DBarker%PCO@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS.ARPA (Deryk Barker) (04/16/85)
The metronome was, of course, not invented until after most of
Beethoven's symphonies had been written. He then went back and notated
them - somewhat controversially one may add. I would suggest that a lot
of his tempi could not really be managed with a large symphony
orchestra. Contrast the first movement of the Eroica (marked, I
believe, at crochet = 120). The LAPO/Giulini version (a GREAT
performance) takes about 20:30 for this movement, without the exposition
repeat. The ASMF/Marriner version (small orchestra) takes 17:50 ish,
WITH the repeat. For those interested in small-scale up-to-speed
Beethoven I highly recommend this record - beautifully recorded (also
available on a fine CD). The finale also cracks along.
Many of the tempi Beethoven marked are contoversially fast - a notable
example being the first movement of the Hammerklavier sonata op 106.
Can anyone play this at the marked speed? Does anyone try? (The
fastest version I know is by Pollini).
deryk.