I've started studying to see if it's time to go for No. 29 ("Hammerklavier"). I have been reading various literature little by little, and I have come to realize that it is extremely difficult even for pianists. It seems that even professional pianists have a hard time playing it. Therefore, it is not often played at concerts. Please refer to Takahiro Sonoda's lecture for more details.
Among these challenges, the one that seems most relevant to me as someone who doesn’t play the piano is "maintaining an extremely high level of technical performance throughout the more than 40-minute duration." With MIDI programming, as long as I can properly input what I want to express, this issue can be overcome. Truly, I have DAW(Digital Audio Workstation) to thank for that!
The real challenge is that the structure of this piece is extremely complex. On top of that, even the tempo markings given by Beethoven have been a topic of debate. In the first movement, for instance, some sections are said to be so fast that they become nearly unplayable. There are moments where one might genuinely question whether the indicated tempo is even feasible. One possible reason could be the difference in sound production between the pianos of Beethoven’s time and modern concert pianos. The instruments back then had a very different tonal quality, which may have influenced his tempo choices. But since Beethoven was already deaf by that time, he was likely composing entirely in his mind, so this might not have been an issue for him. For an amateur like me, analyzing these complexities is far beyond my capabilities. All I can do is rely on the interpretations of those who have come before me.
This piano sonata is truly unique—almost like a solitary peak. I have no idea how long it will take to program the MIDI in a way that makes it truly listenable. But I hope to work on it little by little.