Sonata in Dm Opus 31 No 2

Right off I thought this one is a 5. 

But I am only going to say 4 or 5 because Opus 31 No 2 is only
the second Sonata out of 17 of Beethoven's Book II that I have read
through.  And there could be better ones than this - but I think it may
end up as a 5.

And right off I am going to say that I didn't even touch the third and
last movement - which is the Allegretto - because I could hear it
in all of its perfection just by looking at it.

Beautifully consistent and perfectly Beethoven at his Sonata best - the entire 10 pages are 8th and 16th notes. No abrubt changes in dynamics or tempo - or even key changes - are present.

What we've got here in the Allegretto is Beethoven in a good mood.  Beethoven
saying - Folks look at this.  Here is good composing - maybe not Passionate -
just good.  D*mn Good.



Now let's look at the wonderful and beautiful first movement - the Largo.

The tempo is Cut Time and it begins with a rolled chord - pianissimo.
But it immediately plunges us into Allegro by the thrid measure and
after four measures we are back to another rolled chord, etc.

This is how the first 8 measures look

Largo
Allegro
Adagio
Largo
Allegro

But the first movement is so Beethoven - and doable.


I found the second movement - the Adagio to be equally wonderful but
could not get the full enjoyment of its wonder - because for me the timing
was too difficult.  But still I'm thinking 5.

And to my delight - there were crossover in the second movement. : ]


Now while I excitedly sturggled through the second movement I started
thinking about the Rach 3.  Which really had nothing to do with this
Sonata - as such - but rather I thought about the Sonatas composed by
Beethoven that are so often perfomed and so familiar to us.  And that
folks is the connection to the Rach 3.

You see although I personally deeply love the Rach 3 it is Rachmaninoff's Second
Concerto that was so beloved by the Public - and audiences in general
demanded that performers give this to them.  And rightfully so - since the
main theme is amazingly moving in its content.

And I believe that this is part of the reason that I love the Rach 3 - because
I saw it in such wonderful things that Others didn't.  And I vowed that I
would remain true to the Rach 3 - no matter what anyone said about it.

And so I have.

The problem is - should I go after it?

Does it want me to go after it?  Or if I do commit myself to the Rach 3 -
will I find lasting fullfillment in it?

In my Heart the answer is :

Absolutely.



Because this in 2012  - and I see Others pursuing their dreams - being all that
they want to be.  And so I say to myself - Sue - go for it.

And that's just what I'm gonna do.



as soon as I figure out how


Now everybody knows that the Rach 3 isn't gonna come after me.
It's got other people who can play it - maybe even better than me.
But you know what folks - I am true to the Rach 3 - it is the Core
of my Very Existence - and it always will be.  The Rach 3 will
be the music that I think about with my very last dying thought.  : ]

So my mind is made up.  It's the Rach 3 or nothing.

I've waited this long to play it - I can wait until the time is right.

And I will take it one step at a time - untl I knock down all
the barriers standing in my way.  I'm gonna do it Right - untill there is
nothing Left to stop me.





and if Barack Obama can be President - then well anybody can do anything.