Beethoven's counterpoint studies ORCHESTRATED

[Gerd Prengel]

Recently I am active mostly in orchestrating Beethoven's wonderful counterpoint studies, for example these splendid and yet so unknown TripleFugues:

 https://youtu.be/gQqM9iiOWMs?si=J1eeN5z2UDBppb8m ...

The notes in the video contain only the original notes by Beethoven for a quartet...

[HS Teoh]

Whoa. Beethoven and fugues in a single sentence, you've got me hooked! Don't have time to listen right now, but will definitely do so when I have opportunity.

[HS Teoh]

Nice orchestration! Really brings out the drama in the counterpoint, that you don't get in the quartet form.

[Gerd Prengel]

5 further little Fugues for 3 voices from Beethoven's counterpoint studies from 1794-95 which I had the joy to set for orchestra this evening :-) Enjoy these little gems ...
www.gerdprengel.de/Hess237-5Fugues_for3voices_orch.mp3

[Rowy]

I don't think they are gems. I have seen better fugues by contemporary students. Nevertheless, my compliments for the work you put into it. Didn't you finish a work made by Schubert? You're a very brave musician. The thought alone would give me a headache.

[Gerd Prengel]

yes, here is my Schubert completion ( especially the Trio) of the Scherzo of the Unfinished: https://youtu.be/FSndEjJPeTM?si=Kjs3_f754nbgSSLE  :-)

[David]

by the way, regarding that, the divisi oboes and clarinets from bar 124 I really like, although it's surely not Schubert? On the other hand, in the preceeding bars, the sustained violin really sticks out like a sore thumb (perhaps a tremolo or lower dynamic would help)

 

[Gerd Prengel]

in m.124ff. only  the plain melody is by Schubert, the harmonies and instrumentation (especially the accompaniing bassoon) is by me. I like the preceding sustained and hovering violins (in pianissimo!) 

[Gerd Prengel]

My Orchestration of 6 further splendid fugues (Hess 243) from Beethoven's counterpoint studies for 4 voices from around 1795 . For the 3rd and 6th fugues the score is presented. Just enjoy the glory of these wonderful and yet almost unknown gems by the young Beethoven: https://youtu.be/ZjsbVN8c0uc

[HS Teoh]

Finally found some time to listen to this. Very nice orchestration, brings out the drama a lot!

For the first one, I thought the timpani entered a little prematurely... if it were up to me, I'd reserve them for closer to the end, to lend more impact to their entrance, and just use the basses to accent the bass notes instead the first time round.

Loved the variations in the 3rd one.

Just curious, were these fugues finished works, or were they incomplete / unpolished sketches?

[Gerd Prengel]

There is another fugue from Beethoven's counterpoint studies which just overwhlmes me in this version which I just did for string orchestra ! Here I use for the first time Musescore 4 for the slow strings instead of Noteperformer. I see here the late Beethoven, Palestrina or even Barber ... : http://www.gerdprengel.de/Hess238_4_22_strings_Adagio.mp3

Can you believe that the same piece has been recorded in this aweful version? --> https://youtu.be/t3MSQRXi4ZE?si=tb3FQZPdgUQNbyZ3