Sonata Secrets

Alongside Einaudi and Michael Nyman, Glass' music aims to carry the torch of instrumental music into the modern musical world of a steady pulse and coherent harmony. His minimalist style uses repetition of potent musical ideas as a foundational device for setting up hypnotic musical soundscapes. In this video we take a deeper look at the Opening movement of his 1982 album Glassworks, which is a solo piano piece. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/QEadFTZ71aQ

J. S. Bach proves his compositional genius in the Goldberg Variations. A bass line with implied harmony of 32 bars provides the basis on which Bach creates the world in a piece of music, over 30 variations following the initial Aria.

In this video we go through this bass material in depth to see how its harmonic movement enables the piano to sing so beautifully over it. With Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/8AU7d5hhlwQ

Béla Bartók's six Romanian Folk Dances introduces exciting rhythms, modes and harmonic setups that we are not that used to, coming from a classical perspective. They are very short and make for great intermediate pieces, and this is a long lecture going into details on all six with pianist Henrik Kilhamn. Video: https://youtu.be/GwtCWrx6_SI

Come along when we explore the harmonic journey of Bach's Prelude no. 2 in C minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier. Since there are very few markings other than the notes, pianists different choices create different interpretations of the same music. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn. Video: https://youtu.be/6sQHahneCGQ

Scriabin takes the standard Waltz form and makes it his own with the help of floating polyrhythms, tender melodies, dramatic surges and exploratory harmony in this marvellous composition. The piece was a request by my Patreon sponsor D. E. Frez. With Henrik Kilhamn, pianist.

Video: https://youtu.be/IYaEsjTmEvo

A real gem to celebrate the 150 year anniversary of the great Rachmaninoff. This is his way of basically writing a Nocturne, albeit under the wider-encompassing title of a Prelude. But compared to Chopin and the first generation of romantics, Rachmaninoff utlizises the modern piano to its full extent with breathing swellings of sound and aching chromatic harmony, put together to perfection. Henrik Kilhamn, piano.

Video: https://youtu.be/zdAF-BOgQ2E

Beethoven's two sonatas in Op. 49 are usually called "Leichte Sonaten" or "Easy Sonatas", and are perfect pieces for early intermediate students who want to become more familiar in the classical style. In this video we check out the music of the 1st movement in Op. 49 no. 2 in G major, with a lot of consideration of the governing Sonata form structure. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/wMMP50y691g

One of Schubert's rare short pieces and true gem: the Moment Musical no. 3 in the set of six, published the last year of his life. The is a great example of his personal musicalstyle that wanders freely through different tonal territories.

Video: https://youtu.be/GBUQ7Qdpltg

Op. 62 no. 6 of Mendelssohn's Lieder Ohne Worte has the accompanying title "Frühlingslied" or "Spring Song," and the popularity of the music is testament to its evocative power of summoning those spring feelings! In this video we take a closer look at the playful melody that's constantly undergirded by quick and soft arpeggios traded between the hands. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/Nfxk3dCMaVA

Felix Mendelssohn wrote songs for piano: Lieder Ohne Worte = Songs Without Words. The very first one of all the volumes (Op. 19 no. 1) is a perfect piece for practicing sound balance in the right hand, and the music is just fabulous.

You need this kind of sound balance/hand weight for playing these works

- Beethoven Moonlight Sonata mvt I

- Schubert Impromptu no. 3 in Gb major

- Chopin Funeral March

- Debussy Claire de lune (fast section)

- Ravel Pavane for a dead princess

...and countless more pieces.

So I can recommend this piece as a study to lay proper technique ground work within real and great musical context!

Video: https://youtu.be/VedGgsxgqTg

No. 4 of the six movements of "Children's Corner" is the toughest to play, but paints a beautiful winter landscape with exciting energies in the intricate textures. With Henrik Kilhamn, piano.

Video: https://youtu.be/3hQQhjspo24

Debussy spins up the perfect patterns for getting lost in a pleasant daydream. He was actually not a big fan of the piece himself, it was written when he was younger and had not yet reached the modern maturity we also associate with his name. But as piano music, the Rêverie is simply a wonderful delight!

