Category Archives: Beethoven at 22-30

Day 233: String Quartets Op. 18 Nos 4-6

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BeethovenCD38Another terrific CD featuring performances by the Suske Quartett, which consists of:

Karl Suske violin
Klaus Peters violin II
Karl-Heinz Dommus viola
Matthias Pfaender cello

There are four compositions on today’s CD:

String Quartet No. 4 in C Minor Op. 18 No. 4 (composed 1799-1800; Beethoven was 29 or 30)

String Quartet No. 5 in A Op. 18 No. 5 (composed 1799; Beethoven was 29)

String Quartet No. 6 in B Flat Op. 18 No. 6 (composed 1798-1800; Beethoven was 28-30)

Minuet in A Flat Hess 33 (composed 1792; Beethoven was 22)

All are exceptional pieces of music.

Day 220: Piano Trios II

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BeethovenCD25More piano trios. More fleet-fingered playing from Francois Dumont.

Fun, fun music.

The interplay between the members of Trio Elegiaque (Laurent Le Flecher on violin, Virginie Constant on cello, and Francois Dumont on piano) is delightful. All three instruments perfectly complement one another.

Sometimes, Dumont will cut himself from the pack with a flurry of notes. Sometimes, Le Flecher will do so with the violin. And the cellist provides the perfect underpinning for it all. Much like a great bass player does in a rock band.

It’s all about the groove, baby.

Here’s what’s on tap today:

Beethoven Piano Trio in C Minor Op. 1 No. 3 (First performed in 1793. Beethoven was 23.)

Beethoven Piano Trio in E Flat Op. 70. No. 2 (Published in 1809. Beethoven was 39.)

Beethoven Piano Trio in E Flat Op. 44 (Composed 1792-1800. Beethoven was 22-30.)

Beethoven’s music runs the gamut from introspective, melancholy, and lonely to loud, vibrant, and uptempo.

He’s the King of Dynamics.