Violin Sonata No. 4 (Beethoven)
Encyclopedia
The Violin Sonata No. 4 of Ludwig van Beethoven
in A minor
, his Opus 23, was composed in 1801
, published in October that year, and dedicated to Count Moritz von Fries. It followed by one year the composition of his first symphony
, and was originally meant to be published alongside Violin Sonata No. 5
, however it was published on different sized paper, so the opus numbers had to be split. Unlike the three first sonatas, Sonata No. 4 received a favourable reception from critics.
It has three movements
:
The work takes approximately 19 minutes to perform.
, and uses small fragments as opposed to two longer themes. The exposition
modulates to E minor
, before returning to A minor
prior to heading into the development. In the development, the themes are passed through all three parts - Violin
and both hands of the piano
. In Bar 136, a new theme is introduced, similar to previous themes but different. This is a technique that Beethoven later used in the first movement on Symphony No. 5
. This theme leads directly into the recapitulation
, but returns in the coda
. Both the Exposition and the Development and Recapitulation are repeated.
). This movement should have a light edge to it, scherzoso meaning "jokingly".
, with a thematic outline of ABACADABCDA. Each theme has many fantastic elements. The "A" theme features Beethoven's scalar writing, which is such a feature of his works. The "B" Theme is again scalar, but then moves into a cycle of Diminished 7th chords, outlining all three possible diminished chords in an arpeggiated manner. In theme "C", Beethoven moves into the parallel key of A Major, in a chordal theme. Theme "D" closely resembles the theme from the Finale of Mozart's Jupiter Symphony. In the final repeat of theme "A" Beethoven places the theme in the left hand of the Piano, whilst placing an inversion in the violin part.
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 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...
, his Opus 23, was composed in 1801
1801 in music
- Events :* Joseph Haydn completes his oratorio, The Seasons* Ludwig van Beethoven's ballet, Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus premieres in Vienna's Burgtheater...
, published in October that year, and dedicated to Count Moritz von Fries. It followed by one year the composition of his first symphony
Symphony No. 1 (Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21, was dedicated to Baron Gottfried van Swieten, an early patron of the composer. The piece was published in 1801 by Hoffmeister & Kühnel of Leipzig...
, and was originally meant to be published alongside Violin Sonata No. 5
Violin Sonata No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Opus 24, is a violin sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is often known as the "Spring" sonata , and was published in 1801...
, however it was published on different sized paper, so the opus numbers had to be split. Unlike the three first sonatas, Sonata No. 4 received a favourable reception from critics.
It has three movements
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...
:
- Presto
- Andante scherzoso, più allegretto
- Allegro molto
The work takes approximately 19 minutes to perform.
Presto
The first movement, Presto, is in Sonata FormSonata 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 uses small fragments as opposed to two longer themes. 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....
modulates to E minor
E minor
E minor is a minor scale based on the note E. The E natural minor scale consists of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. The E harmonic minor scale contains the natural 7, D, rather than the flatted 7, D – to align with the major dominant chord, B7 .Its key signature has one sharp, F .Its...
, before returning to 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...
prior to heading into the development. In the development, the themes are passed through all three parts - Violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and both hands of the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. In Bar 136, a new theme is introduced, similar to previous themes but different. This is a technique that Beethoven later used in the first movement on Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1804–08. This symphony is one of the most popular and best-known compositions in all of classical music, and one of the most often played symphonies. It comprises four movements: an opening sonata, an andante, and a fast...
. This theme leads directly into the recapitulation
Recapitulation
Recapitulation may refer to:* Recapitulation , a section of musical sonata form where the exposition is repeated in an altered form and the development is concluded...
, but returns in 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...
. Both the Exposition and the Development and Recapitulation are repeated.
Andante scherzoso, più allegretto
This movement contains many distinct themes that follow roughly in Sonata Form. It includes a fugal theme, showcasing Beethoven's ability to write fugally (which is later showcased in his Große FugeGroße Fuge
The Große Fuge , Op. 133, is a single-movement composition for string quartet by Ludwig van Beethoven. A massive double fugue, it originally served as the final movement of his Quartet No. 13 in B major but he replaced it with a new finale and published it separately in 1827 as Op...
). This movement should have a light edge to it, scherzoso meaning "jokingly".
Allegro Molto
This final movement, in RondoRondo
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...
, with a thematic outline of ABACADABCDA. Each theme has many fantastic elements. The "A" theme features Beethoven's scalar writing, which is such a feature of his works. The "B" Theme is again scalar, but then moves into a cycle of Diminished 7th chords, outlining all three possible diminished chords in an arpeggiated manner. In theme "C", Beethoven moves into the parallel key of A Major, in a chordal theme. Theme "D" closely resembles the theme from the Finale of Mozart's Jupiter Symphony. In the final repeat of theme "A" Beethoven places the theme in the left hand of the Piano, whilst placing an inversion in the violin part.
External links
- Recording by Corey Cerovsek, violin and Paavali Jumppanen, piano from the Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumIsabella Stewart Gardner MuseumThe Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum or Fenway Court, as the museum was known during Isabella Stewart Gardner's lifetime, is a museum in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, located within walking distance of the Museum of Fine Arts and near the Back Bay Fens...