Hummel Piano Sonatas No.1, 2 & 3

On this CD:

1. Piano Sonata No.1 in C major, Op.2a/3
Composed by Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Performed by Dana Protopopescu

2. Piano Sonata No.2 in E-flat major, Op.13
Composed by Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Performed by Dana Protopopescu

3. Piano Sonata No.3 in F minor, Op.20
Composed by Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Performed by Dana Protopopescu

Tracks:

Sonata No. 1 In C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: Allegro Spiritoso
Sonata No. 1 In C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: Adagio
Sonata No. 1 In C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: Rondo
Sonata No. 2 In Eb Major, Opus 13: Allegro con Brio
Sonata No. 2 In Eb Major, Opus 13: Adagio con gran Espressione
Sonata No. 2 In Eb Major, Opus 13: Finale, Allegro conspirito
Sonata No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 29: Allegro Moderato
Sonata No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 29: Adagio Maestoso
Sonata No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 29: Finale, Presto

Customer Reviews:

Interesting music...Would be more so with better interpreter.......2001-08-15

This album and its two companions are fascinating. By listening to this music, which was written around the same time as Beethoven's most thrilling piano works, one realizes just how avant-garde Beethoven (and Mozart and Haydn and Schubert, for that matter) really were. These are easy-on-the-ear, happy pieces, that don't so much develop as repeat,or repeat with simple variations and ornamentations. There's little dramatic trension, virtually no drama by modern-day ears' standards (though I'm sure it was demanding to audiences of its day). The works are pleasant and easy on the ear and easily forgotten the moment they are done. (Those interested in the history of this kind of music, and its place in Viennese society vis a vis the more "weighty" and innovative music of Beethoven, Mozart, et al, should check out the book "Beethoven and the Construction of Genius: Musical Politics in Vienna, 1792-1803," by Tia DeNora....) Here and there are moments of interest, unusual strokes and sheer exuberance. But they're far and few between and gone all too quickly. (These are much blander than Hummel's piano concerti, at least to my ears.) Constance Keene plays cleanly but without much expression or personality, and sometimes gets tripped up in the areas requiring more dexterity. One keeps wondering, though, what these works would sound like, what surprises are still locked up in them, waiting for a Pires or Pollini to reveal them to the world.

Hummel: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 - Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3 / Sonata No. 6 in D Major, Op. 106 - Ian Hobson

Average customer rating:

Hummel: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 - Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3 / Sonata No. 6 in D Major, Op. 106 - Ian Hobson

Manufacturer: Arabesque Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Son No.1 in C, Op.2, No.3: 1. Allegro Spiritoso
Son No.1 in C, Op.2, No.3: 2. Adagio
Son No.1 in C, Op.2, No.3: 3. Rondo
Son No.6 in D, Op.106: 1. Allegro Moderato, Ma Risoluto
Son No.6 in D, Op.106: 2. Un Scherzo All'antico - Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Alternative
Son No.6 in D, Op.106: 3. Larghetto A Capriccio - Cantabile Ed Espressivo
Son No.6 in D, Op.106: 4. Finale - Allegro Vivace

Average customer rating:

Hummel Piano Sonatas No.1, 2 & 3

Manufacturer: Koch Discover Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Son No. 1: Allegro Spiritoso
Son No. 1: Adagio
Son No. 1: Rondo
Son No. 2, Op. 1: Allegro con brio
Son No. 2, Op. 1: Adagio con gran espressione
Son No. 2, Op. 1: Finale-Allegro con brio
Son No. 3: Allegro moderato-Adagio Allegro agitato
Son No. 3: Adagio maestoso-Finale Presto

Average customer rating:

More good pieces by the forgotten master Hummel

Hummel: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Son in E flat, Op.13: Allegro con brio-Alleluja
Son in E flat, Op.13: Adagio con gran espressione
Son in E flat, Op.13: Finale: Allegro con spirito
Son in f, Op.20: Allegro moderato-Adagio-Allegro agitato
Son in f, Op.20: Adagio maestoso
Son in f, Op.20: Finale: Presto-Ancor piu presto
Son in f#, Op.81: Allegro
Son in f#, Op.81: Largo con molto espressione
Son in f#, Op.81: Finale: Vivace

Customer Reviews:

More good pieces by the forgotten master Hummel.......2001-02-01

It is very unfortunate that today, Johann Nepomuk Hummel has nearly been forgotten. Throughout the 1st half of the 19th century, he was considered animmortal. In fact, in Vienna, he was Beethoven's only real compositional and pianistic rival. WHile a decided classicist and follower of Mozart's school (Mozart was his teacher), in his later works, he shows strains of romanticism. The first two works are enjoyable pieces which could easily be attributed to early Beethooven. The f-sharp minor sonata, however, is the most important work on this CD. In it, Hummel breaks free of his former classic restraint and indulges in romantic flights of fanstasy. Chopin based his own b-minor sonata on this piece, much as he base his e-minor concerto on Hummels in a-minor (see my review of that piece). In any event, these are excellent pieces (although I find his piano concretos more exciting), performed by Hae-won Chang with precision and elegance (Hummel's own trademark as a performer).