I RANKED every Beethoven sonata Best to WORST

[@SalFilippelli]

31 and 32 in my opinion are two of the greatest piano works ever written. 2nd movement of 32 is absolutely insane in the best way possible. The fact that he wrote such a harmonically rich piece while being deaf is completely incredible.

[@ryanabshier]

So true. They are unique in character too. Beethoven's music is simply amazing.

[@isabelmorel2225]

totally agree op 111 2nd movement!!!!!!!!!!!! like dying and waking up in paradise

[@GustavoLima-wp3tt]

Not puting the Hammerklavier in the highest tier is a crime in 200 countries…

[@tomsrensen9382]

Guilty as charged, it sucks big time...

[@frédéricchopinFan.9479]

Time stamp (full) intro 0:00 Tier list 0:25 piano sonata no. 1 in F minor op 2 0:55 2nd movement 1:30 piano sonata no. 2 in A major op 2 2:32 2nd movement 2:52 4th movement 3:30 (wrong notes) 4th movement 3:33 (no mistakes) piano sonata no. 3 C major op 2 4:08 2nd movement 4:25 4th movement 4:44 piano sonata no. 4 op 7 E♭ major 5:19 2nd movement 5:37 piano sonata no. 5 C minor op 10 6:25 2nd movement 7:06 3rd movement 7:32 piano sonata no. 6 F major op 10 8:04 3rd movement 8:36 piano sonata no 7 D major op 10 8:54 (Ryan didn't play it don't blame him) piano sonata no. 8 C minor (Pathétique) op 13 9:35 2nd movement (Adagio cantabile) 9:57 3rd movement (Rondo) 10:28 piano sonata no. 9 E major op 14 10:59 2nd movement 11:08 piano sonata no. 10 G major op 14 11:55 piano sonata no.11 B♭ major op 22 12:23 (Ryan also didn't play don't blame him) piano sonata no.12 A♭ major op 26 12:57 3rd movement (Funeral March) 13:43C piano sonata no. 13 E♭ major (Quasi una fantasia) op 27 4:27 piano sonata no. 14 C# minor (quasi una fantasia/moonlight) op 27 15:00 3rd movement (Presto Agitato) 15:32 piano sonata no. 15 D major (Pastoral) op 28 16:07 2nd movement 17:28 3rd movement 17:59 4th movement 18:08 piano sonata no. 16 G major op 31 18:40 (Ryan also didn't play it don't blame him) piano sonata no. 17 D minor (The Tempest) op 31 19:18 2nd movement 19:52 piano sonata no. 18 E♭ major (The Hunt) op 31 20:24 (Ryan also didn't play don't blame him) piano sonata no. 19 and 20: 21:14 reason: 20:28 piano sonata no. 21 C major (The Waldstein) op 53 21:50 2nd/3rd movement 23:17---23:34 piano sonata no. 22 F major 24:57 (Ryan also didn't play don't blame him) piano sonata no. 23 F minor (Appassionata) op 57 25:36 piano sonata no. 24 F# major (à Thérèse) op 78 26:33 piano sonata no. 25 G major (Cuckoo) op 79 27:38 piano sonata no. 26 E♭ major (Les Adieux) op 81a 27:49 piano sonata no. 27 E minor op 90 31:34 (Beethoven was completely deaf) 2nd movement 32:16 piano sonata no. 28 A major op 101 33:13 piano sonata no. 29 B♭ major (Hammerklavier) op 106 35:51 3rd movement 36:24 piano sonata no. 30 E major op 109 38:08 3rd movement 38:18 piano sonata no. 31 A♭ major op 110 39:51 piano sonata no. 32 C minor op 111 41:10 2nd movement 41:43 outro 45:02

[@frédéricchopinFan.9479]

sorry i may have to stop making it because i have don't have time.

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks for checking out the video! Haha, you would have been a legend to get every movement of every sonata, our children's children would have sung songs about you.

[@frédéricchopinFan.9479]

thank you and I did all of it.

[@TheCultureBridge]

Thanks

[@minjade4791]

Thanks, every though I said it 2 times

[@Luke_Templeman_Pianist]

If I can come to the defence of the Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3 as someone who has been studying it recently: Movement 1: It’s a witty opening, with a call-and-response formed by these bombastic ascending octaves followed by a shimmering descent in triads. The second theme is the real star of the movement however, as its constant motion really energises the piece, and once it begins, it never really stops. The closing theme is incredible as well, with an entirely ethereal section that gradually transitions back to the opening. The development is surprising right off the bat, as it surprises the listener with the key of B-flat Major, and cycles through there. By the time the recapitulation comes and we’re back in D Major, he extends the original theme and builds into a finale that features a trill in the bass-a pattern he most notably also uses in the final movement of the Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101-which becomes a big, triumphant ending. Movement 2: This is truly one of the most tragic movements in all of Beethoven’s piano music, comparable with the first movement of the Sonata No. 14 in C# minor, Op. 27 No.2. It is the gem of this sonata; dark, evoking inconsolable grief throughout. Any small moments of hope are dashed, and the dissonant ending chords are to die for. Movement 3: Probably the movement most people are to brush off; a minuet and trio. This is one of his most famous minuets though, with a sunny melody to counteract the storm that was the previous moment. The trio is also a lot of fun to play, with the triplet pattern in the right hand and a left hand melody which features much crossing over the right hand. Movement 4. Easily the most witty of Beethoven’s early rondos. It has this funny way of starting and stopping, but when it starts, it carries with it so much momentum that it feels like a roller coaster at times. It’s so much fun to play. It’s surprising, it’s lively, and it’s a great listen. The sonata as a whole is a work centred around contrasting ideas; comedy and tragedy, elements of the Sturm und Drang movement, but also peace, humour and seriousness. It’s a fantastic work.

