Beethoven's "Pathetique" Sonata op.13 - masterclass (Grave) artistic piano interpretation

Here is a detailed lesson/masterclass on the first page of Beethoven's Piano Sonata op. 13 "Pathetique". I discuss phrasing, musical direction, interpretation, pedalling, and accentuation. Advice is suitable for competition performance preparation.
Music: M. Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition "Catacombs" (performed by Dr Wojciech)
I am using Henle Urtext for the purpose of this presentation.

[@ronaldonerheim4653]

What I really liked is you gave your reasons for your choices, but you leave it up to the player to make different choices if they have different expressive aima. So many teachers dictate the interpretation. Great video.

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear Ronald, you raise an interesting point. I would consider it a problem with my teaching if all my students played in the same way (regarding the interpretation), or even worse, played always like me. Working with every student so that they understand the music through the prism of their unique personality (with a healthy respect for the style, urtext score, and composer's intentions) is so important. Thank you for commenting.

[@AidanJonesComedy]

Amazing thankyou so much for sharing! That note about not signalling before the big ff as it might spoil the effect is incredibly useful and relevant to me at the moment! Exactly what I needed to hear :)

[@jellyphish2112]

I am not at this level yet, but it was really inspiring to watch (also I deeply love this sonata so wonderful to hear your feeling of it).

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I am glad to hear you enjoyed the video!

[@user-pl3ku2jj7h]

So fascinating to hear your analysis of the 'grave' passage of the Sonata. I loved it😍especially as I'm learning this piece currently. Thank You. Subscribed!

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the video! I love this music. Good luck in your learning of the Sonata!

[@sparx1599]

Amazing video. You deserve mores subs, keep up the grind my guy.

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Thank you! I do not give up easily so let’s see where things are in a few months.

[@rylixmods]

It reminds me on the ballade numero un by chopin, where it had also questions and answers. Wonderful.

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Excellent observation. In the Ballade, there is also an element of improvisation - particularly in the first few bars.

[@vickiehorowitz1934]

thank you for this. it answers a lot of the questions that are coming up while learning this sonata. I hope to find more on this sonata!

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear Vickie, please let me know if you have further questions. I will be happy to add another video to my ‘Pathetique’ series.

[@RedBullGreenBear]

I greatly appreciate your passion for expression and ability to articulate subtleties of the piece. Subscription well earned!

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Thank you for your kind words - much appreciated!!

[@christopherzimmer]

Beyond excellent! Amazing! So so so helpful! Truly a “guide” to approaching interpretation of this famous first section. You are so respectful to the composer- attempting to remain faithful to what you *think* was intended while still offering ideas for how to interpret! This video is the “missing link” in learning this first movement!

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear Christopher, thank you again for commenting here as well! I absolutely love this music. It has so much depth. It shows Beethoven as a wonderful and genuine human being. The strength with which he approaches life has always inspired me.

[@christopherzimmer]

@@pianoarticlesweekly I truly agree. This first movement has always led me to imagine two people who love each other arguing passionately. I feel like I can hear each one “complaining” about the other but still with love. 😊

[@evel1571]

Thanks very much for your video! It is very helpful!

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

I am glad to hear it was helpful!

[@katerinapapae5565]

A very helpful and informative masterclass.please give us more especially about the technique, the pedal, and the fluctuating sound of the left hand in the rest of the sonata. Thank you!

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear Katerina, thank you for your comment. I am happy to hear you liked the video! Which aspects of technique, pedal, sound, or the left hand, in particular, do you think might be useful to discuss? I am always looking for ideas for future videos.

[@ColorMeMozart]

Thank you for this, so insightful. I just started playing it a few weeks ago and this was wonderful.

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Thank you, enjoy learning the piece!

[@ColorMeMozart]

I will, thank you!!@@pianoarticlesweekly

Super

[@andreabrown8183]

absolutely fantastic. thank you so much!

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Thank you, I am glad that you enjoyed the video!

[@sonyawells3275]

Very helpful indeed, thank you. I hadn’t realised how much there was to think about and how I hope it’ll improve this section for me. As a slightly older player with less finger flexibility, if you have any helpful pointers to doing the right hand mini trills and left hand fast octaves in the next sections I’d be very grateful.

