The Omniscient Mussel

Beethoven: Piano Sonata Op 2 No. 2

June 18, 2008 • Program Notes • 0 • |


Piano Sonata in A major Op 2 No 2
Allegro Vivace
Largo appassionato
Scherzo: Allegretto
Rondo: Grazioso

Like the first Sonata, this opening movement is very Classical sounding and one could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a Clementi sonata. The second theme is simply a turn that it is repeated at a higher and higher pitch Development ends abruptly, almost as if Beethoven decided to scrap the ideas half way through and recapitulate. He restates the opening phrase of the first theme and just as we are sure the end of the movement is coming, he suddenly breaks back into another round of developing. Playing around with and significantly extending the development section of sonata movements is something Beethoven would become quite adept at in later compositions.

The second movement begins with a sort of walking bass in the left hand and a very simple melody in the right. It is quite an introspective movement and one can very easily imagine a young Beethoven sitting at the piano on a rainy day writing down whatever came to mind.

The inclusion of a scherzo was a relatively new development. Third movements up to this point were usually titled Menuetto, which was a highly stylised upper class dance. Scherzi are generally at a faster tempo and have more energy. At this early stage, there is not much audible difference between the two but there would be in Beethoven’s later sonatas and symphonies.

The fourth movement is marked grazioso, meaning gracefully. It’s a relatively innocuous marking but it indicates a change in the way the rondo was being used. Originally, rondo were in 6/8 time and rather raucous as they were indicative of the hunt. The insertion of grazioso means that the rondo was being distanced from those rough associations and regarded as a form on its own. This particular rondo is very Clementi-esque although bits of Beethoven’s own personality show through in the muscular chords and sudden dynamic changes.

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