[@Robert...Schrey]

It needs no defense since it was Liszt’s favorite Beethoven sonata.

[@tarikeld11]

Agree, no 7 is one of my favorite early B' sonatas!

[@westleybenson1188]

@@tarikeld11 Yeah I am fairly new to them so I'm getting to know them (opinion could change)but so far out of 1-7 I like 7 the most. Interesting how different tastes can be.

[@tarikeld11]

@@westleybenson1188 I would look forward to hear your opinion on the other Sonatas as well, once you'll listen to them. No. 8, Pathetique, is also great (and very famous!)

[@westleybenson1188]

@tarikeld11 Yeah, I'll update. Originally, I wanted to hear them in order, but with all the fanfare about the last 3 or 4 just had to hear those. 30-32 Goodness gracious! Amazing music.

[@evanwyatt2862]

LOVE the slow movement of op. 10 no. 3. Its beethoven dipping his toes into that truly tragic, dramatic sound. Also, it has 4 movements in total, not just three. Great vid as per usual!

[@harrybmichell]

Justice for op. 22 in B-flat! Such a lovely sonata and a blast to play in full!

[@ryanabshier]

I know I know. There's literally no winning with Beethoven sonatas. Like I said, they are pretty much all A+ for me, but relative to the others I do like the Bb and Eb you mentioned less ☹ The only sonatas I didn't feel guilty about ranking low are the Op 49s.

[@internetuser_03]

the op. 101 is so underrated! It's one of my favorite sonatas, it's just great in every way

[@ryanabshier]

For sure! It's beautiful, dramatic, and so unique.

[@johanaberg173]

Great video! No 30 op 109 is my favorite. And I have noticed that some other commentators say the same. But I want to move no 29 op 106 to level SS. The slow movement! It takes you through the suffering of this world to a better world...

[@thisismoyukhsworld2022]

Op 31 No 3 is also known as "Hunt Sonata", for its playfulness and agility. Its finale is a virtuosic tarantella.

[@kovacsmihaly]

No way you put No. 18 E flat in B tier! Like that chord start is mindblowing and also you get little pre-Wagnerian moment from that A flat minor part. 2nd movement is my favourite Scherzo with that bass. 3rd movement is the last menuetto he wrote and the last movement kinda jazzy. So I would put the sonata up to S+ tier! (Also S+ sonatas are Waldstein and op. 111). I would move No. 7 sonata higher.

[@bingyoung3228]

I love how No 18 starts with an Ab6 chord, and then uses Maj7 chords (sort of passing) a bit later--the earliest instance of music where I have heard a major 7th really played as a chord and not just a brief passing tone. I think it is one of Beethoven's most innovative sonatas and wish I could really play it. The Waldstein, last movement, is also one of the greatest, beautiful, creative and most challenging things ever written for piano. Both sonatas belong in the highest tier.

[@kovacsmihaly]

@@bingyoung3228 yes, I agree

[@LinearConvolution]

Thanks for putting this together! The Beethoven sonatas are one of the milestones in the piano literature, and they are very personal and effecting in a way that even many other masterpieces aren't. I am one of those people that actually really loves the 7th and 11th sonatas, and I think it's because they have strong narrative arcs. The 7th sonata begins with a flighty, fun movement and then has this very somber, dramatic 2nd movement (one of my favorite 2nd movements!) before returning to a flight of fancy with the 3rd and 4th movements. Well rounded sonata, all the movements are good and together they capture the feeling of emotional turbulence, the duality of positivity and negativity that's so part of being human. For the 11th sonata, Ashish has commented that it's the end of classical sonatas, and I think that captures it very well. Perfectly constructed in a Mozartean sort of way, the themes flow into each other seamlessly, all the movements are exemplars of a traditional classical sonata. It's telling that the next batches of sonatas Beethoven published were all very experimental, as he might have felt he had achieved everything he wanted to in a classical sonata with no. 11

[@dimitrisviscos9347]

Great Video man! Appreciate the effort. Op109 is a personal favorite.

[@ryanabshier]

That is a killer sonata (obviously I think that from my rating, haha). But man, just can't ever process how good those last 3 sonatas are. Thanks for checking it out!

[@bryanbinnema1902]

So glad you put no. 15 in the double S tier! It's one I find myself coming back to the most. Although I will say I'm a big fan of no. 18 also, so I'm sorry to see it got skipped. Otherwise very much enjoyed your video!

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks for checking it out, I had a lot of fun making it. I'm sure if I studied 18 I'd like it more, but compared to the other sonatas I've never liked it as much. But hey, it's Beethoven, it's all A or S tier. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@bingyoung3228]

No 18 (The Hunt) has long been one of my favorite sonatas, along with the Pastoral

[@jcabfer06]

​@@ryanabshierYeah! Give it a deeper listen and study! It's one of the most joyful sonatas, and also powerful, but also quite new in harmony and rhythm.

[@DirkdeZwijger]

You explained the poetic background of 81a and then said you the rest is fine 😭 81a is in my eyes one of the absolute greats. Incredible balance of movements and it tells an easy to understand story which you hear: the farewell, the absence and the arrival Great tier list, very well done! Thanks for the video mate

[@ryanabshier]

Trust me, I want to like 81a too, soo badly 😅 But I just don't get into it, I envy you!!! Thanks, it's great to hear people are enjoying it.

