Difficulty level of Beethoven piano sonatas

Member

Posts: 51
City: Roma

September 12, 2015, 17:39

Hello everyone, is any forum user able to compile a list/ranking (even of just a few works) of Beethoven's piano sonatas (based on experience and/or the user's own choice) ordering the latter according to an execution criterion ranging from "easiest" to "most difficult"?

Thank you in advance for any response regarding this matter.

Lowseling

Member

Posts: 95
City: Ispica (RG)

September 12, 2015, 19:08

Hello,

In this forum, the ranking of Beethoven's sonatas compiled by Liszt had been published, could you take a look at it: http://www.pianoconcerto.it/forum/index.php?/topic/1945-le-sonate-di-beethoven/?p=15983

Enjoy the rest of your day!

nancy

Member

Posts: 521

September 12, 2015, 19:49

the Schirmer Bülow-Lebert edition arranges the sonatas in progressive order of difficulty:

Level 1 – Op. 49, 2; Op. 49, 1; Op. 79; Op. 14, 1 & 2; Op. 2, 1.

Level 2 – Op. 10, 1; Op. 13; Op. 10, 3; Op.10, 2; Op. 28; Op. 2, 3; Op. 26; Op. 31, 3; Op. 22; Op. 7.

Level 3 – Op. 27, 2; Op. 27, 1; Op. 31, 2; Op. 2, 2; Op. 54; Op. 78; Op. 90; Op. 81a; Op. 31, 1; Op. 53; Op. 57; Op. 101; Op. 111; Op. 110; Op. 109; Op. 106.

i am somewhat opposed to classifying in such a generic way. there are too many variables that can make a piece easy for me and difficult for someone else (the opposite is more frequent). Not to mention the empathy one has with the piece, the key, and many other factors.

Lowseling

Member

Posts: 95
City: Ispica (RG)

September 12, 2015, 20:04

nancy wrote:
the Schirmer Bülow-Lebert edition arranges the sonatas in progressive order of difficulty:
Level 1 – Op. 49, 2; Op. 49, 1; Op. 79; Op. 14, 1 & 2; Op. 2, 1.
Level 2 – Op. 10, 1; Op. 13; Op. 10, 3; Op.10, 2; Op. 28; Op. 2, 3; Op. 26; Op. 31, 3; Op. 22; Op. 7.
Level 3 – Op. 27, 2; Op. 27, 1; Op. 31, 2; Op. 2, 2; Op. 54; Op. 78; Op. 90; Op. 81a; Op. 31, 1; Op. 53; Op. 57; Op. 101; Op. 111; Op. 110; Op. 109; Op. 106.
i am somewhat opposed to classifying in such a generic way. there are too many variables that can make a piece easy for me and difficult for someone else (the opposite is more frequent). Not to mention the empathy one has with the piece, the key, and many other factors.

I agree, classifying pieces is impossible because hand size, agility, and technical level influence them, but I think these rankings are intended as a "in my opinion" and not as an objective evaluation scale; I would take them more as conventions