All Entries Tagged With: "programme notes"
Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 81a ‘Les Adieux’
Sonata in E flat major Op 81a ‘Les Adieux’ (1810/11)
Das Lebewohl: Adagio - Allegro
Das Abwesenheit: Andante espressivo
Das Wiedersehen: Vivacissimamente
In the 11 years between Op 10 and Op 81a, much had changed both for Beethoven personally and in Europe politically. Beethoven had become a household name throughout Europe for his music, the impact of [...]
Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 57 ‘Appassionata’
Piano Sonata in F minor Op 57 “Appassionata”
Allegro assai
Andante con moto
Allegro ma non troppo
The difference in style between the three early sonatas and Appassionata is marked. In the intervening 12 years, Beethoven had written 20 piano sonatas, two cello sonatas, nine violin sonatas, three piano concerti, the first six string quartets, the Triple Concerto [...]
Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 54
Sonata in F major Op 54
In Tempo d’un Menuetto
Allegretto
With stories of his tantrums and grumpy demeanour in plentiful supply, it is difficult to imagine Beethoven ever cracking a smile or telling a joke. This sonata proves without at doubt that Beethoven’s sense of humour functioned perfectly well. Both Op 54 and Op 57 ‘Appassionata’ [...]
Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 27 No.2 ‘Moonlight’
Op 27 No.2 ‘Moonlight’
Adagio sostenuto
Allegretto
Presto
Like the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the first movement of the Moonlight sonata has become a victim of its own popularity. The piece has been transcribed for all manner of instruments and there is hardly an amateur pianist who has not given it a try at least once. It [...]
Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 27 No.1
Beethoven was 31 years old when he was writing Op 27. He had been living in Vienna for eight years, was firmly established as one of the best pianists around and had his first symphony, six string quartets, five violin sonatas and twelve piano sonatas under his belt. In contrast with [...]
Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 10 No. 2
Sonata in F major, Op. 10, No. 2 (1796-98)
Allegro
Allegretto
Presto
Beethoven made a few minor changes to the standard sonata form in this piece, the first of which occurs in the development of the first movement. Traditionally, the development is a place for the composer to play around with the first and second themes and [...]
Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 10 No.1
An important part of the Beethoven myth is the idea that he was not bound to any one job or patron but rather wrote what suited him, when it suited. While it is true that he was not employed in the same way Mozart or Haydn were, Beethoven, especially in the early days, still [...]
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