Piano Sonata No. 18 (Beethoven)

The Piano Sonata No. 18 is the last of three piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven has brought together in Op 31. Common features are " subtle playfulness, strong motivic work and sometimes Italian coloring ". Written in 1801 / 02, is the E-flat major sonata for sovereign mastery of the 32 -year-old Beethoven. The entire work exudes virtuosic brilliance and dissolved serenity.

Construction

As the two Light Sonatas op 49 and the late -flat major Sonata op 31 bears no dedication.

The gossamer lightness of Beethoven's third -flat major Sonata is already evident in the set arrangement: two fast outer movements, and in between a scherzo and a minuet. So op has 31.3 as the only Beethoven sonatas no slow movement.

1st Set

Allegro

The winged head set in unusual 3/4-time open the Quintsextakkorde that could quote (the " Leonore 4") the beginning of the Fidelio Overture. They dominate the character of the whole sonata. The repeated question answer soothingly dominant seventh chords that lead to the tonic. In the dominant B- flat major, the melodious second subject leads merrily out of the interplay. The repeated exposure follows the transparent execution - strictly bound in the sonata form of Viennese classicism, but charming and full of wit, as only Beethoven could.

Second sentence

Scherzo. Allegretto vivace

Not in 3/4-, but in 2/4-cycle and - as only in the Hammerklavier Sonata - not the penultimate, but second set, this scherzo is an " opera scene with baritone Cantilena over plucked cello ". With grumbling -merry staccato semiquavers in the bass the Scherzo goes - in the "female" subdominant of the " male " in E flat major - in the first part about F major and B flat major to E flat major, after repeating in surprising C major. After a furious increase in short Zweiunddreißigstelläufen the cabinet piece with piano swabs ends as quietly as it began.

3rd movement

Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso

Measured Ernst and softness characterize the magic -Baroque reminiscent of Schubert's Moment Musical 6. Exceptionally, the trio is not in the minor variant. A touch of melancholy comes on in the quiet closing bars. A few days before his death, had to stop in Villach his last concert after this sentence Wilhelm Backhaus.

Saint- Saëns used the Trio theme for his Variations sur un thème de Beethoven Op 35 (1874 ).

4th movement

Presto con fuoco

Also " very quickly " can be different: The final sentence of the C sharp minor Sonata, Op 27, No. 2 operates as Presto agitato, this Presto con fuoco. When counted on 2- strokes 6/8-measure is played with the necessary Grimm and bite, which explains the nickname of the Sonata hunting. The sentence is " Italian Brio with Tarantella and opera trains ".

" A precious set because it brings together the old German, serious Beethoven with Italian opera cheerfulness without having empfände opposites. "