Видео

That's a John Field nocturne, lol.

Can you do another tier list, this time of genres within classical music. Like opera, choral, symphonies, string quartets, etc

Henle Edition Beethoven is garbage. Throw it away, and get Hans von Bulow edition. And yes, the first note does have a staccato mark,as per the autograph. The missing staccato in the Henle is one of about 100 (I lost count) errors and/or omissions in that edition.

lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Great video. Actually this is exactly how I figured out 3-4 for Chopin Op 48 No 1, but I sure got tired of counting out 1 through 12 while working it out.

A masterpiece that should be a protected like a world heritage site.

Fabulous insights. My all time favourite sonata

The 3rd Nocturne from opus 9 has far nastier polyrhythmic shenanigans in the B-section.

The Fantasie Impromptu has constant polyrhythm inn the first and last sections. Trecherous!

As a complete amatour, I am proud to be playing a true 4 against 3 polyrhythm in this nocturn.

i watched about 7 videos about 3:4 polyrhytm and still couldn't play it, but your notation with quarter dot DEMYSTIFIED that polyrythm for me, thaank you!

Hey Ryan, love your videos, and that I've found someone as obsessed with Beethoven as I am lol. Question for you: would you ever consider making tutorials, or playing full sonatas with an overhead shot of the piano (in the style of Paul Barton)? Some of the more obscure sonatas (like Beethoven's second sonata, specifically movement 2) are driving me crazy. There is a moment with a trill where an E pops up and I can't figure out the fingering. Thanks!

This is a terrible piece to point out this problem because many top pianists use rubato at this point because it actuelly makes sense! Not because they cannot play 3/4. I recommend op48 no1 for this demonstration

Excellent video

Pass, the fuckin' butter! 😂

My guy, you understand that Mendelssohn basically kept the legacy of Bach and barque music in general. It's quite possible that without Mendelssohn we wouldn't really have widespread Bach music. But I forgive this carnage towards Mendelssohn. 😊

2:3 = "Not dif-fi-cult" 3:4 = "Pass the god-damn but-ter"

Schubert's first Impromptu...

This has an expansiveness that is very much akin to the "The Great" C major Symphony.

Fun stuff! Quick question: is the dotted-eighth and sixteenth in Moonlight Sonata a polyrhythm against the triplet accompaniment? Or do you think we're supposed to interpret the dotted-eighth and sixteenth less literally?

Wonderful lecture! Re: two-syllable number names: why not simply change "seven" to " sev' " and "eleven" to " 'lev' "?

Sometimes, when out walking my dog, I'll start practicing polyrhythms by tapping my legs with each hand while murmuring "cold cup of tea" or "pass the g**d*** butter." My dog thinks I'm crazy. (I learned 2v3 and 3v4 with the phrases, but working out the math is a far better approach.)

Schubert would be S for me..the rest I could agree on

Chopin's Trois Nouvelle Etudes are actual pedagogical pieces in polyrhythm.

Chopin's 1st Waltz has the 2 against 3 pattern;) The way I taught myself 4 against 3 is, I'd omit the 2nd and 4th notes of the 4, and play it like 2 against 3, then once I could align the 1st and 3rd beats against the triple beat, I'd replace the omitted notes from the quadruplets. My first experience with 4 against 3 in a piece, was the Adagio Cantabile of Beethoven's Pathetique near the coda, bar 66 I believe.

Skipping Sonata 11 in B flat crushed my heart and intellect 😢

Gorgeous

I would move the Mozart 23 and Tchaikovsky 1 to Platinum tier, for sure. Mozart 27 should be there as well. Chopin 1 should be gold. Brahms 1 and Rachmaninov 3 should both be in Royalty tier. A lot of other great concertos are missing from the list. The Liszt ones should be there, in silver tier though. Maybe Tchaikovsky 2 as well and the Mendelssohn ones too. Mozart 21 deserves a place in silver, for sure.

The opening is the hope of taking away the world's grief. That is how I hear it. Peace indeed.

The mazeppa 2-4 2-4 thirds are terrifying

I did not expect to give this a whole half hour but your analysis was so good I stayed to the end. I’m learning this piece at the moment too and I gained lots of new insight. Thanks!

I largely agree with your rankings, except there's no way Gershwin was a better composer for piano than Chopin, not in his wildest dreams! Also, you say a concerto is a "battle" between piano in orchestra; it can be, but doesn't have to be one. There's your "wait, what!" 🤔 omission of Bach, but it's your list. (I'm curious as to whether that was more due to: a) He was a Baroque composer, so he never composed a concerto specifically fpr piano--as contrasted with the more generic "keyboard-concerto" or b) you don't care for his compositions in this genre. or c) you like them okay, but none rises to a level that makes the cut.

I can’t believe you didn’t talk about the arioso dolente in the adagio of #31, the saddest music ever written. The soundtrack to heartbreak. And that alone puts in the SS tier.

I’m pretty basic in Beethoven piano sonatas … my SS tier is 8, 21, 23, 29, and 32.

I believe the trill is clearly Schuberts recognition of impending doom (death)……..love this piece. ❤

Movement 1 is relatively accessible, most of it can be sight-read by a competent amateur. The Scherzo and finale are a tougher nut to crack but still doable. Given that the entire sonata is one of the greatest piano works ever written it might offer by far the best return on investment given its incredible musical depth without requiring a virtuoso technique.

You should treat your Schenker edition better and not throw it across the room. Poor Mr Schenker. 😢

🎉

If anybody finds it please tell me!

Such an amazing piece. Schubert’s string quartets are incredible for those who haven’t heard them

Another aspect people tend to ignore is the transition between measures. Lot of times the meaures themselves are simple enough in terms of technique but to move onto the next measure requires a quick resetting of the hands to a new contortion or context. I find lot of mozart and beethoven sonata are difficult due to this. Lot of young brash students believe their skill prowess is showcased in a "slam dunk" or some circus technique (ie lot of times in rachmaninoff or liszt or some composers way over their head) and by applying a lot of murky pedaling that they can avoid true critique. The clarity of transition between measures in more classical pieces at a fast tempo, properly, is something i find they lack because they focus too much on the circus technique rather than studying true "ball handling, passing, reading offense, etc" skills

For me it's jumping back and forth between tenth notes or 12th notes (notes far apart) at an allegro or higher speed. Also octaves when it's constant and the main source of melody.

Great review of this sublime movement! Thanks.

Great analysis and I’ll devote some serious time to this video. Thank you. I’ve loved this sonata for YEARS and performed it passably (maybe not the 4th movement) but I have to say that I don’t consider this his finest sonata. If we’re talking Hammerklavier… No. 19&20 are far more challenging both to the listener and to the performer. I love no. 21. I ADORE 21. But am utterly in awe of 19&20.

The last four sonatas was a absolute masterpiece

12 and 13 are pretty much tops for me, although I love most of them as well. But 12 and 13 are beyond-beyond my favorites. They are both just tremendous.

Nice explaining - thanks!

BEETHOVEN BEST ANYTHING

Goldberg variations are very hard; my vote would probably go to Art of fugue though. I know it’s harder to call it “one work.” However, there are challenges in those fugues that will melt your brain to a puddle.

Yes I also think it's the most beautiful Schubert sonata. Has some great key changes.