Stephen Beus - Beethoven Hammerklavier fugue

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Stephen Beus - Beethoven Hammerklavier fugue

Рет қаралды 63,054

Alex

Күн бұрын

Stephen Beus
Bethoven Sonata opus 106

Пікірлер: 106

@ComposedBySam 8 ай бұрын

This is the best interpretation I have heard so far! The energy, the sheer power is absolutely unbelievable. This is unlike anything I have ever heard and seen a pianist do!

@PianoSpeaks 2 жыл бұрын

There is a reason Stephen Beus is my favorite pianist! If you like this recording listen to his Mednter "Sonata Tragica" its STUNNING!

@bakjoi66 16 жыл бұрын

Never liked listening to this part, but seeing it performed up close like this gives me a new appreciation. Heavenly.

@classicalthema 16 жыл бұрын

A marvellous pianist.World-Class. An extraordinary talent.I heard some of their owns compositions and they are amazing also. Bravo

@COCOONFABULA 11 жыл бұрын

Finally tackling it at such a tempo ! Very fine perfomance THIS is Beethoven's hammerklavier fugue :D ! listen to Hj lim too it's amazing :)

@louisvonbeethoven 15 жыл бұрын

I love this movement. Here my favorite composer tears the fugue form a new asshole. The performance is superb. You have to flirt with distaster in order to give this piece a proper reading.

@purplebela2 12 жыл бұрын

I love how you can see him getting ready to play each and every part.

@wendlerkurt 14 жыл бұрын

i completely agree. This is amazing. This is one of the most challenging pieces ever written for piano and he plays it perfectly. Any criticism of this is a criticism of Beethoven. People who criticize this video don't know what they are talking about.

@Virtuoso80 16 жыл бұрын

Put me in the group that likes this performance. There's a difference between capturing the details of a score and capturing the sprit of the music. Brendel is a wonderful pianist/historian giving us a template of technical notions and I'm thankful to have him, but I find it hard to believe that you can look at this insane piece of music and believe that Beethoven had reserve and restraint in mind. This was the Heavy Metal of it's time, and it should be played as such.

@adam4397 16 жыл бұрын

I got his autograph the otherday at church- HE IS AWESOME!

@STEPHANM0ELLER 2 жыл бұрын

This is it! Thank you for posting! Ludwig would be happy too (if he could still hear)!

@nostromissimo 16 жыл бұрын

I Don't care about any of these negative comments coming out about this guys playing, even if some of them may be right. I can say with confidence that this guy has a career ahead of him.

@CalvinMitchell 14 жыл бұрын

Beethoven was out of his mind...that's why we love him!

@hansulrichbehner8026 6 ай бұрын

I am really swept from my feet! After HJ Lim's already overwhelming rendition of the first fugue in Beethoven's prescripted speed of 144 Mälzel per crotchet (4' 46 minutes) and Laetitia Hahn's even higher speed of incredible speed of 4'34 minutes, Stephen Beus manages to break this record by one second (4'33). Convince yourselves by listening the first fugue from 2:23 until 6'56 . Unbelievable. Why I have never heard anything about this pianist?

@sshuck 15 жыл бұрын

I really like this performance. It's very fleet but also has a lot of detail. The visual aspect is also very cool to watch and exciting.

@jlinky2746 Жыл бұрын

As close to perfection as is possible from a technical and interpretive standpoint but what blows my mind is that it is Beethoven who arguably served up the most difficult piece of music to play in all the literature. The Hammerklavier fugue is it.

@SirBiggles 11 жыл бұрын

I come from Othello, where Stephen was born. I had his father as a teacher and through his introducing of Mr. Stephen Beus to me I now had an insane passion for Piano!

@kmpiano1 16 жыл бұрын

I think one point most commentators miss is the speed has only to do with parts of this very talented individual's playing. As Barenboim has always talk about, in most Beethoven, especially in this colossal fugue, there has to be a sense of struggle. I don't really find it here. He has phenomenal technique, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't give me a sense of triumph at the end. There's really a lot of debate about Beethoven's metronome marking.

@gladandgood 14 жыл бұрын

Stephen Beus is a major talent. Apparently there is some debate about Betthoven's tempo markings. Some things are lost & some things are gained by playing it this fast. I would love to hear Mr. Beus play this at a more moderate tempo. What we CAN do is listen to other pianists & decide each for him or herself. Please bear in mind that the faster a piece is played the more critical are the acoustics & recording quality. I think this You Tube version muddles the sound.

@spooked911 10 жыл бұрын

@6:50 for the win!

