John O’Conor Teaches You Character And Technique In Haydn’s C Major Sonata, Hob.XVI:50

In this lesson, Irish pianist John O'Conor shows how to shape phrases in Haydn’s famous “London Sonata” by imitating a dialogue between different characters.

In more technically challenging passagework, O'Conor describes precisely how to hold the hand and arm and how to shape the fingers to achieve Haydn’s dazzling special effects with facility.

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[legoguy]

i seriously love the dialogue he puts to call and response

[worrellrobinson]

Thank you John O'Conor, for this delightful rendition of Haydn's Sonata in C Major. It was full of character. This tutorial did what it said on the tin. A very competent pianist kind regards Worrell Robinson.

[realdestryer]

Such an amazing pianist. Beautiful description and presentation.

[DressedForDrowning]

I must admit, I love Haydn more than Mozart. Thanks for the lesson, John O'Connor. Shows me how fascinating Haydn's composition is.

[stevenj]

It’s the earlier composers Mozart Haydn early Beethoven. Those are the toughest composers to play well because everything is exposed and every note and it’s expression and articulation has a meaning. This guy is brilliant

[lucjanocastro]

Fabulous lesson 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 👏🏼. I loved it!!
Thank you very much!

[pianista]

¡Genial! Si esta maravillosa clase no ayuda a los pianistas a tocar Haydn con sentido, nada podrá. ¡Muchas gracias!

[lianagheorghita]

Thank you ; absolutely beautiful 🙏😊🎶explained

[elaineblackhurst]

I learned much from listening to this - you cannot ask for any more.
(Check-out the full version).

Many thanks, an outstanding lesson.

[조연희-sr]

Really impressed! Thank you so much! Share an other movement.(2, 3rd mov.) plz.

[gilos]

brava for everything really. outstanding

[marekvollach]

I had teachers like this: there is no difference in his (their) demonstrations. It for him (and my teachers) sounded like their lives only had” sound” for meaning.

[RolandHuettmann]

Delightful. If I am not mistaken, the term "wrist" was used more than once...))))

[sallyszeto]

I hope that there will be a tutorial talking about the Eb major sonata, it’s really hard.

[peter.]

Haaa!!! I got a lesson from John O'Conor himself. I was terrified.

[ds]

Yay. I heard John O'Conor play at the University of Illinois along with pianist and piano professor there, Ian Hobson. I loved it. There was a difference between these two Brits! John played with a lot of passion and personality, while Ian much less so. But together they were outstanding.

[christopherperaskevas]

First comment !! And amazing technique insight

[chrissansum]

A very insightful video!

What do folk think about the accompaniment in eg bars 10-14. Do we attempt to play full length quavers or is the standard performance practice to shorten the quavers so they alternate with the semiquaver Gs?

[MrInterestingthings]

I've always loved this Sonata . many of them I don't care for prefer Boulez and Carl Vine . But there is a lot to early to mid18th century . Especially Hadyn and Marcello and Galuppi . It can be so hard to find the key to this very, very old music . How to see what it CAN mean in our age of cars, airplanes, telecommunications . It IS relevant I know ...the b minor Sonata is great fun. I hope fun has no chronology or time deathdate !

[peter.]

Funny he should mention the many "sfortzandi". Because, right now I'm trying to make up my own mind about what they mean in some Beethoven Sonatas I'm working on right now. And it's clear, they mean different things, in different contexts. It's sort of breaking my brain.