Beethoven

I love the music of Beethoven. It is so moody. It has such power, power in strength of volume and in the power of silence....both of which he uses really well. However, I love later Beethoven and not the early stuff. The early stuff is too Classical for me, too many notes just buzzing up and down with virtuosity being more of a focus than emotional fulfillment. That said, I am supposed to have the Spring Sonata for Violin under my hands in a couple of weeks. It is a beautiful piece of music to listen to but I have never seen myself playing same. It is classical and just buzzes with notes rushing from point to point only to rush back again in a whirlwind of accidentals and other pitfalls.

Can I play it? Yes I can, and rather well actually. However, the rub comes when we start to discuss the tempo. I do a pretty amazing job of it at 100, but it is scheduled to be performed at 116 minimum, with 132 being more correct. Not with these hands! I worked it hard a few weeks ago and had it near 116 without too many major mistakes but after a few days my right hand hurt so much I put it away and have just dusted it off again. 1 - 4 crosses are not my thing these days....pulls something that does not like to be pulled. I do better with the 1 -3 cross but even that sets my thumb into fits if I do it too many times in one session. And the sad thing is Gloria is the soloist and she plays it brilliantly! I am going to keep working but I suspect I will be doing the fake-job before I get done. I am good at what I do and I know what to drop and what must play, and I will do some serious dropping of notes to make it all happen. And that bothers me, I really don't like to do that but I am not too sure if my hands will hold up without the dropped notes.

That said, am I going to go get my Left hand done any time soon? No, I don't think that is on the schedule in the foreseeable future. The hand works even though the thumb is rather a useless hammer part of the time....but it works! I get more frustrated with my right hand when it comes to pain and runs. The left hand falls down when it comes to anything requiring strength, heaven forbid you have move rapidly through octaves! I can't depend on the hand to do what I ask of it, hence I avoid that kind of music too. One of these days....

And until then, I pick and choose my music wisely and play for myself more than for others. Works for me!