Video: https://youtu.be/fLGtT23LefE

The middle Intermezzo in the Op. 117 set is more restless than the outer ones, but still shows much nostalgia and introspection. Here we taker a proper look at the original and pianistic textures that makes this piece flow so seductively. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/rf5vdR4fqys

Brahms Intermezzo in Eb major, Op. 117 no. 1 is a kind of sweet lullaby but with a disturbingly dark middle section. What is that about? The gorgeous music draws you in with its lush harmonies and rich textures, and tells a compelling but unclear story. With Henrik Kilhamn, piano.

Video: https://youtu.be/95nEeUymyaY

In this episode we'll see how Tchaikovsky summons the exotic arabian dancers in the Nutcracker ballet, using modal mixture, oriental ornaments and meandering structural segments over a rhythmic ostinato. With your analysis guide Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/9xoCT93XfjY

Debussy paints a musical depiction of dead leaves with dissonant harmonies and eerie and fragmented lines in his "Feuilles mortes," Prelude no. 2 from the second volume of preludes. It shows a lot of his typical features such as sequential rather than functional harmony, block chords, and a maximal use of different piano registers. With Henrik Kilhamn, piano.

The piece was a Patreon request by L. von Geist.

Video: https://youtu.be/pWmycfBX2zg

Tchaikovsky made the piano arrangement to his "Nutcracker" ballet music himself. The March is one of his most known tunes that immediately summons the Christmas spirit with its high energy marching features. Any ballet production tells the story of toy soldiers coming to life, but in this video we look at the music only. Henrik Kilhamn, piano.

Video: https://youtu.be/PrZ15Lo2s6A

Faurés mature style explores the chromatic depths of counterpoint while retaining a radiant surface, and his 6th Nocturne in D flat major, Op. 63, is a great example that holds together three disparate ideas beautifully. 

This video is on the advanced side of analysis on the channel, e.g. some concepts are used freely in order to get more complex points through. If you don't know them this should still give some good context for getting acquainted with them (things like cadence, sequence, appoggiatura etc.) 

The piece was a Patreon request by S. Lam.

Video: https://youtu.be/K5emh7NdGYE

Gabriel Fauré's Pavane is one of those pieces that just speaks directly to your heart with an air of nobility intact. The composition is a masterclass in coherent melodic structure and the use of coloring notes in harmony.

Video: https://youtu.be/9ucfVYrbCDg

"Vogel als Prophet" (Bird as prophet) is a peculiar piece in Robert Schumann's Waldszenen suite Op. 82. On closer inspection we find the most prominent feature to be arpeggios leading to quite dissonant appoggiaturas. As often with Schumann, he strikes a balance between the playful and the profound. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/ic7cXHujqA8

Chopin's 1st Ballade in G minor has a special place in the hearts of many pianists and piano lovers. It has many characters who all speak directly and poignantly, and Chopin lets them evolve organically within the Ballade. It's a story without any explicit drama, but with intense dramatic content nevertheless. And it's especially one chord that sets the tone. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/7kfJvpODcXM

The piece that starts Waldszenen (Forest scenes) is "Eintritt", an Entrance into the forest. The pleasant melody shifts between the hands but for some reason Schumann has written most of the piece like it's metrically offset within the 4/4 time signature.

Video: https://youtu.be/s7OI-OcUVko

Schumann's "Waldszenen" (Forest scenes) op. 82 is a collection from his later period, invoking the forest in nine pastoral, cute and intruiging pieces. No. 3 "Einsame Blumen" or "Lonely Flowers" has all the best Schumann ingredients: rhythmic ambiguity, aching suspensions and creative counterpoint.

Video: https://youtu.be/t3VaGEIGNTI

Frühlingsrauschen, or Rustle of Spring, has impressed audiences since Christian Sinding composed it in 1896. The lightning-fast arpeggios in the right hand are actually not that difficult, but the piece still requires a high degree of rhythmic precision and position changes later on.  It's a passionate celebration of spring-time energy, wonderfully fitted with exciting harmonic progressions that we take a closer look at here. With Henrik Kilhamn, piano.

Video: https://youtu.be/SYTmEPy_qck

This Nocturne poses some serious technical challenges! Once mastered, they give an impression of something light and playful (scherzando is marked in the score) and with so much elegance typical of the young Chopin. With Henrik Kilhamn, professional pianist.

