Ludwig van Beethoven, Bagatelles, Op. 119

The importance of Beethoven's last three piano sonatas, Opp. 109-111, seemingly can't be overstated. There's this romantic, transcendent halo about them, which is unfortunate from the stance of an amateur music critic, because that means every performance of them is awful. Even professional critics on occasion fall into the trap of saying that a pianist lacks "feeling" in her playing, without bothering to elaborate. To my mind, saying that a pianist lacks feeling may as well mean that the critic doesn't like the pianist's face, or the country he came from. It's utterly meaningless.

Don't get me wrong. Convincingly playing these works beyond simple(!) technical prowess is no easy task. And there's nothing quite like closing your eyes and really being wowed by one of the greats. (Try the slow movement of the Op. 110.) But after four years with a conservatory, I would submit that the three late sonatas need to be more accessible, and played less often by conservatory soldiers.

Despite the myth that Beethoven was composing his last three sonatas as a grey old miser on his deathbed, there were quite a few solo piano works still in the offing. The most significant of these was certainly the epic Diabelli Variations, Op. 120, but there were also two sets of Bagatelles, Opp. 119 & 126. Beethoven's Bagatelles are short, sweet, and were probably composed as a quick cash infusion. He expressly indicated that the pieces aren't meant to be related as a "suite" per se. So, I consider myself justified in shamelessly ripping seven from the Op. 119 set, in no particular order.

Maybe I shouldn't bore you with production details, but at least it might shed a little light on my selection process. No. 11 is the result of about 20 takes; No.7, of probably somewhere near 30. That doesn't mean I recorded them the whole way through all of those times, but still. This is why I'm shying inconspicuously from larger works. Because I may perish in my rage (but a cool, Beethoven-y rage).

Of the 11 in the Op. 119 set, Nos. 10 and 11 would probably be my favorites. Not often do you get to plunk something down that lasts all of 13 seconds, as No. 10 does. And the lyrical No. 11 was the inspiration for Max Reger's imaginative Variations on a Theme of Beethoven, which was arranged both for two pianos and for orchestra.

If you really want to hear death in music form, hunt down Beethoven's late string quartets. Start with the Heiliger Dankgesang of Op. 132, and then there's always Op. 135, the last work he completed.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Bagatelles, Op. 119
Composed 1820-22

I. Allegretto (G minor)

II. Andante con moto (C major)

V. Risoluto (C minor)

VII. * * * (C major)

IX. Vivace moderato (A minor)

X. Allegramente (A major)

XI. Andante ma non troppo (B-flat major)


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