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Ludwig van Beethoven wrote 32 mature piano sonatas between 1795 and 1822. (He also wrote 3 juvenile sonatas at the age of 13 [1] and one unfinished sonata, WoO. 51.) Although originally not intended to be a meaningful whole, as a set they comprise one of the most important collections of works in the history of music. [2]
Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1, “Sonata quasi una fantasia” (1802) Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor , Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight” (1802) Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major , Op. 28, “Pastorale” (1802)
- Betsy Schwarm
- Pathétique. To single out just a few. The most important of the early Sonatas is the Pathétique. For the first time Beethoven uses a slow introduction, and an introduction of such weight you know something truly significant is going on.
- The Moonlight. The most famous movement of any of the 32 Piano Sonatas is the opening movement of The Moonlight – the Sonata he composed for the woman he wanted to marry, Giulietta Guicciardi [see Chapter 6, Beethoven’s Women].
- Waldstein. We already know the origin of the Waldstein from Chapter 3, The Spaniard. The gloriously spacious theme of the final movement is prefaced by a mysterious, fragmented middle movement, which presages it perfectly.
- Appassionata. Wagner’s favourite was the Appassionata. He loved playing it, and marvelled at the theme of the first movement rising from the depths. Once again, as with the Pathétique, the middle movement is simplicity itself, almost a theme on a single note.
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From the early Op. 2 set of sonatas to the famous 'Moonlight', find out why Beethoven's piano sonatas broke the mould - and hear from pianists themselves about how they approach performing them. Imagine how it must feel, walking on stage to perform Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.
- Hammerklavier, Piano Sonata Number 29, Op 106. And finally, even though there might be some debate regarding the other sonatas, there is no debate about which one is the greatest and the most challenging.
- Appassionata, Piano Sonata Number 23, Op 57. The Appassionata Sonata is widely regarded as one of Beethoven’s signature works. Unlike the other major middle-period sonatas, this one is one of the darkest compositions he ever performed.
- Waldstein, Piano Sonata Number 21, Op 53. The Waldstein Sonata is one of the marquee compositions of Beethoven’s middle period. Composed in C Major, it is a luminous, happy, upbeat sonata with an average performance taking approximately 24 minutes.
- Les Adieux, Piano Sonata Number 26, Op 81a. Beethoven composed Les Adieux, which translates into The Farewell, between 1809 and 1810. The sonata was composed as Napoleon attacked Vienna, forcing Archduke Rudolph to leave the city.
Beethoven 's Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, known as the Waldstein, is one of the three most notable sonatas of his middle period (the other two being the Appassionata, Op. 57, and Les Adieux, Op. 81a ). Completed in summer 1804 and surpassing Beethoven's previous piano sonatas in its scope, the Waldstein is a key early work of ...
Mar 20, 2020 · By Harry Haskell. Ever since 1861, when Sir Charles Hallé performed all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas on a landmark concert series in London, pianists have contemplated these canonical masterpieces with almost religious awe.