[@DirkdeZwijger]

I really loved your take on sonata 15, I thought I was the only one who thinks it's absolutely incredible :) @@ryanabshier

[@dominichebler5515]

Beethoven's sonatas are out of this world - I wouldn't want to miss a single one. I just love them all.

[@H1meno_]

How KZbin just recommend this video now? That is amazing content thank you!

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks! Means a lot. It tough to get KZbin to show around videos. Super glad you like them.

[@graeme011]

I found this to be a really enjoyable and comprehensive review of Beethoven's piano sonatas. I already know how to play some of them (well, more or less, since there's always room for improvement!), but now I have a few very strong clues as to where I should focus my future practising efforts. I feel inspired and motivated, so thank you, Ryan!!

[@RichStarshak]

Love - love - love listening to your special comments...I'm sure many are gleaning from your insights!!! Well done!

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks so much! And look who has a KZbin account! I'll be expecting a thriving channel run by you soon 😊

[@classicallpvault]

I completely agree with putting the 15th in the top tier. Its 4 movements basically make it a symphony for piano and I greatly enjoy playing it myself. Full of memorable tunes, rich textures, and surprising but entirely logical rhythmic patterns.

[@westleybenson1188]

This is awesome. Thank you for this!

[@RasielSuarez]

No. 32 is the only earworm I've ever gotten which I don't want it to go away.

[@mcbuuiop]

Imagine just playing all the Beethoven sonatas 4 at a time. Then the last 4 are conveniently Hammerklavier to his last sonata(op 111)All very difficult in their own ways

[@ryanabshier]

I know. I've thought about that with the last 5 as well. Getting through all the single and double digit opuses and thinking "oh cool, only 5 left, basically done" 🤣 And the battle has only begun.

[@GouganeBarra-u4t]

Beethoven Piano Sonatas are awesome. ALL of them ! If I had to be pushed to name a favourite, it would be the Pastoral Sonata. These Sonatas are SOME legacy !!! What a gift to humanity. Beethoven may be dead, but his music lives on for all eternity.

[@feeblay8165]

7th sonata has insanely good 2nd movement. I myself consider it one if the best of all of them

[@timothythorne9464]

Sonata #4 in E-flat major is criminally underrated. It really should be S tier -- joyous, brilliant first movement, fantastic slow movement, beautiful minuet with a spooky sounding trio, and really cool, smooth finale

[@klenaghanny]

Great video and generally agree with the rankings. Two notable omissions though: Opus 31, no. 3 is super creative, fun and surprising. Also, the fugue at the end of the Hammerklavier (#29) is absolutely bonkers and brilliant. That definitely deserved some discussion (and in my opinion, an SS ranking). Agreed on the slow movement of #29, though!

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks. Definitely considered Hammerklavier at the top, such an awesome piece. It was hard not to have about 8 sonatas in the highest tier. Thanks for watching.

[@alans98989]

Agree with most of your rankings. I'd swap No. 15 and No. 17 though. 17 has always been among my favorites while I never found 15 to be that interesting. My top 3 would be: 30, 31, 23.

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks for checking it out, glad we agree on a lot. It's unbelievable how good the last 3 sonatas are, all in a row.

[@Boshy666]

I just made a difficulty ranking of Beethoven's Piano Concertos specifically if anyone wants to check that out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2HMhYmHj9iJesU

[@samuelblack4792]

When I first listened to the third movement of Sonata no. 21, I literally had trouble wrapping my head around how beautiful and epic it was. Normally it takes me multiple listens to fully appreciate a piece of music, so the fact that it grabbed me instantly says a lot about it in my mind.

[@Stanvansandt]

Fun approach - now I'm going to have to listen to them in this order! Periodically I listen through the complete sonatas, usually in numerical order. (At least once I tried to rearrange them more chronologically, but I'm not sure there was much difference.) I'll start at the bottom and work up. I think it will be fun to jump back and forth in time as I move up the tier list. Like you, I love almost all of Beethoven, so I don't think it will be dull to start at the bottom. Thanks for taking the time to do this - liked, subscribed, and shared.

[@ryanabshier]

That is a great idea! Hope they get gradually better for you as you go along. But yeah, all Beethoven is excellent. Even the ones I poked a little fun at I still give a C, nothing is on the "bad" spectrum. Listening in order is great too, to see the gradual shift in style. Thanks for watching and sharing. I really do appreciate it. This was hours upon hours of editing so I am truly thankful for the help getting it out.

[@Stanvansandt]

Got started today on KZbin with 19, 20, and 3. 19 is a sweet little piece in the Mozartian manner with Buchbinder, who also plays a mild mannered 20. Lovely tone but a little monochromatic. I hit the jackpot with Michelangeli playing no. 3 - it's magnificent! Nothing wrong with this sonata in the right hands. Check it out. @@ryanabshier

[@sewykik5004]

love sonata no 11 personally, the first theme is just so fun and sparky and always catches me immediately

[@davisatdavis1]

I have a hard time connecting with Beethoven. I feel Chopin and Schubert in my heart and some other composers that aren't Beethoven I really enjoy. But I could never really let Beethoven in. I can enjoy Beethoven if I really dig into the music, but I can't do that myself if the piece isn't assigned by my professor. Some of his symphonies I grew up listening to, and even got me into music. But anything else that aren't like the last five or so sonatas, I just cant bring myself to listen to or care for. What about Beethoven's music grabs you over other composers? What do you listen for that grahs you in?

