Piano Sonata in A major, D. 664 (Schubert)

The Piano Sonata No. 13 in A major, D.664 (Op.120) is a sonata for solo piano composed by Franz Schubert in the summer of 1819. The three movements are marked Allegro moderato, Andante and Allegro; the central Andante is in D major.

Well regarded among pianists, the "Little" A major sonata is so called to distinguish it from the hefty 1828 sonata in the same key. The manuscript, completed in July 1819, was dedicated to Josephine von Koller of Steyr in Upper Austria, whom he considered to be "very pretty" and "a good pianist." The lyrical, buoyant nature of this sonata fits the image of a young Schubert in love, living in a summery Austrian countryside, which he also considered to be "unimaginably lovely."

The A major sonata is straighforward, with a dulcet melodic opening. It was the first of Schubert's piano sonatas where the sonata form as perfected by his idol, Beethoven, does not seem wrestled with; rather, it is a "joyous breakthrough," a carefree triumph over strict rules of construction.

The manuscript to this "little" sonata has been lost.

For further reading

James Webster noted the particular A B A form of the first movement's first thematic group. Daniel Coren summarised the nature of the recapitulations in the first and third movements. Leo Black noted Schubert's reworking of the opening theme from the sonata's slow movement into his song "Der Unglückliche".

External links

• Piano Sonata D.664: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.