Beethoven's Piano Sonatas

Amazing per ALWAYS

I cannot recommend Robert Greenberg enough. If you have even the slightest interest in music - even if it's just a general sense of appreciation and not for the topic of his/said lecture series you're considering, you'll enjoy this scholar's personality, specialized perspectives, ability to tie his broader knowledge base to the topic, contemporary references both for us and for the subjects' time periods, energy, personal insight as an academic and a composer (overlap is significant within his course subjects with university and state posts full of political intrigue and power politics as well as an artist's perspective [as we know it or evidence suggests] paired with his own experiences and so forth) and his sheer enthusiasm for the topics he teaches. If you don't like this guy's courses ya' might be a stick in the mud (or seriously just NOT into the topics or history ... I suppose it can happen! Ha.). Check him out.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Entertaining and educational.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Some of this was over my non-musical head, but the delivery was very entertaining and I am inspired to learn more.

Have you listened to any of Professor Robert Greenberg’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Greenberg is very good.

Any additional comments?

This course would have been better with the written materials. However, I got by without them and for one credit, it's a heck of a deal.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Another jewel!

What did you love best about Beethoven's Piano Sonatas?

This course is a great companion piece to the biography of Beethoven. I found myself understanding the man more and appreciating the innovation and complexity of his music.

What does Professor Robert Greenberg bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dr. G's enthusiasm and obvious enjoyment is so infectious that I found myself trying to "cross bridges" and to understand music and artists that had previously been intimidating and unapproachable.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Beethoven like you never thought of him!

I so enjoyed this Book. The narration was excellent and there was never a dull moment. Yes, I did learn a lot and look forward to listening to all 32 sonatas and reviewing my notes from the course. I will definitely be listening to parts of the book several times as I attempt to play my favorite Beethoven sonatas. Thank you, Professort Greenberg, for this excellent course! I'm looking forward to listening to your course on Beethoven's life and then his symphonies.

Spectacular

What did you love best about Beethoven's Piano Sonatas?

It seems that often the newest audiobook from Robert Greenberg and The Great Courses becomes my favorite. Not always. Very occasionally they seem too rushed or too forced. But this one is spectacular. Why? Partially it is his passion for the material and partially it is the amazing subject matter: the piano sonatas of Beethoven. I'm fairly new to classical music but not so new as to be thrown off by all the musical terminology. The fact that I am no longer scared off by it it due almost entirely to listening to other of his audiobooks. The main point I'd make though is that the music of Beethoven, especially his piano sonatas, is a gift to the world. To just be exposed to it is incredibly worthwhile. But this course does more than that. It tries to make it more approachable or perhaps just more enjoyable in the sense of getting some glimmer of Beethoven's intents and accomplishments. What more can be said about something that helps you understand and appreciate one of the wonders of the musical world!!

Have you listened to any of Professor Robert Greenberg’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Probably the best, though the String Quartets of Beethoven was my previous favorite. It too was my favorite as I listened to it.

Any additional comments?

I should add that I listen and relisten to each chapter many times. There is so much there. Too me that is a benefit. I'm sure some listeners would prefer something more breezy. But it you like substance Robert Greenberg is the author to go to.

Excellent Course

Again an excellent course from Dr Greenberg. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge of music.

Informative discussion of amazing music

I have listened to several of the Great Courses musical courses, and this is my favorite (so far). Professor Greenberg explains that the Sonatas were Beethoven's laboratory where he explored a lot of his ideas. The music is fantastic, but with 32 sonatas the attention paid to each really helps them come alive and stand apart from each other. In other courses Greenberg talked about the influence that Beethoven had on the composers that came after him, but listening to the later sonatas you can really hear the starting point of a lot of ideas they developed.

Loved it

What did you love best about Beethoven's Piano Sonatas?

It's great for people who know nothing about music yet it gives great info to trained musicians as well to help in real serious study of the pieces.

What other book might you compare Beethoven's Piano Sonatas to and why?

The lectures on his string quartets are just as good & the lecture on Bach & the high baroque is also great. The Lectures on Stravinsky were also very informative & fun to listen to as well.

Which scene was your favorite?

All of the lectures were great

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

How could Beethoven not move you?

Any additional comments?

I love this series & hope to see audible add even more of them on here.

Beethoven's Piano Sonatas

The next best thing to listening to Beethoven's sonatas is to read about them in this book.

Style and delivery

What made the experience of listening to Beethoven's Piano Sonatas the most enjoyable?

The music and Professor Greenberg's analyses.

Any additional comments?

Professor Greenberg gets in the way of his own material by interjecting asides and cracking jokes which triviializes the lectures.

2 of 4 people found this review helpful