.” I don’t know what it is about that piece, but it truly annoys me. Another is “The Tempest,” a “symphonic fantasie” by Tchaikovsky. That piece is a mess. Even he didn’t like it. Then there’s Anton Bruckner’s Mass in C Major – so banal and monotonous.
Well, two weeks ago I added another work to my list of pieces to avoid, Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 32, when I chose to listen to it for the first time (along with his Sonata No. 1). My comments and rating are HERE. I have to admit, though, it felt a bit perverse giving Beethoven my lowest ranking. I truly felt bad about it. It bothered me the entire next week. That’s why this week I decided to give Beethoven a second chance and choose another work I have not heard before, his Triple Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra. Composed in 1803, the concerto features a piano trio – as you can tell from the title – and it is the only concerto Beethoven ever completed for more than one solo instrument. The work is divided into three movements:
I knew from the start that I would enjoy this piece much more than that vexing sonata. Although it opens very quietly with hushed tones from the basses, it only takes measures before it builds to a solid wall of sound. It then establishes an air of dignity and aplomb, and soon the piano trio is echoing those hushed tones from the bass that opened the work. The movement includes various repetitions and variations on themes that are as beautiful as they are grand. The second movement is a tranquil piece that features a tender aria for the violin. It then flows into the final movement without pause. And that final movement – oh what a joy it was. I suspect if one were to look up “delightful” in the dictionary it would say “see ‘final movement of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.’” The entire movement is just delightful. Hmm, did I say that already? I can’t emphasize enough how delightful the movement is. I loved it. I am happy to say that this concerto earned my top rating! If you’ve never heard it, listen to it today!
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A New Hope:As the header above says, each week I will listen to a piece of classical music that I've never heard before, and then I will report out what I thought about it. Archives
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