Video: https://youtu.be/0S5uRET-mzg

This is a fascinating example of how Rachmaninoff uses a short motif as a foundation for a composition, and spins an endless amount of colorful variations on it. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/AuJ2ksqjhrY

This poignant waltz was published in 1986 and attributed posthumously to Chopin, but it was discovered in 2012 to actually have been written by Chopin's contemporary Charles Mayer. However, he did such a good job to imitate a Chopinesque style (for example with chromatic suspensions) that he had the music world fooled for several decades. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn. This episode is dedicated to my Patreon sponsor M. Thurston.

Video: https://youtu.be/PFHgfTVyQ7Y

In the middle of the set of 24 preludes in all different keys Op. 11, Scriabin limits himself to use only the diatonic notes of D-flat major in slowly moving melodic lines harmonized in thirds. Needless to say it's a great exercise for legato playing in the left hand, which has to play the thirds before the right hand enters with a soaring but tragic melody.

Video: https://youtu.be/zBdNOsToQbU

This is one of my absolute favourite piano pieces. Brahms is such a master of knitting the musical material together tightly, and he does so in this Intermezzo over a nostalgic but forgiving backdrop. The middle section is a reminder of sorrow and pain, but in the end everything is all right. Henrik Kilhamn, piano.

Video: https://youtu.be/bypALczDNMI

Easy arrangement: https://sonatasecrets.gumroad.com/l/brahms-intermezzo-1182

This is one of Brahms' most famous melodies; it captures perfectly the elegant dancing of the Viennese ballrooms in a piano piece.

Video: https://youtu.be/6sYxmVYHD30

Henrik Kilhamn takes a closer look at Liszt's famous Liebestraum no. 3. It's inspired by a poem by Ferdinand Freiligrath "Oh, love as long as long you may", celebrating love as a strong force in the world, and Liszt makes use of some spectacular things in the musical structure to get the message across.

Video: https://youtu.be/U_AImOWal2Y

Liszt's "Consolations" are a kind of musical prayer, and no. 3 is perhaps the most comforting of all with its Lento placido; resonating broken chords over a deep bass and a soaring melody. Playing, analysis and comments by pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/_QoShd8mKz8

This major Nocturne has all the typical features - long sweeping arpeggios in the left hand and a soaring melody on top - but it is also a duet of two voices that keep the dialogue alive throughout the piece. With pianist Henrik Kilham.

Video: https://youtu.be/tc69rTem_qo

What is the secret alluded to by this wonderful piece of music by Michael Nyman? "The Piano" character Ada plays this piece in the movie - it shows some classical influence to start with, but then develops into a passionate improvisation with lovely piano textures over lush chords. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/l6QzexGfGZA

Edvard Grieg wrote this famous piano piece to celebrate his 25 year wedding anniversary with his wife Nina. Henrik Kilhamn goes through the music to find out how it feels so optimistic and full of energy, and the middle section so nostalgic and sensual.

Video: https://youtu.be/3zknYtbD5MY

W. Stenhammar's third Fantasy from Op. 11 could just as well have had the title Ballade in my opinion. Folklore melodies, dramatic development and your typical Stenhamamr chromatic thickness. Henrik Kilhamn, piano.

Video: https://youtu.be/BfnaTCyWXsE

There are some piano gems from the film music genre, and this is one of them: Michael Nymans score to the 1993 Jane Campion film The Piano. Rolling 16th notes over lush harmonies - simple but effective, and a manifestation of the main character's emotional life in the film. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/YlW1XhbWHeI

In this close look at Grieg's Notturno from Lyric pieces book 5, we explore some of the typcial romantic harmonic tropes, put to effective use by Grieg. Half-diminished chords, extensions and tritone shifts among others. Henrik Kilhamn plays and explains along the way.

Video: https://youtu.be/Q9uzlGRqD8g

Wilhelm Stenhammar is one of Sweden's greatest composers in the romantic tradition. In this emblematic piece he captures something of the nordic spirit - personal and melancholic but with a deep sense of connection to something that has been around for a very long time. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/06CB499p0u4

Henrik Kilhamn goes through the 5th piece in Grieg's first volume of Lyric pieces: a Folk Song. A steady beat in triple time, Mazurka-like rhythms and romantic harmony awaits.