[@pavlenikacevic4976]

For me, it's multiple things: 1) You can hear the human struggle in Beethoven more than anyone else. Writing beautiful melodies didn't come as naturally to him as it did to Schubert, but he still manages to write melodies which on paper shouldn't even sound good (often lacking the elegant logic, the motion in seconds, etc). I believe that he'd get stuck writing a clumsy melody but then work so hard to ultimately find the only way out of the mess he created that the melody ends up sounding nice 2) His late period (late sonatas and especially string quartets, which continue where he left with the sonatas) contains as divine music as anyone has ever written, on par with Bach 3) His middle period is so great that even if there were no late period, he'd still be considered as one of the very greatest composers. Like, listen to the finale of his 4th piano concerto; there's not a single section that doesn't sound absolutely glorious 4) Listening experience improves with some historical context: He is likely the single most influential composer in the music history; he basically invented romanticism, and he managed to transcend even that in his later pieces (e.g. his Grosse Fuge is a piece that is the whole century ahead of its time) 5) The way he manipulates large-scale structure to create dramatic effect is unprecedented. In the Op. 110 sonata, he introduces themes in the first two movements that actually become relevant only in the third movement, in which he uses different forms as a means to advance the narrative: He clashes arioso representing despair and fugue representing hope to reach the chorale using the fugue theme to represent triumph of hope over despair. This is obviously a very different approach to writing compared to Chopin and Schubert, so you must treat it that way and listen to it from a different perspective in order to connect with it

[@bingyoung3228]

@@pavlenikacevic4976 Because melodies didn't flow to him as quickly as Schubert or Mozart, Beethoven spends lots of time developing/varying them, sort of improvising on them--playing them in different keys and going from major to minor. Beethoven can be incredibly intimate, very dark, bur really majestic and triumphant and glorious--such as the Ode to Joy in the 9th or the last movement of the Waldstein,. I think Beethoven drilled into the aspects of human nature and experience, from best to the worst, deeper than any composer I know of. Beethoven is not "background music" where you can do other things while listening, such as Mozart, Haydn and even Bach. Beethoven demands your full attention. He was a master of everything that had come before him (Mozart, Bach) but broke through into entirely new worlds. He will always be in a league of his own, even along other very great composers--such as Schubert, who worshiped him.

[@FallingWhiteDove]

My personal favourite is the No.5, especially the first movement

[@ryanabshier]

Very cool. I love the amount of drama, but also the happy really charming, happy 2nd theme.

[@markstephenson6174]

no explanation for downgrading op.31 no. 3 - but still amusing. What keyboard are you playing on?

[@ryanabshier]

Yeah, not every sonata got the long explanation due to the video being super long already. Glad you enjoyed the video! The keyboard is a Yamaha P-70. Someone gave it to me a few years ago. It's around 20 years old. Honestly, it's not great sound wise in person or touch, but the audio out jack sounds fine so it's perfect for what I need it for. The real pianos are just so hard to work with because of camera space and simply being too loud. So it's a much simpler setup to use the keyboard and I think the sound I get is pretty good.

[@romanleon76]

The arieta from sonata 32 opus 111 is the top expression in music

[@marichristian]

Sublime.

[@silverteinbas]

Wow, what a great and fascinating video! This is of course subjective but a few things I would have ranked differently: 1) 3rd sonata would be on the higher spot (someone, I think it was Andras Schiff, compared parts of this sonata to Beethoven's future piano concertos); 2) sonata no 13 - the last movement is one of my favourites - so I'd rank this higher as well; 3) for some reason I'm not a big fan of Waldstein sonata (no 21). All other sonatas - I think I agree:) For some reason I think the only sonata I am the least familiar with is sonata no 28 and thanks to your video I now totally discovered this piece!

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks for watching and I'm glad you liked it. Do you play piano as well? Yeah, a lot of subjectivity, but hope it's fun to hear tons of Beethoven all at once whether or not everyone agrees with the rankings. Interesting, you know, the wide range of techniques in the 3rd sonata do remind me of the 3rd and 5th concertos. Concerto passages require a lot of volume so some patterns work better than others. I should look into that. Hope you fall in love with No 28, one of the greatest pieces. It's so unique compared to the other sonatas as well.

[@silverteinbas]

@@ryanabshier I play the piano a bit - I'm about 15-20 years self-taught.

[@ryanabshier]

@@silverteinbas awesome! What kind of pieces have you studied/what's your level. Hope the videos are fun and helpful.

[@HowardS185]

Thank you so much for taking on this rather daunting task. I'm sure not everyone would agree with your ratings, but your descriptions of each sonata provide a nice window into the qualities of each. My personal favorite is the last mvt of No 23, but I suspect this is going to change soon. As a beginning piano student, I only wish I could play some of this magnificent music. Not that you haven't done enough already, but if you could rate the movements of each sonata in terms of difficulty that would be awesome. Thanks again, your channel is an easy subscribe for me!

[@johnjohannes5954]

Double S tier are for me : Appassionata , opus 90 & 101 and 106 (those fugues are master-pieces) , s tier: opus 31 no2 Tempest , Pastorale (opus 28) , opus 27 n02 (Moonlight)

[@hitm43]

Wow, surprised at how much I could disagree with a fellow Beethoven fan! Here is my list: SS: 3, 6, 8, 11, 18, 21, 23 S: 1, 2, 4, 13, 15, 16, 19, 28, 32 A: 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29 B: 22, 30, 31 C: 5, 9, 20 I've played 19 of these sonatas and am now working on going through and recording all of the sonatas from the beginning. It hurt a little bit to see you put some of my favorite sonatas so low! (3, 6, 11, 18). I will probably grow to love the late sonatas more when I eventually learn them, but in general I have never been that excited about most of them.

