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HomePractisingBeethoven, MacDowell & Mozart

Beethoven, MacDowell & Mozart

By Informance, 2025-10-23 Posted in: Practising

In this practice clinic edition, Graham answers questions on a discrepancy in the score in a Beethoven Bagatelle and shows how to coordinate a tricky chordal passage in MacDowell’s To a Wild Rose. He also gives advice on how to get the left hand up to speed in the last movement of the Pathétique Sonata and achieve the correct rhythmic feel in the third movement of Mozart’s Sonata in B-Flat Major, K570.

Beethoven Pathetique Sonata Last mvt

Practice clinic questions

Beethoven – Bagatelle No. 1 in G minor, Op. 119 – I am reviewing older repertoire for holidays, one of which is this piece. On watching your video lesson for interpretation ideas, I noticed that in the section B you played notes that were different to the score excerpt below the video. In my edition, what you’ve played is listed as another possibility in the footnotes. Can you advise as to which version you think is correct?  

MacDowell – To a Wild Rose (Op. 51 No. 1, from Woodland Sketches) – I would be grateful for your advice on Bar 27 where the RH needs to flow from the different inversions of Bmin. My efforts are not at all smooth, and I find it causes quite a lot of tension when I practise this. Furthermore, the notes are not exactly together as they should be.

Beethoven – Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 (“Pathétique”, 3rd mvt) – I’m busy with the last movement of this work, but can never get the LH in the opening to sound good and feel under control. I’ve tried doing it slowly and that helps, but it doesn’t work when it’s faster. Any help would be gratefully received!

Mozart – Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, K570 (3rd mvt) – Although this movement is in 2/2 cut time, I’m currently playing it as if it was 4/4. I know that there is a difference and that 2/2 sounds quicker, but how do I adjust my playing to make this correct and do you have any suggestions for how to practise this?

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Tags: bagatellebeethovenbuilding speedchordsEdward MacDowellMozartpathetiquepolyrhythmpractice clinictension

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