Piano Sonata No. 25 (Beethoven)
Encyclopedia
The Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major
, Op. 79, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven
in 1809. It consists of three movements:
It is one of Beethoven's shorter sonatas with an approximate performance time of only eleven minutes, if Beethoven's prescribed repeats are all observed. It is also the shortest of his sonatas with more than two movements.
The first movement
opens forcefully with a three-note motive (G, B, G) heard frequently throughout the movement. The second theme group in D major
is based on fast scale and arpeggio
passages and leads very swiftly into the forceful codetta. A few hesitant octave
notes are played before the exposition
repeats. The entire exposition is but 35 seconds long (without the repeat).
The development
section dominates this movement, being approximately 60 seconds long. It features frequent modulation as well as themes borrowed and fragmented from the exposition including the opening three note motive which is heard in the form of left-hand crossovers. This motive starts on E major
, then moves on to B 7th and later moves in C minor
followed by G 7th, ending in almost strange E-flat major, B Flat 7th combination. The recapitulation
snaps the listener back to the home key forcefully with its opening three note motive, then proceeds to repeat the exposition entirely in the home key.
The development and recapitulation together are enclosed in a second, longer repeat mark.
As a final touch to this sonata, the coda
features the main theme played in G Major in the left hand with treble
, then the theme again in A minor
in the right hand with bass accompaniment, then the same thing again except with comedic acciaccatura
inserted. The recapitulation and coda together take up approximately another minute.
The whole movement (with the exposition repeated) lasts approximately three minutes. If the second repeat prescribed by Beethoven, encompassing the development and recapitulation, is observed, this brings the total performance time to around four and a half minutes.
The andante
movement, in G minor
, uses a tranquil theme in 9/8 time (quite uncommon in Beethoven's works) and gentle, light atmosphere to present contrast to the ecstatic first movement. It is about two and a half minutes long.
The finale movement is the most playful sounding as well as being the shortest at barely two minutes long. The movement is constructed in rondo form
(ABACA' and a Coda), with a two-part theme in parts A and contrasting episodes in key (section B) and in rhythm (section C) in the other sections. A very brief coda brings this quick, light-hearted sonata to a brisk end. Beethoven later uses the chord progression found at the beginning of the A section to start his Op. 109 sonata. (A comparison of the two pieces gives a dramatic illustration of how Beethoven's piano-writing developed in the 11 years that intervened between the two sonatas. The Opus 109 theme is altogether subtler and subject to dramatic twists that lead the listener into quite unexpected harmonic territory.)
G major
G major is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp, F; in treble-clef key signatures, the sharp-symbol for F is usually placed on the first line from the top, though in some Baroque music it is placed on the first space from the bottom...
, Op. 79, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven
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...
in 1809. It consists of three movements:
- Presto alla tedesca
- Andante
- VivaceVivaceVivace is Italian for "lively" and "vivid". It is pronounced in the International Phonetic Alphabet.Vivace is used as an Italian musical term indicating a movement that is in a lively mood ....
It is one of Beethoven's shorter sonatas with an approximate performance time of only eleven minutes, if Beethoven's prescribed repeats are all observed. It is also the shortest of his sonatas with more than two movements.
The first movement
Movement (music)
A movement is a self-contained part of a musical composition or musical form. While individual or selected movements from a composition are sometimes performed separately, a performance of the complete work requires all the movements to be performed in succession...
opens forcefully with a three-note motive (G, B, G) heard frequently throughout the movement. The second theme group in D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
is based on fast scale and arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
passages and leads very swiftly into the forceful codetta. A few hesitant octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
notes are played before the exposition
Exposition (music)
In musical form and analysis, exposition is the initial presentation of the thematic material of a musical composition, movement, or section. The use of the term generally implies that the material will be developed or varied....
repeats. The entire exposition is but 35 seconds long (without the repeat).
The development
Musical development
In European classical music, musical development is a process by which a musical idea is communicated in the course of a composition. It refers to the transformation and restatement of initial material, and is often contrasted with musical variation, which is a slightly different means to the same...
section dominates this movement, being approximately 60 seconds long. It features frequent modulation as well as themes borrowed and fragmented from the exposition including the opening three note motive which is heard in the form of left-hand crossovers. This motive starts on E major
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
, then moves on to B 7th and later moves in C minor
C minor
C minor is a minor scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The harmonic minor raises the B to B. Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with naturals and accidentals as necessary.Its key signature consists of three flats...
followed by G 7th, ending in almost strange E-flat major, B Flat 7th combination. The recapitulation
Recapitulation (music)
In music theory, the recapitulation is one of the sections of a movement written in sonata form. The recapitulation occurs after the movement's development section, and typically presents once more the musical themes from the movement's exposition...
snaps the listener back to the home key forcefully with its opening three note motive, then proceeds to repeat the exposition entirely in the home key.
The development and recapitulation together are enclosed in a second, longer repeat mark.
As a final touch to this sonata, the coda
Coda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
features the main theme played in G Major in the left hand with treble
Clef
A clef is a musical symbol used to indicate the pitch of written notes. Placed on one of the lines at the beginning of the staff, it indicates the name and pitch of the notes on that line. This line serves as a reference point by which the names of the notes on any other line or space of the staff...
, then the theme again in A minor
A minor
A minor is a minor scale based on A, consisting of the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The harmonic minor scale raises the G to G...
in the right hand with bass accompaniment, then the same thing again except with comedic acciaccatura
Ornament (music)
In music, ornaments or embellishments are musical flourishes that are not necessary to carry the overall line of the melody , but serve instead to decorate or "ornament" that line. Many ornaments are performed as "fast notes" around a central note...
inserted. The recapitulation and coda together take up approximately another minute.
The whole movement (with the exposition repeated) lasts approximately three minutes. If the second repeat prescribed by Beethoven, encompassing the development and recapitulation, is observed, this brings the total performance time to around four and a half minutes.
The andante
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
movement, in G minor
G minor
G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. For the harmonic minor scale, the F is raised to F. Its relative major is B-flat major, and its parallel major is G major....
, uses a tranquil theme in 9/8 time (quite uncommon in Beethoven's works) and gentle, light atmosphere to present contrast to the ecstatic first movement. It is about two and a half minutes long.
The finale movement is the most playful sounding as well as being the shortest at barely two minutes long. The movement is constructed in rondo form
Rondo
Rondo, and its French equivalent rondeau, is a word that has been used in music in a number of ways, most often in reference to a musical form, but also to a character-type that is distinct from the form...
(ABACA' and a Coda), with a two-part theme in parts A and contrasting episodes in key (section B) and in rhythm (section C) in the other sections. A very brief coda brings this quick, light-hearted sonata to a brisk end. Beethoven later uses the chord progression found at the beginning of the A section to start his Op. 109 sonata. (A comparison of the two pieces gives a dramatic illustration of how Beethoven's piano-writing developed in the 11 years that intervened between the two sonatas. The Opus 109 theme is altogether subtler and subject to dramatic twists that lead the listener into quite unexpected harmonic territory.)
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. 79 - For a public domain recording of this sonata visit Musopen