3/24 The "Emperor" - Piano Concerto 5 (Color Analysis)

The Emperor Concerto took me a little while to warm up to - it starts out so bombastically. But once past those massive initial tuttis so obviously designed to grab your attention (and which succeed so well) the "Emperor" reveals itself to be an edifice of great musical joy and power.

Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 "The Emperor Concerto" (1809)
Vladimir Ashkenazy / Zubin Mehta
I. Allegro (0:00)
II. Adagio un poco mosso (20:41)
III. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo (28:50)


CHANNEL LINK (Click here to see this video on my YT Channel.  Once there, click on "(more info)" and then you can view the video in place, while scrolling through the text below)

I. Allegro

Introduction:
Fanfare (MAROON)
1st Exposition: 
1st theme (BLUE)
(Pre-echo of 2nd theme) / 2nd Theme (VIOLET)
1st theme (Return) (BLUE)
3rd theme (based on 1st theme) (GREEN)
2nd Exposition: 
1st theme: with piano (BLUE)
2nd theme (VIOLET)
3rd theme (GREEN)
Development:  (PURPLE)
1st theme
3rd theme
1st theme (variation)
Recapitulation: 
Introduction (MAROON)
1st theme (return) (BLUE)
2nd theme (VIOLET)
1st theme (return) (BLUE)
Coda: 1st theme (PURPLE)
Cadenza (based on 1st theme) (DARK BLUE)
Cadenza (continued, based on 2nd theme)
Orchestral re-entrance (SEA GREEN)

II. Adagio un poco mosso

1st theme (BROWN)
2nd theme (GREEN)
1st theme (interrupts) (BROWN)
2nd theme (continues) (GREEN)
1st and 2nd themes in combination (BLUE-GREEN)
3rd theme (PURPLE)
3rd theme (variation) (DARK BLUE)
Coda (MAROON)

III. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo

Exposition:  (MAROON)
1st theme, part I:piano
1st theme, part I: orchestra
1st theme, part II
2nd theme (BROWN)
3rd theme (BLUE)
Exposition (repeat) (MAROON):
1st theme: piano
1st theme: orchestra
Development (variations): (PURPLE)
1st variation
2nd variation
3rd variation
Recapitulation: 
1st theme,part I: piano (MAROON)
1st theme, part I: orchestra
1st theme, part II
2nd theme (BROWN)
3rd theme (BLUE)
Coda: 
1st theme, part I (MAROON)
1st theme, part II
Brief cadenza (BLUE)
Final statement of 1st theme (MAROON)

(form analysis from Alan Rich's "Play by Play")

2/17 Kreutzer Sonata (Color Analysis)

Another re-visit to Beethoven's ever-fascinating Kreutzer Sonata for Violin and Piano: as with the Moonlight Sonata last week, I've posted an analysis of the 1st movement before but not of all 3 parts so here goes...

Violin Sonata No.9 Op.47 'Kreutzer' (1803)
Piano: Vladimir Ashkenazy / Violin: Itzhak Perlman
0:00 - I. Adagio Sostenuto - Presto
11:49 - II. Andante con Variazioni I - IV
28:17 - III. Finale. Presto
CHANNEL LINK (Click here to see this video on my YT Channel. Once there, click on "(more info)" and then you can view the video in place, while scrolling through the text below)

Movement I, Adagio Sostenuto - Presto

Introduction

1st Theme (Violin) (LIGHT PURPLE)

1st Theme (Piano) (LIGHT PURPLE)

2nd Theme (LIGHT BLUE)

Exposition

1st Theme (MAROON)

2nd Theme (BROWN)

1st Theme Variation (MAROON)

3rd Theme (from 1st Theme) (GREEN)

Development

3rd Theme (BLUE)

2nd Theme from Introduction (LIGHT BLUE)

Recapitulation

1st Theme (MAROON)

2nd Theme (BROWN)

1st Theme Variation (MAROON)

3rd Theme (GREEN)

Coda (DARK BLUE)

1st Theme

1st Theme Development

1st Theme Finale

Movement II. Theme and Variations (starting at 11:49)