Video: https://youtu.be/1HWtsV2CehY

The very first of Edvard Grieg's "lyric pieces", Arietta Op. 12 no. 1, is a true piano gem. A singable melody over a rocking accompaniment and cosy romantic harmonies. Presented in an analysis tutorial by pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/CUYrxxWluGU

"Le Gibet" is the haunting second piece in Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit. A repeated B flat in the right hand permeates the whole piece as the bell tolling in the poetic landscape of Aloysius Bertrand, which the piece is set to conjure. Henrik Kilhamn goes through this incredible music.

Video: https://youtu.be/hMbiASv0Udg

Maurice Ravel paints a wonderful scene in music after Aloysius Bertrands poem with the same name: Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit. The siren Ondine sings to seduce a young man. Can he resist? With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/cQbZ9JBUuWU

Erik Satie uses some dark and exotic minor scales in his emblematic Gnossiennes. In this video we go through all aspects of the music to find out how he creates these haunting vibes. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/em4DWxZORI8

Emoji artwork provided by JoyPixels, http://joypixels.com.

Josef Rheinberger was a prolific composer in latter half of the 19th century. He born in Lichtenstein but lived most of his life in Munich, Germany, as a professor at the Royal School of Music. In this video I present and perform the 1st movement of his Piano sonata no. 4 in F# minor, Op. 184, called "The Romantic". This was a Patreon request by L. von Geist, which also introduced me to this interesting composer.

Video link: https://youtu.be/WSEmdTKoSug

When Chopin had left Poland in 1830 there was a revolution attempt against the Russian rule of the country. This music fits the feelings of a passionate revolution, no matter what the politics are. Pianist Henrik Kilhamn shares his interpretation of the famous Etude for the left hand.

Video link: https://youtu.be/j0nU3J8eOzo

The second slow etude in Op. 10 lives up to its nickname with a dense chromatic middle voice and painful dissonances, but the resolutions that follow are then so forgiving. With Pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/qpofm5sNF60

Emoji artwork provided by JoyPixels, http://joypixels.com.

When it comes to Chopin Etudes, the slow no. 3 in E major is a much welcomed relief from the otherwise very difficult pieces. However, it still poses a challenge for the pianist to balance the beautiful cantabile melody with soft lullaby accompaniment middle voices in the same hand. As well as the chaotic middle section with fierce jumping intervals of course... Analysis tutorial with pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Video: https://youtu.be/eunzFrCNwO4

Scriabin's Fantasie in B minor Op. 28 is a piano piece that thinks it is  a symphony. Octaves in both hands almost all the time, arpeggios  spannig basically the whole keyboard and a several more very super dense  and difficult textures, are all big challenges for the pianist. But  musically it has so much to say: so much love to give, so many  adventures to explore, struggles to overcome, and themes to transform.  All written in Scriabin's romantic paintbrush, with a lot of  chromaticism but still firmly within tonality. Join Henrik Kilhamn as he  presentats this epic work.

Video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/S3TSKEaA2hs

One of Chopin's most known waltzes, this contains both nostalgic melancholy and restless running energy. And what's up with the meter in the middle section? With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/xmNaROpR2bU

Is the "Minute" waltz really supposed to be played in a minute? Pianist Henrik Kilhamn takes a closer look at this famous piece in this video.

Link to video: https://youtu.be/scsE4Qts1GY

The second and central movement of Scriabin's 4th piano sonata is cast in sonata form but feels more like variations on the core themes. Scriabin throws different ideas and textures at us on our way towards the stars, if we follow the poetic narrative of the sonata. Pianist Henrik Kilhamn brings you with him on the flight.

Link to video: https://youtu.be/5IlzIRTkuzA

The 4th sonata is somewhat of a turning point in Scriabin's production where he starts to leave the tonal world behind and reach something new. This music is a challenge, not only to play and perform, but to analyze as well. Pianist Henrik Kilhamn gives it his best shot in this episode.

Link to video: https://youtu.be/pB85-VvD_PU

Insisting marching rhythms, crazy register changes and raw harmonies - this is the Rock'n'roll of classical music! Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through the piece with an analytical mindset.

