Octo_Russ

Beethoven - 32 Piano Variations [Uchida]

Here's a real revelation!, this short bunch of variations, lasting roughly 11 minutes, with each variation lasting roughly 15-20 seconds, is in fact a work of genius, they may seem slight and insignificant at first glance, what the hell can you do in fifteen seconds?, well with Beethoven that's a lot!.

Here's the secret, with huge statements like his Symphonies, he speaks chapters over an hour at times, with these variations he speaks pithy one liners, but they reverberate within, not only this, but also each variation builds up the next, the preceding variation creates a hunger for the next, a bit like a boxer, who has little effect with a single hard punch seldom delivered, but a flurry of smaller punches all add up into something big, even if non of them are real 'hits'.

I find myself musing on one genius of a variation, only to be surprised at the turn of the next, which seems to substantiate the one before, certainly no variation outstays its welcome, how could it in 20 seconds?, but the opposite is true, you are left wanting more, here's where the hunger comes in.

The variations i enjoyed the most were 11, 13-17, 19, 21, 23-25 & 31-32, with probably 13, 21, 23, 25 & 32 as the most favourite of all, yes there's this middle section from variations 11-25 that really gelled together [barring 3 variations], variation 13 [3:42-3:57] is a nice rolling legato in the right hand, with the left hand handing out the tune in staccato beats, variation 21 [5:59-6:13] is a dizzy and frantic rush slowly up the keyboard with the left hand, while the right hand stamps out the beat, variation 23 [6:29-6:51] is gentle, but full of dark mystery, as both hands play towards the bass notes, variation 25 [7:05-7:20] is actually similar, but louder, and more mid keyboard, variation 32 [9:17-9:36] skitters up and down the piano in the right hand, its reach gaining in octave depth each time, while also speeding up and getting louder, while the left hand bass growls away, it's hard to know which one i like best, because it's like asking which petal on a flower you like best, well i like them all, one missing would create an imperfection!, a very underestimated bunch of variations indeed.

Here's Murray Perahia playing these variations on YouTube.