[@ryanabshier]

Hi, thanks for checking out the video! Always fun to see a fellow Beethoven fanatic. I think to partially explain the difference in our lists remember I roughly balanced the tiers, meaning I had to have as many Cs as SSs. If not I'd mostly have A, S, and SS. This would explain #3 and #6 for example. If I only had 3 C tier sonatas, they would for sure move up. It's an arbitrary rule I put on myself, but I feel it shows the rankings better if I don't have everything packed at the top. But yeah, in general I feel like I lean later than you and you a little earlier. However, we both seem to like Waldstein and Appassionata in the middle.

[@mmarks4]

Thanks!

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks so much for the support!

[@Wkkbooks]

Thanks for a wonderful ride. My evals are pretty conventional. SS: the last 5, les adieux, waldstein, Appassionata. About 1/2 the rest are merely great (all the ones with titles and a few others). and the other half are very good but marred by one or 2 meh movements. And ofc you're correct about Op. 49, the Easy Sonatas.

[@pavlenikacevic4976]

25:35 the left hand should be an octave lower, which makes it sound even more awesome! :) Nice effort! When doing such a big task as rating all the sonatas, there have to be some things that fly under the radar. I think that if you analyze the Op. 22 sonata more, you might realize that it's one of the most perfectly written out of all the earlier sonatas. The same goes for the Op. 31 no 2 finale, which you didn't really talk about, but is (imho) the most perfectly written Beethoven movement up until that point Regarding the thought of Beethoven dying after finishing the last sonata, it indeed went differently: He instead discovered that the string quartet is an even more suitable form for what he wanted to express, so he switched to it. His late quartets can therefore be considered the continuation of where he left off with the late sonatas, and they are generally considered as Beethoven's ultimate achievement (especially with Op. 131, which Beethoven himself regarded as his most perfect work)

[@ryanabshier]

Oh no! In another video I've even talked about how clever the spacing is at the beginning of Op. 57, haha, then I played it wrong. You know, things happen when you film for hours late into the night. I'll give Op. 22 another shot. Like I mentioned in the video, ever time I study a piece by Beethoven I walk away thinking it's brilliant! Beethoven is just awesome. So I'm sure if I knew more of the intricacies of the sonata I'd like it more. It hasn't drawn me in before, so I haven't studied it. Thanks for the thoughtful, long comment and for checking out the video!

[@peterkovacs9951]

op 31 no 1 is one of his most humorous works

[@RootsMusic88]

Great overview walking through all of these! Love hearing so many examples of them. Opus 109! 😊

[@ryanabshier]

Op 109 is a great one. I mean, they're all great, but that is a great great one. Thanks for watching!

[@RootsMusic88]

@@ryanabshier And all the jazz moments are great too as they pop up in pieces!

[@ryanabshier]

@@RootsMusic88 that could be a whole video, when Beethoven plays jazz

[@RootsMusic88]

@@ryanabshier Jazz moments in classical music would be a great video!

[@ryanabshier]

@@RootsMusic88 any suggestions from everyone of some good examples?

[@yat_ii]

Finally, someone else who loves the hammerklavier 3rd movement 🤩🤩🤩

[@ryanabshier]

Oh man, it's insanely beautiful. Like the 1st movement is one of the great sonata that exists, but that 3rd will touch your soul.

[@pavlenikacevic4976]

@@ryanabshier I agree. Still don't understand how it's not in the very top tier, considering the madness that follows in the 4th movement is one of the most unique things ever written

[@rby_te3520]

Great Video! Could you make a Video with a Tierlist ranking the Sonatas by difficulty please?

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks! I'd love to in the future. I feel like that list will be a little "guessing" on my part because I haven't personally played all 32. And also super controversial, because the Beethoven effect is partially everyone thinks the sonatas they've played are the hardest. However, I do see that as a super helpful and fun video so I'm planning on it at some point. I'll probably play around and make sure I'm researched enough. Maybe just 3 categories...Start Here, Average, End Here, haha.

[@makaan699]

"Beethoven can't write pieces in G major so I won't waste my time with them" >Literally the greatest concerto ever goes brrrr

[@ryanabshier]

Haha, there might be exceptions for things...that is a wonderful piece.

[@pookz3067]

My love and affection for Beethoven can’t be overstated. Really love all of these sonatas and loved your decision to not put anything lower than C. I’ve studied all of these sonatas and internalized innumerable of recordings for each (literally worked chronologically through every complete/great incomplete cycle). My own opinions, if anyone is interested: My lowest tier would probably also be C. But my C tiers often work their way into the B tier for me. I probably only have about 3 sonatas in there at any one time, basically swapping different ones you have in C into B depending on my mood. Some of the B’s often get into A. Everg ting you have A and above is the same for me, and never fall below A I really love the early Beethoven because of how much it sounds like a young Beethoven 🥰. No 4 and 18 could both make A for me I think. I agree with your description of 4, but its second movement still carries it into A for me haha. 100% agreed on liking the waldstein more than everything before it. Waldstein vs Appassionata depends on my mood. Op 90 for me wavers between S and A, not sure why. I can always recognize how awesome it is but sometimes it just doesn’t hit for me like the others in S and above and I don’t know why. 28-32 all belong solidly in SS imo.