@MrStrav81 13 жыл бұрын

@wol4fram Maybe that is true. I just can't come up with another reason for playing it at this tempo. I don't think many people, even non-musicians, would hear this work at that tempo. To me, he's going for the world record fastest Fugue tempo.

@hellomate639 15 жыл бұрын

Lot of people say this is too fast, but I question that because this piece supposedly had a virtually impossible tempo marking on it...

@COCOONFABULA 11 жыл бұрын

Or trust Beethoven tempo indication ? I don't think Beethoven intended this to just flow gently into your ears :) I think he did a great job here, I won't forget about this interpretation anytime soon !

@GeorgeZwierzchowskipianomusic 7 жыл бұрын

Beethovens metronome markings were for the opening. he wanted the music to dictate the speed depending on the fee; at the moment. there are many contrasting parts to this fugue and interpreting them all at the same speed is not necessarily desired.

@manhattanvor 13 жыл бұрын

I've heard it faster as an exercise. But this is remarkably clear for what it is. Much more so than many people going 10 clicks slower or more! Not my real cup of tea, but enjoyable for the reason the mountain climber went up Everest. Because it was there....

@sukangeong 12 жыл бұрын

Astonishingly clear at that tempo. Tovey comments that with regard to the tempo marking that Beethoven put on the piece, that if you're listening to the music in your head, and you set the metronome to a pace that has the same energy, you'll end up with a marking that's too fast. I admire Mr. Beus' dedication to Beethoven's written instructions, but I think it needs a slower tempo, to give it room to breathe. As fast as this is, it sounds almost as if it's in a straitjacket.

@koobird 16 жыл бұрын

Beus lets the music speak for itself.

@dorianbianco9446 9 жыл бұрын

Perfect and NOT to fast I think as most people think.

@voluntate 15 жыл бұрын

BRAVÍSSIMO!!! Execução fantástica! Mas que entendimento, que maturidade!!!

@kevinkylo9297 3 жыл бұрын

A trick : watch movies at Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using it for watching loads of movies these days.

@noahcarl5875 3 жыл бұрын

@Kevin Kylo yup, I've been watching on flixzone} for since december myself :)

@TJFNYC212 15 жыл бұрын

quite a performance! thanks for the posting I am not familiar with this pianist but do plan on familiarizing myself with his work WOW tour de force

@Ivan_1791 4 жыл бұрын

What a madman.

@mrknesiah 5 жыл бұрын

Really well played.

@hellomate639 15 жыл бұрын

Great technique, and apparently, the tempo marking on this piece is usually described as impossibly fast, so that's good. It had a very static volume though.

@ernieragogini3994 4 жыл бұрын

Competition tempo. He’s got the chops, but this work deserves musical insight not a race to the finish.

@schindler95g73 10 жыл бұрын

amazing

@wol4fram 13 жыл бұрын

@MrStrav81 Having just met him and heard him perform, I can honestly tell you that he is not an exhibitionist. That being said, I cannot enjoy a performance of one of my favorite Beethoven sonatas when it is played at this tempo. It's simply too fast to be appreciably musical.

@musicman9897 14 жыл бұрын

@Zarkme i completely agree. this is why we should only play the blues and philip glass

@user-di7wk6ll8y 7 жыл бұрын

This is not fast.. instead slow than ORIGINAL TEMPO of Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata.

@GeorgeZwierzchowskipianomusic 7 жыл бұрын

Its a Sonata, not an etude. Its supposed to sound musical. the man does a great job. As a listener I prefer it a bit slower, as a pianist I am challenged to play it at speed but I sound like crap when I do. lol

@MasonIshida 7 жыл бұрын

Actually this indeed faster than quarter note=144. You can tell if you listen to it in a composition software of just with a metronome. It is still a pretty good performance though.

@starry2006 5 жыл бұрын

plus it is musical @@MasonIshida

@joelmacinnes2391 2 жыл бұрын

The intended tempo is 144 crotchets per minute, he plays at almost, if not 160

@jtt6650 2 жыл бұрын

I suppose, in theory (intellectually-academically), it’s a great fugue. It’s certainly uber complex in structure and notoriously difficult to play, but I’ve never heard a satisfying performance by anyone at any tempo. Kudos to him though for trying. He put a lot of work and brain power into that performance. Mind boggling.

@terryregnar 15 жыл бұрын

SURGICAL ACCURACy WTFFFFFFUUUUUKKKKKKKKKKKK

@prestoallegro 14 жыл бұрын

@norbertoguarinello but he does emphasize the notes.

