Beethoven's Last Piano SonataOctober 16, 2021 at 3:30–4 p.m.

Professor Yumiko Oshima-Ryan presents a music program featuring the final sonata, Op. 111, by Beethoven.

Beethoven composed his final three sonatas between 1820 - 1822 after he had gone completely deaf. He died in 1827 at the age of 56.  These sonatas changed keyboard history and initiated the transition from the "classical period" to the "romantic period" by his pianism and artistry.

This final sonata has only two sharply contrasting movements.The first movement conveys an intense feeling of life or death battle, while the second movement brings us to a peaceful place, full of light, past the struggle of suffering and death.

There will be a Pre-Recital talk at 3 pm via Zoom.Dr. Oshima-Ryan will discuss and demonstrate the pianism in Beethoven’s final piano sonata -his use of trills, complicated rhythms, and harmony, before performing the entire work.