Piano Sonata No. 2 (Beethoven)
Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2, No. 2, was written in 1796 and dedicated to Joseph Haydn.
Contents |
[edit] Movements
It has four movements:
- I. Allegro vivace 2/4
- II. Largo appassionato 3/4 D major
- III. Scherzo: Allegretto 3/4 A major, A minor, A major
- IV. Rondo: Grazioso common time
[edit] I. Allegro vivace
An athletic movement that has a bright disposition. The second theme of exposition contains some striking modulations for the time period. A large portion of the development section is in F major, which contains a third relationship with the key of the work, A major. A difficult, but beautiful canonic section is also to be found in the development. The recapitulation contains no coda and the movement ends quietly and unassumingly.
[edit] II. Largo appassionato
One of the few instances in which Beethoven uses the tempo marking "Largo", which was the slowest such marking for a movement. The opening imitates the style of a string quartet and features a staccato pizzicato-like bass against lyrical chords. A high degree of contrapuntal thinking is evident in Beethoven's conception of this movement. The key is the subdominant of A major, D major.
[edit] III. Scherzo: Allegretto
A short and graceful movement that is in many respects similar to a minuet. This is the first instance in his 32 numbered sonatas in which the term "Scherzo" is used. A minor trio section adds contrast to the cheerful opening material of this movement.
[edit] IV. Rondo: Grazioso
A beautiful and lyrical rondo. The arpeggio that opens the repeated material becomes more elaborate at each entrance. The form of this rondo is A1-B1-A2-C-A3-B2-A4-Coda. The C section is rather agitated and stormy in comparison to the rest of the work, and is representative of the so called "Sturm und Drang" style. A simple but elegant V7-I closes the entire work in the lower register, played piano.
A typical performance lasts about 22 minutes.
[edit] External links
- A lecture by András Schiff on Beethoven's piano sonata op. 2 no. 2
- Recording by Paavali Jumppanen, piano from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- For a public domain recording of this sonata visit Musopen
- Piano Sonata No. 2: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