1st Theme w Piano (BLUE)

1st Theme w Violin (VIOLET)

1st Variation (BROWN)

2nd Variation (GREEN 1)

3rd Variation (GREEN 2)

4th Variation (GREEN 3)

Transition (DARK BROWN)

5th Variation (MAROON)

Coda (VIOLET 2)

Movement III. Presto (starting at 28:17)

Exposition

1st Theme A (MAROON 1)

1st Theme B (MAROON 2)

1st Theme C (MAROON 3)

2nd Theme (BLUE)

3rd Theme (from 1st Theme) (LIGHT BROWN)

Exposition Repeat

1st Theme A (MAROON 1)

1st Theme B (MAROON 2)

1st ThemeC (MAROON 3)

2nd Theme (BLUE)

3rd Theme (from 1st Theme) (LIGHT BROWN)

Development - 1st Theme (PURPLE)

Recapitulation

1st Theme A (minor) (MAROON 1)

1st Theme B (MAROON 2)

1st ThemeC (MAROON 3)

2nd Theme (BLUE)

3rd Theme (from 1st Theme) (LIGHT BROWN)

Coda

Entrance (BLUE 1)

Adagio (variation of 1st Theme) (BLUE 2)

1st Theme final Development (BLUE 3)

(breakdowns from Alan Rich's book).
Additionally, here's a link to a performance of the 2nd movement by Efram Zimbalist and Harold Bauer from 1926!!
Beethoven "Kreutzer Sonata" Zimbalist-Bauer Rec.1926

2/3 Beethoven's "Spring" Violin Sonata (Color Analysis)

Time for another visual breakdown of a Beethoven work, this time Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Opus 24 "Spring" (1801).  I know I posted a Mutter/Orkis rendition before so this one will be by Perlman/Ashkenazy.  I need to get to those early violin sonatas one of these days....

Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Opus 24 "Spring" (1801)
Piano: Vladimir Ashkenazy / Violin: Itzhak Perlman
0:00 - I. Allegro
9:49 - II. Adagio molto expressivo
16:17 - III. Scherzo, allegro molto
17:32 - IV. Rondo, Allegro ma non troppo

Channel Link

Movement I. Allegro

Exposition

1st Theme (MAROON)

2nd Theme (BLUE)

3rd Theme (TAN)

Exposition Repeat

1st Theme (MAROON)

2nd Theme (BLUE)

3rd Theme (TAN)

Development (PURPLE)

Part 1 - on 1st Theme

Part 2 - on 2nd Theme

Recapitulation

1st Theme (MAROON)

2nd Theme (BLUE)

3rd Theme (TAN)

Coda (GREEN)

Movement II: Adagio molto expressivo (starting at 9:49)

1st Theme (piano) (MAROON)

1st Theme (violin)

2nd Theme (BLUE)

1st Theme Variation (piano) (MAROON 2)

1st Theme Variation (violin)

2nd Theme Variation (violin) (BLUE 2)

2nd Theme Variation (piano)

1st Theme Development (BROWN)

Movement III: Scherzo, Trio (starting at 16:17)

Scherzo (BROWN)

Trio (OLIVE)

Scherzo Repeat (BROWN)

Movement IV: Finale (starting 17:32)

Exposition

1st Theme (MAROON)

2nd Theme (OLIVE)

3rd Theme (GREEN)

Development

1st Theme (Var 1) (MAROON LIGHT)

2nd Theme (Var 1) (OLIVE LIGHT)

Transition (BLUE)

Recapitulation

1st Theme (Var 2) (MAROON)

2nd Theme (OLIVE)

3rd Theme (GREEN)

Development 2

1st Theme (Var 3) (MAROON LIGHT)

2nd Theme (Var 2) (OLIVE LIGHT)

Coda (2nd Theme) (OLIVE)

(timings were assisted by Alan Rich's "Play by Play" book.

1/19 Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto: Color Analysis (Ashkenazy/Mehta)

Today's post is a return to some analysis.  I took a pretty long break from it to try and think up some new ways to present it.  My previous analysis posts have worked out fine and all, but I still felt that something was missing....so here's yet another way of presenting a visual analysis of the structure of some of Beethoven's works.  I have no idea why I chose Piano Concerto 4 - it's a real beast and it's wild and wooly modulations and permutations almost completely discouraged me - but here's a start.