[@GiacomoPhilipp92]

Hello! Legit ranking. I would like to point at the finale of the op. 2 no. 1 played by Richter 1976 in Moscow (uploaded by truecrypt) which shows its theatralic and vocal style in a perfect way (he plays it at at very fast pace which confuses at the beginning) and also Sokolovs op. 7 1990 in Moscow (uploaded by ADGO). Best regards from Germany, Giacomo.

[@ryanabshier]

Hallo, thanks for checking it out and the recommendation. I'll check out that recording and give it a listen. The tempo of that slow movement is a big issue in interpretation, so I'm curious what he does. I know I like to start it waaaay to slowly then regret it as I go along, haha.

[@GiacomoPhilipp92]

​@@ryanabshier With pleasure! I really would appreciate if you would write me your thoughts.

[@foliofugio]

I learned No. 9 and am currently learning 31 - definitely agree with the placement of 31 but I personally would give 9 a B since it’s a really solid example of the sonata allegro form at its most formulaic imo Tho I haven’t heard them all so I might be biased lolol

[@MysteryCheaterMan]

Great video! You have a similar taste in Beethoven Sonatas to me. For No. 30 you referred to the third movement as the second one.

[@Juscz]

Don't get how you don't get Op. 81a, but respect your opinion and appreciate your sharing it. Hey, I never got the Apassionata as much as I felt I should have. Yes, I love the Apassionata--- but not like Op. numbers 53, 81a, 106, and 109. Oh, and Op. 111 can be thrown in their too as being super great.

[@redShiftish]

Interesting that you called the first movement of 111 a middle period-sounding movement. I always found it to be the most late-Beethoven-esque of all the late Beethoven works. It's a bunch of snippets and partial themes that get started but continually fall apart, especially that opening theme, the "second theme" which isn't really a theme at all, the fugal elements that have trouble following through...everything just trails off, finally concluding on a cadence in the wrong mode (rare for a Beethoven first movement). It sounds less like a Classical sonata and more like a satirical reflection on sonata form, a series of fragmented failures with no remedy.

[@RareguyUk]

I agree, the Pastoral sonata is an absolute joy

[@henryhorst9858]

Good list! I’m learning op 2 no 2 rn

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks! How long have you been working on it? Such a great sonata and much more challenging then many expect.

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

number 3 and 7 are 2 of my favourites. Richter does great versions (on yt prob) my teacher is from Beet's lineage. I do x3 or x4 Beethoven Pastiches on my channel you may like. My faves are - 1,3,7,8,21,23,31,32 - and my fave composer - Schubert.

[@harrybmichell]

No. 18 is like the most joyful sonata he wrote! How you gonna put it in C lol

[@harrybmichell]

@@ultimateconstruction I think you’re right, if he had actually listened to some of these they’d be much higher. 16 is legit the funniest sonata Beethoven wrote too. First movement, the hands can’t play together, second is like a parody of (bad) Italian opera with all its ridiculous ornamentation and purposely stupid sounding main theme, and then the third movement is just kind of fun and easy to listen to.

[@cimbalok2972]

I had to LOL at your comment about op. 27 #2. The classical radio station in my city overplays the nicknamed Beethoven sonatas but neglects the cool ones that don't have any cute subtitles. If I were a social media influencer, I would influence folx to nickname op. 14 #2 (I like it more than you do) the "Herbert" Sonata so they would air it more often. Although your description of "Beethoven Jazz" might do it. I think my favorite is the E-flat from op. 31 but I change my mind depending on which one I'm listening to at the time. I heard a recording of Yuja Wang playing the E-flat (The "Hunt"!) and it was magnificent.

[@PJGRAND]

Beethoven is truly the king of the piano sonatas who wrote 32 outstanding ones what makes Beethoven's Sonata so cool that several of them he wrote for his students but even though they're simpler they're still extremely charming pieces Beethoven was an extremely popular composer during his lifetime and today Beethoven's music is more popular then ever

[@fymathRUS]

Good tier list, I just disagree with seeing n°7 so low, speaking about 2nd movements that one is amazing, and for me the rest of the sonata would be at least tier B

[@valeryvignolles21]

I'm finally glad you ranked the 1st sonata A, but I would have ranked the tempest A as well, and I think that the op 49's are worthy. Thank for the video :)

[@tomannable5520]

I love them all - they all have their place. Tempest/Waldstein and #32 probably top the lists but slow movement Hammerclavier is just incredible - still trying to love the fugue but sticking with it (as a listener - same with Grosse Fuge). Like #3 a lot more than you.

[@Tolstoy111]

#7 has that amazing slow movement. One of the best of all his slow mvts. Also there are 4 mvts

[@davidgoulden5956]

Like them all, except for op. 54 and 27/2. My favourite two: op.53 and 101.

[@michaelmorin6235]

Great video

[@ldgaming4213]

Why the hunt C tier? You brushed over it so quickly like it was nothing

[@marcusanthonyPOV]

You're out of your mind with #13 which is one of my favorites and the 1st movement is the least of it. The 2nd movement is a banger, 3rd is gorgeous, and the last has that exuberance only Beethoven can achieve with a call back to the 3rd movement. WAY better than #15 (which I play).

[@Wherrimy]

Disagree with some of the choices. The 11th sonata is very worthwhile (even Beethoven himself liked it the most at the time of its writing), the 7th has fantastic 2nd mvmt., for the 29th you didn't even mention the finale fugue, which I rank as highly as the 3rd mvmt., and 31st should be SS tier, it's my personal favorite of the sonatas.

