Again, some people have asked me the origin of my site-name "hammerkavier," so I've given two samples from the sonata from which it was taken---Beethoven's Sonata No. 29, subtitled "For the Hammer-Klavier". The name means "hammer-keyboard," and was used to indicate a keyboard with hammer-action, as opposed to the harpsichord (which had a 'plucking' action, via plectra). This is the mournful opening of the slow movement, played by me on a friend's baby grand: It was the movement which inspired me to take its name. It's a deeply introspective movement; and if you want to think of this as 'sound', it penetrated stillness and slow-time in a way few W. classical works did until the 20th Century. Remarkably, Beethoven reached sonic abysses in his late slow movements, perhaps in part because he was deaf by then and receded deeply within himself...Two notes. 1) To audio pros: One of the mikes was of lesser quality, so there's a bit of 'tubbiness' in the bass. Not intended as a professional recording. 2) To pianists: I use the slower tempos that were common when I studied---Beethoven's were faster, and I might upload it for comparison.

Comments

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  ginacharlie 11 months ago

  Wonderful thank you - i'll listen to the full sonata sometime soon...
  
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  animatorxs 1 year, 1 month ago

  relaxing me so much thanks you
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  priemnik 1 year, 3 months ago

  This is great!!! Helpful when i have to think!!!
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  jacphi 1 year, 12 months ago

  You are really talented!
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  Envirobot 2 years, 1 month ago

  Hit me like a black stocking full of ice cubes. Superb.