Piano Sonata No. 13 (Beethoven)
Encyclopedia
Ludwig van Beethoven
's Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 1, composed in 1800–1801, has four movements:
Beethoven included the phrase "" (Italian
: Almost a fantasy
) in the title because the sonata does not follow the traditional sonata pattern where the first movement is in regular sonata form
, and the movements are arranged in a fast-slow-fast sequence. A typical performance lasts 15 minutes.
The second movement, is also in ternary form
, but is more often regarded as compound ternary form, a form in which the individual sections have forms of their own. The second movement is written with a melody of mostly quarter notes in parallel octaves. After that, it is similar to the first section, but everything the right hand does is offset half a beat later, probably as a joke by Beethoven to emphasize the technical difficulties. The movement concludes abruptly on the dominant chord of F minor (C major), similar to the ending of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 5
. The overall form of this movement is similar to the second movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 6.
The fourth movement is sometimes considered part of the third movement; after the Allegro vivace section, there is a section labeled "Tempo I", and is quite similar to the third movement (although in E-flat), and after that is a very short Presto section.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 1, composed in 1800–1801, has four movements:
- Andante - Allegro - Andante in ternary formTernary formTernary form, sometimes called song form, is a three-part musical form, usually schematicized as A-B-A. The first and third parts are musically identical, or very nearly so, while the second part in some way provides a contrast with them...
, ABA. In E-flat major, middle section in C. - Allegro molto e vivace In C minor.
- Adagio con espressione In A-flat major.
- Allegro vivace
Beethoven included the phrase "" (Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: Almost a fantasy
Fantasia (music)
The fantasia is a musical composition with its roots in the art of improvisation. Because of this, it seldom approximates the textbook rules of any strict musical form ....
) in the title because the sonata does not follow the traditional sonata pattern where the first movement is in regular sonata form
Sonata form
Sonata form is a large-scale musical structure used widely since the middle of the 18th century . While it is typically used in the first movement of multi-movement pieces, it is sometimes used in subsequent movements as well—particularly the final movement...
, and the movements are arranged in a fast-slow-fast sequence. A typical performance lasts 15 minutes.
The second movement, is also in ternary form
Ternary form
Ternary form, sometimes called song form, is a three-part musical form, usually schematicized as A-B-A. The first and third parts are musically identical, or very nearly so, while the second part in some way provides a contrast with them...
, but is more often regarded as compound ternary form, a form in which the individual sections have forms of their own. The second movement is written with a melody of mostly quarter notes in parallel octaves. After that, it is similar to the first section, but everything the right hand does is offset half a beat later, probably as a joke by Beethoven to emphasize the technical difficulties. The movement concludes abruptly on the dominant chord of F minor (C major), similar to the ending of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 5
Piano Sonata No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10, No. 1, was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is dedicated to Anna Margarete von Browne. The first movement of the sonata has a 3/4 meter, the second movement 2/4, and the final movement 2/2. Beethoven's Piano Sonata No...
. The overall form of this movement is similar to the second movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 6.
The fourth movement is sometimes considered part of the third movement; after the Allegro vivace section, there is a section labeled "Tempo I", and is quite similar to the third movement (although in E-flat), and after that is a very short Presto section.
External links
- A lecture by András SchiffAndrás SchiffAndrás Schiff is a Hungarian-born British classical pianist, who has won a number of awards including the Grammy and made numerous recordings.- Biography :...
on Beethoven's piano sonata op. 27 no. 1 - For a public domain recording of this sonata visit Musopen
- European Archive Copyright free LP recording of the Sonata no.13 op.27 no.1 in Eb major by Hugo Steurer, piano at the European Archive (for non-American viewers only).