[@clement2780]

most popular appassionata f minor op 57, d op31-2 tempest, waldstein op53, op28 pastorale, op10/3 D major, op10-1 c minir, op 31-1-3 among most difficult; op81 Eb live them S-A; now rank variations;

[@coolpeaches439]

You're probably the first pianist I've ever heard who didn't play the 2nd movement of the 1st sonata way too fast

[@matthewdarpso7685]

great video

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@MariaMaltseva]

1. 30 2. 31 3. 32 4. 28 5. 29 6. 23 7. 16 8. 12 9. 10 10. 21 It's impossible other than for the first five, which happen to be the last five.

[@ryanabshier]

Very nice list. Yeah, the last 5 are all incredible.

[@MariaMaltseva]

@@ryanabshier The reality is that the same music will affect you differently at different times in your life. But in terms of innovation, fugal writing and birth of romanticism, the last five are *almost* objectively best and most interesting. Not to mention what he does to sonata form.

[@gregorycook4850]

#23 got me through a bout of depression my 3rd year of college. Would have been higher on my list.

[@GeorgeBletchly]

If you think you're tired of Opus 27 No 2, listen to Andras Schiff's take on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmfYaoKZpZVmb7s.

[@ulfwernernielsen6708]

Op 109 has 3 movements so the slow movements is the third.

[@isabelmorel2225]

#32 op 111 my very very very favorite, esp 2. movement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ivo Pogorelic is my favorite interpretation (you play it very beautifully the parts you showed!!!). Other favorites of mine: #21 op 53, #26 op81a, #23 op57. ad Les adieux op 81a: it is definitely a SS for me: listen to the extreme happiness a bit later in 1. movement when it gets fast!!!!! Also I love #4 op7, it has got the same Beethove-happiness as #26!

[@JoshuaWillis89]

We’re complete opposites about the 2nd movements. I find most of them tedious.

[@ryanabshier]

Haha, I had a friend once that loved sonatas without a slow movement, still makes me smile. Just so different. However, the ones I have personally studied more, I fall in love with the fast movements too. What are your favorites? Do you play piano as well or in it for the listening?

[@JoshuaWillis89]

@@ryanabshier yes, I play, although I studied organ in college more than piano. Pathetique is probably my favorite Beethoven sonata, because I was obsessed with it as a kid, and its second movement is gorgeous. Part of my disinterest is the dotted-eighth sixteenth figure just feels out of place at an adagio tempo, and Beethoven loves them so much. Although it’s really effective in the opening of Pathetique, so obviously there are times when I like it. Idk. I think I just prefer something more melodic at a slower tempo.

[@ryanabshier]

@@JoshuaWillis89 I took some organ lessons in college and just embarrassed myself a bunch, so similar to piano and so not at the same time. I see what you mean about the dotted eighth-sixteenth note figure. To our modern ear and even compared to music 50 years after Beethoven they can seem out of place. So fast in a slow movement. I mean, I obviously like them, but it is different than what we're used to.

[@michaelladarkangelsparkle9908]

16 is great! Its a comedy! Lol and can't write in G?! The 4th concerto disagrees not to mention Rage over a lost penny 😂 Great vid! I agree with pretty much all the placings! Hope you do a mozart sonatas too!😊🎹🎶💖

[@Dalar-u6l]

sonata no17 3rd movement on my opinion deserves s or ss its very well balanced, elegant and a bit angry

[@ryanabshier]

Good point. I thought when I made the list 17 would get some pushback. I mean, they're all great, but this one just got pushed down by sonatas I like more.

[@JayantaParmeggianiSimoni]

@@ryanabshier You CAN'T put 17 and 14 in that positions. Are you mad? Insensible?

[@Dalar-u6l]

@@JayantaParmeggianiSimoni agreed, sonata no 21 deserves its spot tho

[@Dalar-u6l]

@@JayantaParmeggianiSimoni also i think sonata no 19 needs a spot in s or ss

[@DoctorRenatoSoloBebe]

❤

[@ryanabshier]

🙂

[@justicegusting2476]

Title is misleading. There is no worst Beethoven piano sonata.

[@simonballard6413]

So glad that you are not so keen on opus 22 and opus 31/1 - I never liked them either! I have played most of these, but refused to learn that tedious over-long fugue of opus 106. My other favourite is the marvellous opus 54. Otherwise, with you all the way.

[@blesseddaysi4519]

👏👏👏👏

[@ryanabshier]

Thanks 😊

[@blacksky492]

Seems like you don’t like fugues, 29 is my absolute fav

[@ryanabshier]

Hmm, considering my rankings of the last 5 sonatas, I would say I would in fact I really like Beethoven fugues. 🤣 Maybe you're confusing me with a different video you watched.

[@blacksky492]

@@ryanabshierI meant cause you did drop 31 29 and 27 yk

[@ryanabshier]

@@blacksky492 but they are still 2nd to top tier. So I really like those sonatas.

[@blacksky492]

@@ryanabshier true

[@jamespicht1128]

Hmm. Hmm. Well, your video, your rankings. I’m impressed by your courage and your unmitigated gall at grading Beethoven sonatas. There are some I just can’t stand, but I don’t want to be the one looking over God’s shoulder and muttering, “roses? Really? You’ve created roses? How …. common.” I wouldn’t know where to begin creating weeds. I’m going to give God a B grade for roses because so many supermarkets dye them a tacky blue? And then there are cockroaches. Objectively, they’re a tour de force of design, a work of total genius. It hardly matters that I don’t like them. Any proto-god who came up with cockroaches for the Creation 101 final would deserve an A. There’s a big difference between “best” and “my personal favorite.” But, your video, your rankings. I do appreciate your effort. I listened to the whole thing and smiled some and frowned more. I give you an A. Mortals don’t get grades of S or SS.