Instead of annotating a live performance video, I'm going to try to color-code the formal structures of the movements.  I'm hoping this will give a "big picture" view of the piece and we can see Beethoven's long-range designs at a glance....

Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, op. 58 (1806)
(performance by Vladimir Ashkenazy and Zubin Mehta)
0:00 - 1. Allegro Moderato
20:09 - 2. Andante con moto
26:01 - 3. Rondo (Vivace)

CHANNEL LINK: Click here to see this video on my YouTube Channel. Once there, click on "...(more info)" to scroll through the text description while the video stays in place.

Movement 1,  Allegro moderato

1st Exposition

1st Theme Intro - Piano solo (MAROON)

1st Theme (Orchestra solo)

2nd Theme (Orch) (BLUE)

3rd Theme (Orch) (GREEN)

Cadence Section (Orch) (Lt BLUE)

2nd Exposition

1st Theme Intro Orchestra (Maroon)

1st Theme Piano w Orch w variations

Bridge A (BROWN A)

Bridge B (BROWN B)

2nd Theme (BLUE)

3rd Theme (GREEN)

Cadence Section (Lt BLUE)
Development based on 1st Theme (PURPLE)

1st Recapitulation

1st Theme - Piano solo (MAROON)

1st Theme (both)

Bridge A Variation (BROWN)

Bridge B (BROWN)

2nd Theme (BLUE)

3rd Theme (GREEN)

3rd Theme Variation (GREEN)

Cadenza (3 Shades of BLUE)

1st Theme

3rd Theme

3rd theme with 1st theme

2nd Recapitulation

3rd Theme (GREEN)

Coda w 1st Theme (MAROON)

Movement 2, Andante con Moto (starting at 20:09)

1st Theme (Orch) (MAROON)

1st Theme (Piano) (BROWN)

1st Theme (Orch) (MAROON)

1st Theme (Piano) (BROWN)

Development (BLUE)

Transition Theme (2nd Theme) (GREEN)

Cadenza (PURPLE)

Coda: 1st Theme (BROWN)

Movement 3, Rondo (starting at 26:02)

1st Theme (MAROON)

2nd Theme (BROWN)

3rd Theme A (GREEN)

3rd Theme B (GREEN)

1st Theme (variation) (MAROON)
2nd Theme (BROWN)
3rd Theme A (GREEN)
3rd Theme B (short version) (GREEN)
Development (all themes) (PURPLE)

1st Theme (variation) (MAROON)
2nd Theme (variation) (BROWN)

Cadenza (3 shades of BLUE)

1st Theme (Piano)

2nd Theme (Piano)

Orchestra joins Piano

1st Theme (Coda) (MAROON)

(timings were assisted by Alan Rich's "Play by Play" book.

1st Movement Color Scheme

2nd Movement Color Scheme

3rd Movement Color Scheme

(Sadly Youtube is blocking these vids in Germany but here's the color schemes anyways....)

There is so much to be said about this work...this is just a bird's eye view. For more, check THIS excellent thesis out...

12/15 Beethoven and Ashkenazy, a Lifetime Fascination

(tiefholz.com)

Vladimir Ashkenazy is a huge Beethoven fan.  Interestingly, he did not get into B. until much later in his studies, when he came to the west.  Apparently in his youth in Russia he only really studied Glinka, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev...then B came along and BLEW.HIS.MIND (I'm using a "Jack Black" voice there ;) ).  Here's a survey of A. and B. through about 40 years....

Ashkenazy rehearsing the 5th Piano Concerto with Edo de Waart and discussing Beethoven at around age 30 (1968)...


Ashkenazy performing the 3rd Piano Concerto at age 37:


Age 48 he discussing the inexpressible nature of Beethoven's music and how it seems to be inexhaustible...(I love this interview)


And in 2005, at age 68 conducting the 9th Symphony! 
He really got with the program, eh?