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/loZOTrjDugA

Rachmaninoff's B minor prelude, Op. 32 no. 10, is known to be inspired by the Böcklin painting "The Return", depicting a man waiting outside a house before arriving. Rachmaninoff presents a rich inner life of emotions in his prelude, going between solemnity, pride and resignation. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/6sXGdJ2VerU

The G major prelude from Op. 32 is one of few calm pieces in major among Rachmaninoff's 24 preludes. The left hand accompaniment conjurs Barcarolle vibes as if swaying back and forth on calm water, and the right hand melody enters as if sailing. There's an interlude in minor that shimmers even more poignantly for a brief moment, but the music soon returns home to the warm and safe major. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Link to video: https://youtu.be/v-R0l_3XzIg

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes into the details of Keith Jarrett's legendary improvised concert in Köln 1975. In the substantial "A section" the music is centralized around the two chords Am and G. Jarrett goes between them in an almost hypnotic state through several different styles. After that he embarks on a free exploration in the "B section" before finding the way back to A major in the final "C section".

Link to Youube video: https://youtu.be/8GkqrlKkKFA

Rachmaninoff sets two voices against each other in his most famous piece: the C sharp minor Prelude, Op. 3 no. 2. The fateful motif in the low register rings like funeral bells and the response in the high register tries desperately to find a way out of the nightmare. Pianist Henrik Kilhamn plays and interprets the music.

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/Pv-PeRDq2WA

We continue with Mozart's A minor sonata (K.310) with the slow second movement "Andante cantabile con espressione" in F major. It presents a calm and heartfelt melody together with a somewhat playful character, but in the middle section all the pain and tension from the first movement surfaces again. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eUD3OpONns4

Emoji artwork provided by JoyPixels, http://joypixels.com.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through Mozart's A minor sonata's first movement in depth. It revolves around a signal rhythm as the first subject and "moto perpetuo" rolling 16th notes as the 2nd subject, and the way Mozart integrates all elements through the course of the movement - effortless but nonetheless original - is a testamony to his genius.

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/IIUoryL-qXU

Emoji artwork provided by JoyPixels, http://joypixels.com

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn presents Bach's Invention no. 8 in F major, BWV. 779. It's another canon with a jumpy subject that switches between 8th and 16th notes texture every other bar.

Link to Youtube video: https://youtu.be/daep8vcMYH8

In this popular invention, Bach treats a raging subject in three sections. It fights to break free but Bach manages to contrain it using his powerful counterpoint. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn. Also, we learn about the hemiola.

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/dYuX8P4lhZQ

Continuing with Bach inventions we encounter another counterpoint mechanism: The canon. The subject starts in the right hand and after a while the left hand imitates exactly the same subject while it's still being created in the right hand. Henrik Kilhamn breaks apart the building blocks in this analysis video.

Link to Youtube video: https://youtu.be/sNLU87J2s9o

Back to basics: Johann Sebastian Bach wrote 15 of these "Inventions" in his son's score book as exercises. They are full of clever musical inventions in counterpoint which was the dominant style during the Baroque period. No 1 in C major uses only a short subject as the foundation for the whole piece, to which Bach applies appropriate mechanisms of transformation. Pianist Henrik Kilhamn plays together with an analysis.

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/HXQJpWTDrt8

Mozart's Turkish March - the final movement from his 11th piano sonata in A major, K.331 - is one of the most famous classical piano pieces of all times. The music emulates Turkish military bands with drum rolls and modal qualities. Henrik Kilhamn goes through all different sections that keeps returning in the rondo in detail.

Link to Youtube video: https://youtu.be/6-pg-lMoCFY

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn analyzes Mozart's Sonata "Facile" in C major KV.545, 1st movement: Allegro. We find all the usual Mozart elements of phrase efficiancy, scales and amazing sequences, and although Mozart said it was "for beginners" it's never easy to pull off his gestures as smooth and free of friction as you would want them. It's also a good piece to understand the core building blocks of sonata form, because it's almost prototypical for the purpose (albeit with a significant individual variation). 

Apologies for the audio quality in the beginning and end - there was a technical mishap that I discovered too late so I had to use an inferior audio quality source.

