Beethoven Piano Your resource for the piano music of Ludwig van Beethoven

asin: B000FHBH78 binding: Paperback

Sheet Music for Beethoven's Sonatas No. 1 - 17, bound in an oversized paperback binding.

Eighteenth Printing

asin: B000009OU6 binding: Audio CD list price: $7.98 USD amazon price: $6.99 USD

For the parent looking to ease their child into a familiarity with classical music, this is a very well chosen set of Beethoven works. It begins with a generous selection of airs composed late in the composer's life. The presence of the flute as the lead instrument on these selections has a soothing quality that moves the ear in an ideally subtle way, especially as it gives way to the more excited piano sonata pieces. Zoltán Kocsis's reading of "Pathétique" is followed by Claudio Arrau's take on the 7th, 15th, and 18th sonatas and Sviatoslav Richter's lyrical take on the 20th ("Pastoral"). Programmed amidst the piano pieces, which are great studies in dynamics and musical spacing, are some fine orchestral snippets, none longer than five minutes. The collection does a fine balancing act, condensing works that don't inherently lend themselves to shortened renditions and carefully managing moods, entry, and egress to each segment. This is fine anthology work. --Andrew Bartlett

asin: 1569221324 binding: Paperback list price: $9.95 USD amazon price: $9.95 USD

26 easier Beethoven pieces, including: Allegro Con Brio, 1st movement * Andante (from Symphony No. 7) * Eroica (Theme from Symphony No. 3 in E Flat) * Fur Elise * Minuet in G * Moonlight Sonata * Ode to Joy * The Pastoral Theme * Symphony No. 5 Theme * Symphony No. 7 Theme * and many more.

asin: B000HXDS04 binding: Audio CD list price: $38.98 USD amazon price: $38.98 USD

Paul Lewis's traversal of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas may just become one of the indispensable recorded versions of these unique works. He tackles the Hammerklavier without attacking it; his interest is textual clarity, and he never fails in that approach. If you listen to the last movement of No. 25, "Alla tedesco," you'll be amazed by the formality and forward propulsion which underpins the seeming merriment in the piece, the abrupt ending suddenly quite a puzzle. Similarly, the first movement of the Waldstein is imbued with a darkness that makes you think you're hearing much of it for the first time. Lewis's is a serious--some might say grave--approach to these works, but it is not heavy; indeed, his touch remains light when it ought to be, without making the music seem trivial. Each movement lets us in on another one of Beethoven's secrets, and the lyrical moments have never seemed lovelier. This is a very special set, highly recommended. --Robert Levine