Explore

Exploring Beethoven's Piano Sonatas Part 4

Approx. 5 hours to complete

Save Course

Go to Course

Course Summary

This course explores Beethoven's piano sonatas and is designed for music lovers, pianists, and all who want to better understand this great composer's works. In this course, you'll explore Beethoven's piano sonatas and gain a deeper understanding of his music and the historical context in which it was created.

Key Learning Points

Learn to analyze and appreciate Beethoven's piano sonatas
Understand the historical context in which Beethoven's music was created
Gain a deeper understanding of the role of the piano in classical music

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

Piano teacher
- USA: $45,000 - $100,000
- India: INR 3,00,000 - INR 10,00,000
- Spain: €20,000 - €45,000
Classical music historian
- USA: $50,000 - $100,000
- India: INR 3,50,000 - INR 12,00,000
- Spain: €25,000 - €50,000
Music critic
- USA: $35,000 - $80,000
- India: INR 2,50,000 - INR 8,00,000
- Spain: €18,000 - €40,000

Learning Outcomes

Gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Beethoven's piano sonatas
Develop analytical skills to better understand classical music
Understand the historical and cultural context in which Beethoven's music was created

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of music notation
Access to a piano or keyboard to practice playing the sonatas

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online self-paced
Video lectures
Interactive quizzes

Similar Courses

Exploring Mozart's Piano Sonatas
The History of Classical Music

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Lang Lang
Yo-Yo Ma

Related Books

Description

Please join us for Part 4 of Exploring Beethoven's Piano Sonatas course, taught by Curtis faculty member and extraordinary concert artist, Jonathan Biss. This course is new and contains separate sets of lectures and sonatas that we not previously discussed. Specifically, in Part 4, we will cover Beethoven's Piano Sonatas Op. 2, No. 2, Op. 10, No. 3, Op. 28 and Op. 110. As with the other three Beethoven courses, it is not necessary to have taken the previous Exploring Beethoven's Piano Sonatas courses. We think you will be perfectly comfortable to start learning with Part 4, if you wish and go from here. There is always the option to go back to earlier parts at any time. Between these courses, there exists a large amount of additional resources and learning that might be helpful as you embark on Part 4. We certainly encourage you to take Parts 1, 2 and 3, if you have not yet. In the meantime, enjoy the class and Part 4 of Exploring Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas.

Outline

Welcome to Class!
Welcome to Part 4 of Exploring Beethoven's Piano Sonatas!
Syllabus
Getting to Know You

Op. 2, No. 2
Haydn and his Influence
Haydn and Beethoven: Mixing the Sacred and the Profane
1st Movement: Wit and Graciousness
1st Movement: An Unexpected Emotional Range
1st Movement: Harmonic Adventures in the Service of Character
2nd Movement: Piety…
2nd Movement: …and Intensity
3rd Movement: Between Minuet and Scherzo
4th Movement: “Grazioso” but on a Grand Scale

Op. 10, No. 3
1st Movement: Ambition and Irrepressible Speed
1st Movement: Rhythmic Displacement and Inconclusive “Endings”
1st Movement: Complexity and Rhythmic Trickery
2nd Movement: Beethoven’s First Great Tragic Slow Movement
2nd Movement: Breadth and Lamentation
2nd Movement: Intensity and Melodrama
2nd Movement: Anticipating the “Ghost” Trio
3rd Movement: After the Storm, a Gentle Menuet
4th Movement: A Finale of Ambivalence and Mystery
4th Movement: Avoiding the Straightforward, and Anticipating the Future

Op. 28
After Wild Adventures, a Return to Old Forms
1st Movement: Using Rhythm and Harmony to Create a Cyclical Quality
1st Movement: A Development of Sudden Drama
2nd Movement: A Stoic Nature and Orchestral Scoring
2nd Movement: Emotional Power without Histrionics
3rd Movement: A Laconic Scherzo with Sly Humor
4th Movement: A Cyclical Rondo to Cap a Cyclical Sonata

Op. 110
Unimaginable Profundity
1st Movement: Tremendous Warmth in a Conventional Structure
1st Movement: Ever-Rising Thematic Material
1st Movement: A Development of Extreme Concentration
1st Movement: A Visitation of E Major
2nd Movement: The Profane Amidst the Sacred
2nd Movement: A Trio of the Leash
3rd Movement: A Recitative in search of Emotional Clarity
3rd Movement: A Second Visitation of E Major – and Opus 109
3rd Movement: The Arioso and The End of Hope
3rd Movement: A Fugue as a Look Back and a Way Forward
3rd Movement: a Second Arioso, “Weary” and Devastated…
3rd Movement: …and the Triumph Born of that Devastation

Your Thoughts Welcome
Stay in Touch with Curtis Institute

Summary of User Reviews

Exploring Beethoven Piano Sonatas 4 course on Coursera has received positive reviews from many users. The course is highly recommended for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of Beethoven's piano sonatas. One key aspect that many users found good is the instructor's expertise and passion for the subject.

Pros from User Reviews

Instructor's expertise and passion for the subject
Clear and concise explanations of musical concepts
Engaging and interactive course content
Good pacing and structure of lessons
Opportunities for self-assessment and practice

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course challenging and may require prior knowledge of music theory
Limited access to feedback from the instructor
Not suitable for those who prefer a more traditional or lecture-based approach to learning
Some technical issues reported with the online platform
Lack of supplementary materials or resources

Recommended for you

Introduction to Classical Music

Using a simple and enjoyable teaching style, this course introduces the novice listener to the wonders of classical music, from Bach fugues to Mozart symphonies to Puccini operas....

Save Course