From his teenage years in Bonn till the tip of his life, Beethoven composed piano bagatelles.
These temporary, unpretentious items, which the composer known as Kleinigkeiten, or “trifles,” have been printed in three units (Op. 33, Op. 119, and Op. 126). They set the stage for the Romantic character items of later composers, corresponding to Schumann, Chopin, and Brahms.
Pianist Paul Lewis writes, “Beethoven, the architect of large, nice formal constructions, reveals himself in these items as a grasp of the miniature, deftly creating an instantaneous impression along with his opening gestures and creating his motives with unfettered originality.”
Printed in 1803, the fourth Bagatelle from the Op. 33 assortment is a serene Andante set in A serious. The shadowy and stressed center part strikes to A minor, and unfolds in a seemingly endless harmonic development. When the preliminary theme returns, it’s embellished by way of variation. Quickly, the melody emerges within the bass voice. What started as a soprano track with out phrases is remodeled into a young duet between two “characters.”
Right here is Paul Lewis’ efficiency at London’s Wigmore Corridor:
Recordings
- Beethoven: Bagatelles, Op. 33, 119, 126, Paul Lewis Amazon
Featured Picture: {photograph} by Sarah Greed