[@construct3]

I like your ranking reasonably well. There are a few I would have ranked differently, but so what. I especially like your appreciation for Op. 28. A greatly underrated piece in my opinion. Now, that said, about the Hammerklavier. This piece stands or falls with the fourth movement. I know Beethoven would permit the performer to skip it, but with all due respect, I disagree with him. It brings the sonata to an energetic, triumphant, life-affirming conclusion. You didn't even mention the fourth movement at all, but it's right up there with the fourth movement of the Ninth Symphony. I would rank Opp. 106, 109, 110, and 111 all in SS tier. Which one do I like the best? The one I happen to be listening to when I'm asked. You put Op. 101 in SS tier, too. I won't argue with that, though I'd put it in S tier. I give it little attention. I'm probably wrong in that, so I'll defer to your ranking for Op. 101. Thanks for sharing your evaluations of the marvelous body of work. I greatly enjoyed it. And despite my criticism about the late sonatas, your list gives anyone new to Beethoven a good guide for where to start and what to listen for. Thanks for your hard work.

[@RyanisApronius]

Man, opuses 10.3, 22, 27.1, and 31.3 are some of my favorites, and you just brushed them aside as if they were inconsequential. That stings 😂 Also, I'm not sure if it's just because you have to sit close to the keyboard for the video, but your hands seem quite scrunched and stiff, and your wrists are very bent. Be careful, as that can result in fatigue and injury.

[@Trumpetis1]

9, 10, and 11 are my favorites, too bad you put them all in C tier.

[@ryanabshier]

I could for sure. Like I mentioned, if I was to study any one deeply I'd fall in love. Also, C tier for Beethoven is B or A for any other composer. I basically love all 30 of the sonatas (not counting the Op 49s), but I tried to rank them compared to how much I like other Beethoven sonatas.

[@mwsc04]

You lost me after you gushed about the early slow movements but didn't even acknowledge the most powerful slow movement in 10/3 (which has 4 movements, not 3). If you want to "get" that sonata, the Andras Schiff Beethoven Sonata Lecture Recital is a perfect place to start (the whole series is on YT). Cheers!

[@ryanabshier]

That's fine, we can have different opinions. I'd say I easily have 30+ movements I like more, maybe even more, I just love Beethoven a ton but that sonata doesn't speak to me. You do have me on the movements. My fear of making this video was I was bound to say something wrong factually and I did there. Hmm, I wonder what I was thinking. Obviously some sonatas have debatable counting and those were the ones I was most worried about, but I slipped up here.

[@epointerwinboie]

diabolical rankings

[@mmarks4]

Waldstein!

[@ryanabshier]

My favorite! Such an incredible sonata in every way.

[@clement2780]

moonlight pathetique are a bit too popular

[@Ricardo7250]

Rank every Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody

[@_AultraGreen_]

bro put appasionata in S and not its own SSS tier 😭😭😭

[@EBrain-t3n]

27:40 Nah that's so underrated don't do sonata no 25 like that

[@MierePC]

When my favorite (no. 23) isnt ss 😢😭 (Its fine)

[@Benjamin-fk2yo]

Op.10 no.3 is one of the best bro?!

[@Alix777.]

I like the two or three first and the 4 last sonatas. The rest is pretty uninteresting to me

[@clement2780]

dont forget woO sonatas

[@c_danzu3186]

f Minor slander detected, opinion rejected. I'm just kidding, great video. I'm just biased.

[@BRNRDNCK]

Having an SS tier defeats the point of having an S tier. On Beethoven’s high standards, several of these pieces belong in a D or F tier, and even if they didn’t, the SS still makes no sense. This is the same concept as rating things 11/10 and thinking you’re being really profound, when actually you’re just ruining the rating scale. The point of having an S tier at all above the normal scale of ABCDF is to acknowledge things that transcend our ability to rate, where the word “perfect” doesn’t do justice and all we can say is “Superior”. That is already venturing into “11/10” territory so the SS is redundant. All that aside, most of your rankings are good. Refusing to rank Op. 49 is good as Beethoven should not be judged by those pieces at all (nor would he want to be). I agree with sonatas 3, 9, 10, and 16 at the bottom. A few disagreements: - Sonata 18 is a middle period standout with tons of character and is in B’s top half. Disappointing you ranked it low and gave no explanation. Why don’t you like it much? - I like Sonata 15, but it honestly belongs nowhere close to 21 and especially to the last 5. - Call me a snob but I really view sonatas 30 and 32 as the clear best pieces here. Their spiritual depth and economy outstrip even sonatas 31 and 28, which I put 3rd and 4th. Sonata 30 is the greatest sonata ever written and 32 is flawless save for the first movement’s ending and the beginning of the exposition. Again, I respect and mostly agree with your ranking, but those two belong way above the other “SS” selections in my opinion.

[@ryanabshier]

Sorry you feel so strongly, haha. It's really just for fun, hope you got the enjoyment vibe from the video, hope people is general can just sit back and enjoy a celebration of Beethoven. And it's an honor to Beethoven who is my favorite composer. It doesn't ruin the ratings however. SS is higher than S, S is higher than A... So the rating is still fine and in order, just shifts everything down. Besides, S ruins the rankings too, because A should be the top until S came along...

[@BRNRDNCK]

@@ryanabshierYea it doesn’t ruin the ratings, I agree, and I still enjoyed the video. After you replied I edited my comment with agreements and disagreements.