Link to Youtube video: https://youtu.be/u1KIxV5uB48

Mozart's Fantasy or Fantasia in D minor is somewhat unusual in several respects. First, the form is free from the usual sonata structure and instead presents a collection of ideas and themes after each other. Second, the character is much darker than the typical Mozart in major keys (until the second part arrives in D major). And third, Mozart didn't actually write the ending that have come to be part of the piece as we know it. Find out all about out in this video with pianist Henrik Kilhamn.

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/qfWRX2kZUQY

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn presents Schubert's 2nd Impromptu from the first set, Op. 90. If the playful, seemingly never-ending scales are a gentle stream in a sunny nature scene, the raw and rough chords in the middle section is a heavy storm brewing.

Analysis and performance (last half) (12.52).

Link to Youtube video: https://youtu.be/CBFgQ-vbMtk

"The Girl with the Flaxen Hair", ("La fille aux cheveux de lin") is no. 8 in the first book of Preludes by Debussy from 1910. For this piece, Debussy writes in a style closer to his early works: diatonic and melodic with nice, lush chords rolling over the piano. There are clear cadences, but this short piece is ripe with quick modulations between three different keys. Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes to the bottom of where the piece is harmonically in this thorough analysis tutorial.

0:16 Introduction
3:13 Analysis
14:20 Performance

Maurice Ravel captures feelings of longing and missing in his arguably most famous piano piece. In this video, pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through the music to find out how that is done. Different registers as well as modal harmony are important factors.

Contents:
0:42 Introduction
3:11 Analysis
20:33 Performance

Link to Youtube video: https://youtu.be/kBS8e_GMkFM

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn looks at all variations of the simple and chorale-like Arietta theme in the final movement of Beethoven's 32nd piano sonata (and of all his sonatas!). They cover an incredible range of styles, sonorites and energy levels while sharing the harmonic structure of the theme, as well as one fundamental tempo that rules the whole movement. In this music, Beethoven leaves earthly struggles behind and ascends to heaven. Some moments in this movement that are as close as you can get to pure beauty and bliss.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn takes on this monster of a piece. Beethoven returns to the roots of Bach and counterpoint and fuses it with his typical dramatic charge in this movement from his late period. The music is so intense with extreme dynamic contrasts and fugato treatment of the core motif. Every note matters in this struggle for survival on earth.

0:23 Introduction
4:29 Form
5:45 Analysis
33:48 Performance

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn looks at Kinderszenen and especially no. 7 Träumerei, one of Robert Schumann's most loved melodies. There is a dreaminess present in the whole cycle, feeding a nostalgic element of looking back and remembering these poignant states of childhood.

Introduction: 0:31
No. 1, "Of foreign lands and people": 2:17
No. 7, "Träumerei": 6:29
No. 12, "Child falling asleep": 10:13

To close the Pathétique sonata, Beethoven writes a fast-paced Allegro in Rondo form. The theme is like static electricity, jumping between smaller objects, and throughout the movement we are treated to various adventures in the different episodes. As always your guide Henrik Kilhamn at the piano.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn reflects on the 2nd movement of Beethoven's famous Pathétique sonata, Op. 13. The theme in the "Adagio cantabile" is one of Beethoven's sweetest melodies, and we can enjoy just floating along those long legato lines.  

Introduction, Analysis (1:00) and Performance (12.50)

Beethoven took the sonata form from Mozart and Haydn and developed it in a revolutionary way, turning his sonatas into epic tales. The Pathétiqe sonata Op. 13 is a hallmark in the repertoire (Pathétiqe referring to "emotional" rather than the "pathetic"), and in this video Henrik Kilhamn goes through the first movement section by section and explains how they fit in the larger scheme of things.

Introduction and analysis (2:04)

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn presents the worlds most known classical piano piece: Beethoven's Fur Elise. It's a true musical gem with its soothing theme evolving from just those two notes, and well balanced with two episodes of different character inbetween the returning theme.

Introduction and analysis (1:18)

It's ironic that Chopin's most famous work, the Fantaisie-Impromptu, wasn't published during his lifetime. Today we actually have several different versions of it: the first edition by Chopin's friend Julian Fontana in 1855, recent Urtext editions that have removed Fontana's own additions, and one version based on a manuscript acquired by Rubinstein in 1962. 

