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Exploring Beethoven's Piano Sonatas Part 3
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 7 hours
  • Course by Curtis Institute of Music
  • Offered by

About

Welcome to Part 3 of Exploring Beethoven's Piano Sonatas! I'm delighted to launch another set of new lectures of this course as Part 3. As before, this class is meant for people of all levels of experience with Beethoven's music (including no experience at all!). Remember that you are able to watch the lectures as many times as you like, at whatever pace is comfortable for you. As I’ve done with the first two sets of Beethoven lectures, I look forward to meeting with students—online and in person, in various cities. The dates and locations will be posted in the Announcements and Events section, as part of the course content. So please remember to check back there for details. In these four new lectures, we will explore the following sonatas: • Sonata Op. 10, No. 1 • Sonata Op. 22 • Sonata Op. 31, No. 2 • Sonata Opp. 78, 79, 81a The Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation supports Curtis’s lifelong learning initiatives.

Modules

Note from the Instructor

    • 2 Readings
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2 Readings

  • Welcome!
  • Syllabus

Getting to Know You

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Getting to Know You

Op. 10 No. 1

    • 11 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Final Quiz – Op. 10, No. 1

11 Videos

  • Opus 10 number 1: The "c minor Mood"
  • Opus 10 number 1: Extremes of Tempo and Character
  • 1st Movement: Pulse as a Source of Character
  • 1st Movement: High Drama within the Conventions of the Time
  • 1st Movement: A Development with New Material
  • 1st Movement: Hammer Blows in c minor
  • 2nd Movement: An Adagio Oasis
  • 2nd Movement: A Coda that Expands the Movement’s Scope
  • 3rd Movement: Prestissimo!
  • 3rd Movement: Short-Short-Short-LONG
  • 3rd Movement: Beginning with Defiance; Ending with Mystery

Op. 22

    • 7 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Final Quiz – Op. 22

7 Videos

  • Op 22: The Sonata that Washed Itself
  • 1st Movement: Wit and Athleticism
  • 1st Movement: Playing by the Rules
  • 2nd Movement: An Aria on the Piano
  • 2nd Movement: Effortless Mastery
  • 3rd Movement: A Rhythmic Link to the Rest of the Work
  • 4th Movement: A Grazioso Goodbye to the Earliest Period

Op. 31 No. 2

    • 10 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Final Quiz – Op. 31, No. 2

10 Videos

  • Op. 31 no. 2: An Adventurous, Unsettling Masterwork
  • 1st Movement: A Recitative hat is not a Recitative; An Introduction that is not an Introduction
  • 1st Movement: A Confrontation of Opposites
  • 1st Movement: The Structural Lines Grow Blurrier
  • 1st Movement: And Finally, the Recitative!
  • 2nd Movement: Harmonic and Emotional Stability at Las
  • 2nd Movement: Evoking Voices and Instruments
  • 2nd Movement: Exploring the Piano’s Extreme Registers
  • 3rd Movement: A Slow-Moving Perpetual Motion
  • 3rd Movement: Anxiety and Ambuguity

Opp. 78, 79 and 81a

    • 11 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Final Quiz – Op. 78, 79, 81a

11 Videos

  • Op. 78, 1st Movement: After a Long Pause, A Sonata Beethoven Loved
  • Op. 78, 1st and 2nd Movements: Warmth and Humor
  • Op. 79, 1st Movement: Beethoven, Modest and Unbuttoned
  • Op. 79, 1st Movement: Phrase Lengths as a Source of Humor
  • Op. 79, 2nd and 3rd Movements: Sonata Movements as Character Pieces
  • Op. 81a: The Birth of Program Music for the Piano
  • Op. 81a, 1st Movement: Le-Be-Wohl
  • Op. 81a, 1st Movement: Extreme Economy of Gesture…
  • Op. 81a, 1st Movement: …And a Return to Expansiveness
  • Op. 81a, 2nd Movement: Conveying Absence through Harmonic Uncertainty
  • Op. 81a, 3rd Movement: After Melancholy, Euphoriac

Listening

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Listening

Feedback Please

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Stay in touch with the Curtis Institute

Auto Summary

Embark on an enriching musical journey with "Exploring Beethoven's Piano Sonatas Part 3," a captivating course within the Arts & Humanities domain. This engaging series, presented by Coursera, is designed for enthusiasts of all experience levels, from complete beginners to seasoned listeners. Renowned instructor Jonathan Biss guides you through an in-depth exploration of four significant sonatas: Sonata Op. 10, No. 1, Sonata Op. 22, Sonata Op. 31, No. 2, and Sonata Opp. 78, 79, 81a. Over the span of 420 minutes, learners can immerse themselves in the intricate world of Beethoven's masterpieces, with the flexibility to view lectures at their own pace. The course also offers unique opportunities to connect with the instructor both online and in person, with event details provided in the Announcements and Events section. Supported by the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, this foundational-level course is available through two subscription options: Starter and Professional. Ideal for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of Beethoven's piano sonatas, this course promises a rewarding educational experience that bridges the gap between music appreciation and scholarly insight.

Jonathan Biss
Instructor

Jonathan Biss