Beethoven Around the World - 9 Popular Arrangements for Piano

Beethoven often incorporated musical influences from other countries in his works. Jean Kleeb has picked up on this idea and developed it further in these arrangements for piano solo. In his tributes to Beethoven he emphasizes ethnic attributes such as “alla turca” or he coaxes exotic rhythms out of certain works with playful exaggeration. At other times, he simply enjoys demonstrating the stark differences between the “classical” piano piece and world music. Enjoy pieces in samba style, with Cuban rhythms or jazzy-Arabic-like scales.

• Sonatango, inspired by Piano Sonata No. 1 in F major op. 2/1
• Querbeethoven, inspired by several works
• Echos of Ecossaise, inspired by Ecossaise in G major WoO 23
• Afro Five Pathétique, inspired by Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor op. 13/2
• Samba do Beethoven, inspired by Piano Sonata No. 2 in D minor op. 31/3
• Alla Gamelan, inspired by Rondo a Capriccio op. 129 "Alla Ingharese"
• In South African Mood, inspired by Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major op. 73/1
• Alla turca – Beethoven en Orient, inspired by Marcia alla Turca from "The Ruins from Athens" op. 113
• Furioelise – Balkantanz, nspired by Für Elise WoO 59