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through this fantastic piece of music that fits so well under the fingers, and points out where the versions differ. The stormy agitato sections give way to a lyrical cantabile middle section which posess all the sweetness but none of the melancholy of a Nocturne.

Introduction: 0:23

Analysis: 3.16

Performance: 15.52

Chopin's Funeral march, the slow movement from his 2nd sonata Op. 35, stands out as an archetype for such an occasion - but what is it about the music that makes it that way? Pianist Henrik Kilhamn finds out in this episode by going through the piece one section at a time. There is also another famous march from the film score repertoire that uses the same chords!

Analysis and performance (11:38)

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn takes on the second movement in Scriabin's sparkling piano sonata no. 2, Op. 19, titled "Sonata-Fantasy". It's a turbo fast Presto with a never-ending stram of notes, a Moto Perpetuo. The form is a kind of Sonata-Rondo, alternating the cascading waves with a developmental, legato section without ever losing its intensity.

Analysis and performance (13.03)

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through the first movement of Scriabin's amazing piano sonata no. 2, op. 19 titled "Sonata-Fantasy". There are two sides to the music: one firm, gripping statement of a signal reoccuring throughout the movement, the other completely opposite of free-floating, improvisational bliss. The two characters are juxtaposed in the middle and are developed in some genius ways of piano writing.

Analysis and performance (23:51)

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn takes a closer look at Chopin's famous Raindrop prelude. The repeated notes present during the whole piece represents raindrops, which haunted Chopin in his stay in Valldemossa, Mallorca, in the winter of 1838.

Analysis: 2:20, Performance: 15:01.

This is one of the most sad piano pieces out there. In this video, pianist Henrik Kilhamn explains how Chopin manage to capture such sadness in his music, and where the prelude fits within music history. It's all about the slow, pulsating chords - every new chromatical shift between them explores a new nuance in the dark side of our emotional spectrum.

Analysis and performance (12:17)

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn presents Swedish composer Wilhelm Stenhammar's most famous piece, Fantasy no. 1 in B minor. It contains great power and adventure as well as beautiful lyrical sections, all the time employing a lot of mediant relationships and motivic development.

Analysis and profrmance (17:51).

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn interprets Schubert's amazing Impromptu Op. 90 no. 3 in G flat major. The calm lyrical outer sections surrounds a dramatic middle section with tension and turmoil. But which is the real state, and which is the dream?

Performance: 22:52

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn attempts an analysis of Satie's emblematic and relaxing Gymnopedie no. 1. The music doesn't behave the way we expect it to; it moves around in modal ways, meandering through constantly shifting tonal centers. It's hard to even decide what key it's in, because of the initial oscillation between two Maj7 chords.

Analysis and performance (15:54)

Henrik Kilhamn explains this well known piece that actually consists of two parts between the two composers. Bach uses one musical idea of the arpeggio pattern throughout the prelude and changes the harmony one step at a time, creating a wonderful sense of assuring and relieving. 130 years later, Gounod wrote a melody to the prelude as accompaniment, which is now known as Ave Maria.

Performance of Ave Maria: 8:39.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn explains this Chopin Nocturne in A flat major, where Chopin fuses the Nocturne style with a crazy waltz middle section. The initial melody is at first comfortable and reassuring, but after the wlatz section it returns in fortissimo and apassionato!

Performance: 13:05

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn follows the yellowed leaves in Tchaikovsky's October - Autumn song - from The Seasons, Op. 37a, for piano. Right and left hand are often in dialogue with their melting, melancholic melodies.

Performance: 12:43

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn takes apart Scriabin's ambiguous harmonies in his sparkling Etude in F# major Op. 42 no. 4. The chords seem to exist in two states simultaneously, with some notes acting as bridges inbetween. The Etude is written in 1903, and we are now entering Scriabin's middle period where he is really starting to look outside of traditional harmony.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn discovers Scriabin's early Nocturne in F# minor, Op. 5 no. 1. The general mood is similar to Chopin Nocturnes, however Scriabin's harmonic world is darker and the air is thicker. Henrik explains how he achieves that in this analysis that is more focused on harmony.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn presents one of Alexander Scriabin's relatively well known pieces: Etude in C# minor, Op. 2 no. 1. Written by a young composer in a highly romantic style, this short piece is filled with intense emotion throughout.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn takes on this massive work by Chopin. Rocking back and forth like Gondolas in a canal, the Barcarolle is full of shimmering water sounds and the sections flow seamlessly into each other. The melody begins calmly but turns throughout the piece into powerful rejoicing. Between all the rich nuances the Barcarolle contains true beauty.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn looks at Debussy's 1st Arabesque in E major. In this early and famous work, beautiful figures and patterns unfold in lines up and down over the piano register.