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear Sonyawells3275, I am glad to hear you found my video helpful and thank you for the idea about trills:) Do you refer to short trills in the second theme in bars 56-57 (and similar)? If you are having trouble with broken octaves in the left hand starting with bar 10, then I already have a video about this section:kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZ6aYnevetaIock or is it a different set of octaves in the left hand that are troubling you?

[@sonyawells3275]

@@pianoarticlesweekly hi, thank you for replying. Yes it is the trills in bars 57 onwards. My fingers fingers tighten when they need to move quickly and I’m also not sure which fingers to use. I’ll watch your video on octaves, I hadn’t seen that. You’re extremely knowledgable so thank you for all your hard work in producing these videos.

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear Sonyawells3275, I have recorded a video about some practice strategies regarding the trills you mentioned - I need a few more days to edit it. I will let you know here when it is ready online. Thank you for your patience!

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

All done, I hope you will find my explanation helpful: Beethoven "Pathetique" Sonata op. 13 - trills (bars 57-58) technical tutorial masterclass kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXLYkH6EmrF2m7c

[@Sitbon08]

I find the topic of interpretation intriguing and would like to get better at hearing a phrase or motif etc and attaching some sort of meaning to it. Can you suggest any resources, books, periodicals etc that you have found helpful? Thanks Andrew

[@r.i.p.volodya]

I enjoyed that, thank you. But - you made no mention of the "fp" at the start...

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear r.i.p. volodya, you are correct! Once I get around recording another video related to this section, I will discuss the artistic meaning of articulation, harmonic language, intoning intervals, and I will address that 'fp' as well. I am glad you enjoyed the video!

[@kateh9440]

Thank you for the helpful class! Could you please also explain how to play the chromatic scale beautifully even without using the pedal? Merci 😊

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

I am glad you found my video helpful! Is it the chromatic scale down in bar 10, just before the Allegro section?

[@kateh9440]

Correct！

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

I will try to find time next week to record a video about that scale 🙂

[@kateh9440]

That’s great. Thank you very much! Please also demonstrate the techniques of playing chromatic scale. Btw, I just found your channel a day ago and realized that your teaching was very helpful and genuine. I’m your fan already 😄. I spread the word to those who play the piano too😇

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

That is so kind of you, I appreciate it 🙂I will divide this topic into two videos, one about the chromatic scale in general and one related particularly to the first page of Pathetique. Is there a particular aspect of the chromatic scale that is causing you trouble? or just need general advice? Thank you again:)

[@leomcintire9104]

Very helpful. I am an elderly player and I welcome any opportunity to improve my playing

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear Leo, I hope you are enjoying your piano journey! If something particular picks your interest - please feel free to suggest a topic for my next video. Best wishes, W

[@user-gl9mn3ni8h]

🥰

[@elinafurukawa224]

That melody isn’t press accent, it is doubtful for climax, really? If decent accent to press, we have convincible for last, doesn’t it?

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear Elina, I am afraid I have trouble understanding your question here. Do you think maybe writing your question in your native language and then using Google Translate to convert it into English might help? Sorry, I would like to answer your question but I am not sure what you mean.

[@elinafurukawa224]

Sorry, your teaching very great but my English is so poor. I’m now practicing this note and very difficult to grasp imagination clearly. From my mother and Japanese teacher, I’ve recommend to have lesson of foreign teacher. May live Germany or Austria. And they hear And naturally get how it speak soundly by key tones, like human voice, sings piano naturally than Japanese songs. I like German language too, so, I hope teach me your way in this like and with playing more in detail as awe cam to show to your passionate wants glittery as you do. Can I hear your whole piano works for your works end, will you?

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

Dear Elina, thank you for your comment and for watching the videos! I hope you get to study with a foreign teacher as you hope, and that your study goes well. I have not recorded the whole piano sonata so I am afraid I cannot point you towards the video. I have performed it in the past but at this moment, teaching takes most of my time and there is just not enough time to practice and to perform. Please feel free to ask questions here or send me an email so we can communicate how I can help you. Best wishes, Wojciech

[@elinafurukawa224]

This press great grief, really?

[@pianoarticlesweekly]

It depends on your personal insight into the music.