@luispiano1129 9 жыл бұрын

so fucking dark and.evil i love this piece this guy is good!!!!yay cant.stop listening.to it.over and over

@GeorgeZwierzchowskipianomusic 7 жыл бұрын

dark and evil????? This fugue is as close to the Trinity as music will ever get.

@animemusic8 15 жыл бұрын

Yeah I know that...nobody can play masterpieces of the Masters perfectly as how the Masters play them....

@DorianKill 14 жыл бұрын

Beethoven Rulez!!!! Fantastic fantastic fantastic..........

@MrStrav81 14 жыл бұрын

No doubt, Mr. Beus has a wonderful technique. But... He plays the fugue so fast that no listener would have any time to digest the amazing moments that occur throughout. It's not something you plow through, as a performer or as a listener. A fugue like this should feel massive. To me, people that play a piece like this too fast are either exhibitionist, do not have a vision of what to do with it musically, have something to hide, or all of the above. Let the hate responses ensue.

@joelmacinnes2391 2 жыл бұрын

Okay, in all honesty yeah it is too fast, but I think he manages to play at that speed without losing much, and I think it's my favorite version regardless of that, I think I like the idea of it being played in a not totally, but somewhat hectic manner while maintaining all of what is conveyed throughout the piece, and I think he comed close to achieving that

@prestoallegro 14 жыл бұрын

@AntiProUltra its only blurry because of the quality of the video

@tonycosworth 10 жыл бұрын

Just a little too fast (between 160-168 in place of 144-152); Other pianists did it (Gieseking, Schabel are almost so fast but less clean), But it's wrong to write "sf lacking entirely"; may be sometimes, he's MF in place of P and some contrasts are a little missing; BUT this record is one of best ever played. Et un grand Merci à Alex Legrand qui m'a fait découvrir ce fantastique Stephen au travers d'une prise de vue plogeante et donc idéale.

@Honestman400 10 жыл бұрын

Show off. Just enjoy the music.

@tonycosworth 10 жыл бұрын

Honestman400 I wrote a stupidity: it's not "one of best ever played"; may be a spectacular interpretation but not a truely musical one (I don't think you feel the difference...) Don't forget they are very few beethovenians among the pianist world. But among the speedfull Fugues, I think that Stewart Gooyear is a little better. That's all.

@tonycosworth 9 жыл бұрын

Honestman400 OMG I haved zapped a so stupid reply...As if enjoy the music prevented a minimum of critic/analysys...

@joelmacinnes2391 2 жыл бұрын

@@tonycosworth I mean these are fair criticisms, but for the most part he does a good job of not just crashing out the notes, I don't have a score in front of me but I will take your word for that, but regardless this has to be one of, if not the best recording of this movement there is

@dajohnthomas69 15 жыл бұрын

for beethoven it would probably be too slow;-) It is known that during his lifetime no living pianist could master the pianistic technique required for the last piano sonatas. it is clearly performed despite the speed but i don't enjoy it cos it takes away the attention of the music. Someone like Arrau really takes the time so you are able to hear the music. This sonata is not a pianovirtuoso piece, but a musical virtuosopiece. These are two different things however they may be intertwined.

@gxgfree4rhyme 14 жыл бұрын

@wbiro Agree. An interpreter not an artist. But what would happen if "all" Interpreters would be artists? haha

@234234234werrrrrrr 15 жыл бұрын

HOLY SHIT!

@classicalalways 14 жыл бұрын

This performance is one of very few that question whether a natural born virtuoso (in the Liszt tradition) should do so when tackling late Beethoven or any Beethoven for that matter. Horowitz was supposed to be the pianist to test the waters of what can fly and what can't - but his Appassionata was quite lame for example. Beus takes us to the edge & more - 8:11-onward. It certainly is a gutsy Liszt type player (Beethoven himself was brute too) - but keeping listener involved to end? Dunno.

@Alexander87oclock 13 жыл бұрын

Wonderful technique. Maybe a bit too fast but still brilliant.

@EcstasyJesus 7 жыл бұрын

Too fast? It's too slow after Beethovens original tempo indications.

@joelmacinnes2391 2 жыл бұрын

@@EcstasyJesus no it isn't...

@joelmacinnes2391 2 жыл бұрын

@@EcstasyJesus this is played at >160 rather than 144 as written

@AntiProUltra 14 жыл бұрын

hmmm... playing it at this speed is fine in principle but so much gets lost. the phrasing in places is just a blur. also, what's with pianists who think rubato is just for chopin? this guy's rendition could benefit from some...

