Tag Archives: Ferdinand Ries

Listening to Beethoven #220 – Symphony no.2 in D major Op.36 (arranged for piano trio)

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The Longing for Happiness. Left wall, detail from the Beethoven-Frieze (1902) by Gustav Klimt

Symphony no.2 in D major Op.36 for orchestra (1800-1802), arranged for piano trio 1805 (Beethoven aged 34)

Dedication unknown
Duration 30′

1. Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
2. Larghetto
3. Scherzo: Allegro
4. Allegro molto

Listen

Background and Critical Reception

Beethoven’s friend and pupil Ferdinand Ries took charge of this arrangement of the Symphony no.2 for piano trio – but the very limited writings about the arrangement strongly imply that the final decisions on its construction and execution were made by Beethoven himself.

The reason for this arrangement is not abundantly clear, other than it making the symphony available for domestic, small-scale music making. Yet the nature of the scoring would mean only very accomplished players could see it through from one end to the other!

Thoughts

This is a remarkable and surprisingly effective transcription, one that fully retains the vitality of Beethoven’s invention while compressing it for the intimacy of a chamber music environment.

Inevitably the textures are very different, but having less instruments does on occasion give the listener opportunity to appreciate the bare bones of Beethoven’s melodic invention.

Spotify playlist and Recordings used

Robert Levin (piano), Peter Hanson (violin), David Watkin (cello) (Archiv Produktion)

Emanuel Ax (piano), Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello)

This is a very fine performance from pianist Robert Levin and soloists drawn from the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique. The fast music is punchy and incisive, while the slower music has more intimate moments, beautifully captured.

You can chart the Arcana Beethoven playlist as it grows, with one recommended version of each piece we listen to. Catch up here!

Also written in 1805 Spohr String Quartet no.1 in C major Op.4/1

Next up An die Hoffnung Op.32

Listening to Beethoven #125 – Piano Sonata in C major WoO 51

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An Orphica by Joseph Dohnal (Kunsthistorisches Museum)

Piano Sonata in C major WoO 51 (1791-98, Beethoven aged 26)

Dedication Eleonore von Breuning
Duration 7′

1. Allegro
2. Adagio

Listen

Background and Critical Reception

There are conflicting reports on the origins of this short piano sonata. Some scholars suggest the work was begun in 1791, with Beethoven still in Bonn – while others interpret correspondence to mean the composer was writing for the orphica, a small keyboard instrument like the clavichord that was in use at the time.

This would date the work to 1794 at the earliest, with more correspondence mentioning Eleonore von Breuning that suggested it was intended for her. There are two completed movements, making the sonata similar in design to the two works of Op.49. The second was finished by Beethoven’s friend Ferdinand Ries, and published posthumously in 1830.

Thoughts

The dimensions of this piece may be similar to the Op.49, but so is the musical style. The fact the composition spans several years suggests Beethoven was sufficiently attached to the music to want to see it through to the end, and listening to the work confirms his instincts were strong.

The first movement begins with an attractive flourish, and the right hand is allowed to run free. The open textures and movement between the hands face back towards the Baroque rather than forwards, but Beethoven’s use of unusual keys in the development of the main theme are a sign he was still subtly innovating.

The second movement, in F major, is a tender Adagio that has no need to hurry, and subsides to a gentle conclusion, a nicely poised aria in all but name.

Recordings used

Jenő Jandó (Naxos)
Ronald Brautigam (BIS)

Spotify links

Jenő Jandó

Ronald Brautigam

You can chart the Arcana Beethoven playlist as it grows, with one recommended version of each piece we listen to. Catch up here!

Also written in 1798 Koželuch Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major

Next up 8 Variations on ‘Une fièvre brûlante’ WoO 72