Beethoven's Choral Piano Concerto?

[Chris Hobson]

If you have even a vague knowledge of classical music you will be aware of Beethoven's Choral Symphony, also known as symphony No. 9 or the Ode To Joy. This has become a really well known and famous piece of music.

In my CD collection I had quite a few of Beethoven's piano sonatas along with his piano concerto number five and liked them. So now that I have Spotify I decided to explore all of his piano music. This is made possible because Alfred Brendel has recorded the lot, originally on 12 CDs. 121 tracks, 14 hours and 13 minutes of music. All 32 piano sonatas and all five piano concertos and oh, what's this?
Choral Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra.
Beethoven's Choral Piano Concerto, it's really quite good, why is it not famous too?

I listen to the music while busy in my woodwork shop, my attention span isn't quite as impressive as this post makes it sound.

 

[Robin]

Oh, I love this piece. I did sing it the chorus at a performance in London about 40years ago, but it’s hardly ever performed.

 

[SB2015]

I have two books (published in 1948) of all of Beethovens sonatas.
Still my go to music with a bit of spare time at the piano.
Thanks Chris - now off to treat myself to some time out.

 

[Chris Hobson]

Presumably you are a better pianist than I am. I did learn to play one of the simpler Beethoven sonatas. According to the notes that came with it, "It was probably commissioned for a pianist of moderate ability".

 

[SB2015]

Presumably you are a better pianist than I am. I did learn to play one of the simpler Beethoven sonatas. According to the notes that came with it, "It was probably commissioned for a pianist of moderate ability".

I am careful which ones I choose to play!!! A lot of them seem to bring back muscle memory.

 

[Chris Hobson]

I really like the Pathetique but it's well beyond my abilities, I did learn the slow movement of the Appasionata but, again, the other two movements are a bit out of my league. Part of my problem is that I only started learning when I was in my thirties and, after about ten years, decided to call it a day. I picked it up again when I retired, treated myself to a new piano, and now try to practice every day. I still have a lot of lost ground to make up though.