@kinkokonko 13 жыл бұрын

@Alexander87oclock I dont know how anyone could call this brilliant

@brettrussell561 14 жыл бұрын

@Zarkme You want emotion out of the box, go listen to Mendelssohn or Brahms. This is emotion within the box, as it should be.

@AZazaxe 15 жыл бұрын

This fugue is deadly, if you look at the score, it is extremely confusing

@animemusic8 15 жыл бұрын

Its a BIG challenge to the pianists

@jefftam1234 16 жыл бұрын

people who criticized Beus for playing too fast. obviously never read the score and its metronome. go back to ur caves and listen to Brendull's recording on ur casette tape player.

@coqdorysme 15 жыл бұрын

Post it. We shall see.

@tree_fingers 8 жыл бұрын

9:10 almost off the rails haha

@TheMovvas 13 жыл бұрын

I have a headache now - thanks

@loren8888 2 ай бұрын

and after reading this comment- I have a migraine. maybe you shouldn't listen to music

@lagathy 15 жыл бұрын

this is simply too rushed...though technically,it is astonishing to behold !

@sshuck 16 жыл бұрын

Only heard first 2 minutes, but it's 5 stars.

@chrish12345 16 жыл бұрын

i wouldn't say this is 'world class'

@user-vc3le6lk3x 10 жыл бұрын

Evil and Brilliant!

@dexterityhunter 13 жыл бұрын

To stay within the younger generation: give Lifschitz a try!

@chrish12345 16 жыл бұрын

it obviously is intended to be playful

@alilapointe1 15 жыл бұрын

you would have to be mad to play this from the top of head

@japanese5554 3 жыл бұрын

いろいろな演奏があるけど、これが最高なのではないかと思う。１２３楽章はないのだろうか。

@jiazhenye 11 ай бұрын

日本人いてよかった！みんな英語でわからんかった

@japanese5554 11 ай бұрын

@@jiazhenye 笑。翻訳すればいいじゃないですか。

@karlakor 16 жыл бұрын

There is no question of this pianist's ability to play at breakneck speed, but this performance is simply too fast. The sforzandos that Beethoven marked are lacking entirely, as is the general sense of direction and pacing. Lest anyone think I am just another jealous pianist, I will say that I have played this sonata and know what I am talking about. Follow this performance with the score in front of you, and you will see what is missing. Still, I admire his technical command of the keyboard.

@wiltzu81 4 жыл бұрын

Wim Winters does not like. But that just his and his followers problem...

@eligarf 16 жыл бұрын

lol

@brozors 16 жыл бұрын

sad seeing a pianist of his caliber not understand Beethoven's music whatsoever.

@234234234werrrrrrr 15 жыл бұрын

i laughed

@wendlerkurt 14 жыл бұрын

what?

@in18v 13 жыл бұрын

That's the way Beethoven wanted it to be played , believe it or not. I'm learning that piece right now and I also was like..huh -.- ???!!!

@GeorgeZwierzchowskipianomusic 7 жыл бұрын

I also am learning it...whts your fingering solution for bars 1 - 405.....lol

@norbertoguarinello 14 жыл бұрын

he plays as a vituose, and he is. And the results are impressive, But is some times at the expense of the understandign of the music. A little more sentiment would improve his perfomance. Just a little slower, emphasizing the notes.

@wendlerkurt 14 жыл бұрын

I disagree

@Dragoslav369 4 жыл бұрын

Beethoven don‚t know to make FUGUE.

@olivierdrouin2701 3 жыл бұрын

What do you think about thé Diabelli 32 ?

@W1LLUMP 3 жыл бұрын

Eberhard Brongohorst don,t know to make ENGLISH.

@SDGRTX1455 13 жыл бұрын

Too sad this piano player really dont know how to play beautifull

@EcstasyJesus 7 жыл бұрын

This isn't supposed to be beautiful. What should be played beautiful in this?

@GeorgeZwierzchowskipianomusic 7 жыл бұрын

I personally find the fugue very beautiful. Berenboim and ashkenazy make it beautiful and still exciting. Beus version is quite nice also. people should put the scores down and listen to Beus. we are listening to Beus, not Beethoven. He hears it like this and I appreciate the hearing. Arau and brendel should be heard also but as themselves and not as some student trying to play it at speed. who cares about the speed. Even Gould who has proven his contrapunctal speed brains with the goldberg variations takes this Fugue much slower.....I found that rather liberating for the rest of us mortals. If he is allowed, than why not us. take it a bit slower and have some fun already.

@joelmacinnes2391 2 жыл бұрын

Just because its fast?