Performance: 8:51

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn follows the lines and layers in Chopin's late Nocturne in E major, Op 62 no 2. This music ranges from a relaxed "conversational" melody to dense and dramatic eruptions in amazing counterpoint writing.

Performance: 21:47

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn dives into one of Debussy's grandest preludes: The Sunken Cathedral. Through blurring harmonies and muffled bells, Debussy creates an amazing sound world that gives life to this ancient Breton myth.

Performance: 12.53

This is an interesting Nocturne that starts as a Mazurka and ends as a chorale. Pianist Henrik Kilhamn lays out the different sections and dispositions within the music, from the flaring Polish folk dance Mazurka to the still and peaceful chorale.

Performance: 11:31

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn presents this pearl of a piece governed by a joyful feeling. We go through some pianistic acrobat acts, exotic “Spanish” chords and whistling in the park.

Performance: 8:55

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn enjoys the content character of this light Nocturne, until the middle section enters as an angry outburst. The chaos is never too far away, even when you are just strolling down the street.

Performance: 9:34

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn explores the exciting music of Beethoven's Moonlight sonata, the 3rd and last movement. We get the feeling of being hunted by something and struggling to get free through a lot of sudden blasts, rhythmic patterns and intense outbursts. Listen and find out how it goes! Analysis and performance (13:41)

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through the F minor Nocturne that is both heavy and simple. The melody is always returning to a C as if being held in the firm grip of Fate, and after a dramatic middle section the ending comes as a surprise. Analysis and Performance (10:31).

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn presents this pearl of a piece. The poetic epigraph of the piece talks about "mysterious sadness" and Tchaikovsky manages to capture that character perfectly in his simple but beautiful, melancholic melody in G minor.

Performance: 13:23

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn presents the Allegretto from Beethoven's famous "Moonlight" sonata in C# minor, Op. 27 no 2. This short but interesting movement is something between a Minuet and a Scherzo and provides a bright change of scene within the sonata.

Performance: 7:42

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn presents Liszt's epic Ballad no. 2 in B minor. Liszt is thought to have been inspired by the Greek myth of Hero and Leander in composing the piece. 

Performance: 30.47

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn reveals the secrets behind Beethoven's famous "Moonnlight sonata" - how the repeated notes and poignant melody makes up the sad and tragic character of the music, and possibly influenced by an unrequited love of the composer...

Performance: 12:32

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn takes on Chopin's Nocturne in B major, Opus 62 no 1. This late Chopin work has many layers - the initial warm nostalgia turns into tragic lamenting and further on to a surprising syncopated middle section, before the main melody returns embellished with trills.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through Chopin's posthumous Nocturne in C# minor, another one of his most well known pieces. The character is something like noble solemnity and Chopin keeps the simplicity throughout the piece, even with some stirring in the middle section.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through Chopin's heaviest and most dramatic Nocturne - the one in C minor, Op. 48 no. 1 The lonely notes in the melody is haunted by a demon and blows up in the recapulation when it's just too much to handle.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through Debussy's emblematic Clair de Lune, with its magical and mysterious moonlight atmosphere. After some inital cool, soothing sequences, there is an appearance of what I like to call the "Adventure" chord.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes thorugh Chopin's E minor Nocturne, Op. 72 no. 1, an early work published posthumously. The heartbreaking tragedy in the initial melody turns unexpectedly to hope or reconciliation in the sections in major.

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through Chopin's famous Nocturne in Eb major, Op. 9 no. 2. Find out how Chopin achieves such a lovely and playful character in the music.

Launch announcement for the Sonata Secrets podcast, with pianist Henrik Kilhamn.