Playing the Beethoven Piano Sonatas (Amadeus) [Paperback] Review

Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas, along with the two books of Johann Sebastian Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, form the summit of the pianist's art.These are works that all pianists must confront and, to a greater or lesser extent, master.The greatest pianists, the true artists, indelibly stamp these works with their own personalities and performances.The rest of us struggle to learn them well enough not to embarrass ourselves in front of others and, even more importantly, to satisfy our own inner drives to make music and to make this glorious music our own.Robert Taub's book, "Playing the Beethoven Sonatas," is a welcome addition to those books that seek to enlighten other pianists--both professional and dedicated amateur--on how best to perform these superb but very difficult compositions.
It may be useful to point out initially what this book is not:It is not a musicological analyses of the Beethoven sonatas.It is not a Beethoven biography, although Taub does not hesitate to use events from the Master's life to illustrate his performance suggestions.It's not a collection of "war stories," or inspiring anecdotes for struggling pianists or harried piano teachers.It's not Taub's memoirs.And it is not a substitute for Charles Rosen's masterpiece, Beethoven`s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companion.Indeed, as another reviewer has noted, Taub is best seen as complementary to Rosen.As I've noted in other reviews, I consider Rosen to be one of America's true public intellectuals; his vast erudition and wit grace every page he writes.But these same qualities sometimes obscure the point he makes; they often overwhelm the dedicated amateur pianist who's seeking a quick solution to a phrasing or fingering problem.Taub, on the other hand, writes not only with precision and clarity; he writes for the working pianist.While it is incorrect to call this work a textbook, Taub's careful, precise, measure-by-measure suggestions as to touch, pedaling, dynamics, tempi, fingerings, and tone come close to being just that.What separates this work from the mere textbook is the very personal nature of Taub's suggestions.It is obvious he has lived with the Beethoven sonatas for most of his life, struggling over decades to discover and lay bare their inner meaning.In this work, he makes the reader privy to that struggle.
And what a struggle it is!Beethoven is notorious in his disdain for the technical difficulties his sonatas present to amateur and professional alike.I have three different editions of the Beethoven sonatas from which I perform: an urtext edition, the Artur Schnabel edition, and the Bulow edition published by Schirmer.In many places, these editions can only agree to disagree, even as to the fundamentals.The value of Taub's book is that, for a fraction of the price of conservatory training, the aspiring pianist (and here I include myself) may find out how one of the greatest living Beethoven interpreters goes about his work.Where is the pianist who would not find such help invaluable?
Other reviewers have commented on the structure of this book; there's no need to repeat that information here.Taub is scrupulous in his reverence for the printed text, insofar as he can determine what the authoritative text is.Among the most useful features of this work is Taub's careful edition-by-edition analysis of problematic passages in Beethoven's sonatas.The author usually provides a satisfactory resolution of the textual problem he highlights, in the process imparting valuable information not only as to correct performance practices, but also giving advice as to how the reader might resolve other textual conflicts she might encounter.
In the last analysis, it is Taub's reverence for the text, his scrupulous attention to the tiniest detail, that makes this book so valuable.By this, I mean the difference between telling a pianist to play a passage with feeling, and showing the pianist how she may best articulate and communicate the deep feelings that Beethoven's music inevitably engenders.An example:the opening chord of the Pathetique Sonata, Op. 13 in Cm, is marked "fp."How to play it? Taub tells exactly how to do so.His solution involves touch, pedaling, sensitivity to dynamics, and careful listening; he tells you exactly how to apply these tools to achieve the desired result.And his explanations are clear and precise, easily understood by anyone with score in hand and a piano at the ready.Here it is obvious that Taub has not only had quality instruction, he himself is a master pedagogue.
Which leads me to my last observations:First, this book isn't bedtime or casual reading.You need to have a good, reliable edition of the Beethoven sonatas at hand, or at least the sonata(s) on which you are working.It's helpful if the edition is numbered by measure; otherwise, take the time to number each measure in your score.You will save yourself a lot of frustration.Second, your work with this book will be more rewarding if you have access to a piano that is capable of replicating the full panoply of effects Beethoven's sonatas demand--in other words, it works best with a good grand piano.Consoles or (shudder!) spinets or (double shudder!!) electronic keyboards just won't cut it.If you're talented enough to play Beethoven sonatas, make your experience more rewarding and play them on a quality piano.
Amazon's rating system only goes to five stars.This book deserves unlimited stars--the diligent pianist will find a lifetime of help in this book.Robert Taub is to be commended for producing such a fine volume, and for his unselfishness in sharing his formidable talent and considerable investment of time and energy with all of those desiring to climb the summit of the pianist's art.Bravissimo!

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Product Description:
Acclaimed pianist Robert Taub offers the insights of a passionate musician who performs all 32 of Beethoven's well-loved piano sonatas in concert worldwide, bringing a "fresh perspective on Beethoven," as the New York Times put it. In this book, he shares his intimate understanding of these works with listeners and players alike.

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