My teacher has suggested that I start a Beethoevn Sonata. I was just wondering what sonatas are good introduction to his work.(I have heard the Op49 and 79 sonatas but they didnt really appeal to me).

Thanks

I was thinking the Op 2 No.1,Op10 No1/2 ,Pathetique,Op14

Op. 10 No. 2 is a lot of fun. All the early Beethoven sonatas are actually quite technically difficult and transparent.

Op 2 No 3 was the first FULL sonata i learned. incredible piece. such a masterful work so early on in his career!

I can't tell you how many pieces I've started thinking I didn't like them only to discover later that I didn't know what I was talking about. Actually, know that I think of it, most of the time I don't know what I'm talking about.

What about Op 26 in A flat

Both of the op. 14 sonatas seem like good ones to start with.

It's difficult to say, what sort of level are you around?

Beethoven's 9th Sonata, Op. 14 No. 1 may be a good introduction to the Beethoven sonatas.

Slight correction ilovechopin ...
the Beethoven Pathetique Sonata is opus 13.

PS Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (1st movement) Opus 27-2 is where most of us start ... both movements 1 and 2 are within the compass of most
adventurous newcomers ... the bristling racy 3rd movement is another story.

I'm surprised that your teacher hasn't already suggested one or more Beethoven sonatas for you to consider - based on your current skill level. Since the Opus 49 and 79 don't appeal to you - you might consider the Opus 2 No. 1 (as you yourself suggested) if, for no other reason, than it is one of those works that most serious piano students play at one time or another.

Without knowing your ability - nor your musical maturity level - I vote for opus 14 #2 in G major as a starting point.

The others mentioned in this thread (excepting Op 49 and 79 - which are wonderful pieces, despite their cultural pedigree as "teaching" pieces) do contain some technical and/or musical minefields.

Here's an OLD thread regarding the relative difficulty of the Beethoven Sonatas. The original thread was started by PW member Phlebas who tragically passed away in 2010.

Phlebas considered the Opus 49, 79, 10, 14 and Opus 2 No. 1 to be among the easiest. I doubt anyone would argue with that.

http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/503537/1.html

Along with carey's post, here is another list that may be helpful:
http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=41906.0

Scroll down to the post by felipe717

Lack of clarity notwithstanding, t's possible that :



was simply listing the "Pathetique" (Op 13) as well as the Op 14 Sonatas.

Regards,

For a sonata to start on, I'd like to put in a plug for Op. 22. It has four wonderful movements of a difficulty I'd rank close to the Pathetique, capped off by very lyrical fourth movement rondo, and it's a good reminder that Beethoven did write more than one great sonata in B-flat.

As an alternative and since I see you're working on a number of pieces that are shorter forms, I'd like to suggest the possibility that you get your Beethovenian feet wet with some of his Bagatelles, Op. 33, 119, and 126. Several of them can be fairly difficult, but they are an incredible distillation of Beethoven's genius, and individually at least, they are on a scale that doesn't require the same commitment of time that learning any of the sonatas would.

EXCELLENT plug, but I've played both Op. 22 and Pathetique and I find the Op. 22 to be much, much more difficult. Op. 22 is my favorite early sonata by Beethoven, though!

I, too, love Op. 22 (and Op. 13), but as an introduction neither should even be considered. They're both too technically advanced for "beginners".

Im deciding between Op.10 No.1 or Op14 No1/2

[quote=Gerard12]Without knowing your ability - nor your musical maturity level - I vote for opus 14 #2 in G major as a starting point.
At the moment I am studying for my Grade 8 and other pieces I am working on are in my signature.

Just curious - don't the Grace 8 guidelines specify which Beethoven sonatas might be appropriate ??

Surely on that link to the other thread....

Waldstain sonata is easier than the appasionata?? At least i felt it that way when i played both

The gentleman who posted the "other thread" admitted that his listing was somewhat subjective. In other listings I've seen, the Opus 57 is indeed ranked a bit higher in difficulty than the Opus 53. Of the two, I've only performed the Opus 53. Interestingly, in some listings the Opus 7 is ranked in the middle in terms of difficulty. I personally found it to be more challenging than the Opus 53.