The year 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), and Ames Town & Gown is planning multiple recognitions for the coming season.
We begin with some social-distancing-friendly insights on compositions and performances by Karl Gwiasda, a past president of AT&G and the author of our program notes for more than 20 years.
Below are notes written by Karl Gwiasda for performances of each of these Beethoven compositions, along with links to YouTube performances of each one.
String Quartet No. 15, in A minor, Op. 132
Trio No. for Piano, Violin, and Cello, in G, Op. 1, No. 2
Sonata No. 26 for Piano, in E-flat, Op. 81a, Les Adieux
Sonata No. 31 for Piano, in A-flat, Op. 110
String quartet No. 8, in E minor, Op. 59, No. 2, Razumovsky
Septet in E-flat for violin, viola, clarinet, bassoon, horn, cello, and double bass, Op. 20
Trio No. 6 for Piano, Violin, and Cello, in B-flat, Op. 97, Archduke
String Quartet No. 12, in E-flat, Op. 127
Sonata No. 2 for Piano, in A, Op. 2
String Quartet No. 4, in C minor, Op. 18
String Quartet No. 11, in F minor, Op. 95, Serioso
String Quartet No. 10, in E-flat, Op. 74, Harp
Piano Sonata No. 17 The Tempest
Piano Sonata No. 21 for Piano, in C, Op. 53, Waldstein
String Quartet No. 2, in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2
String Quartet No. 7, in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1, Razumovsky
Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano, in D, Op. 12, No. 1