The Piano Sonata No. 18 in E♭ major, Op. 31, No. 3, is an 1802 sonata for solo piano by Ludwig van Beethoven. A third party gave the piece the nickname "The Hunt" due to one of its themes' resemblance to a horn call.[1] Beethoven maintains a playful jocularity throughout much of the piece, but as in many of his early works, the jocular style can be heard as a facade, concealing profound ideas and depths of emotion.[citation needed]
Beethoven's progressive harmonic language is apparent from the very first chord of the piece (third inversion of the eleventh on dominant B♭[3]); the stability of a tonic chord in root position is delayed until bar 8. The expressive harmonic colour coupled with the changes of tempi in the introduction (mm. 1–18) create an evocative opening, reminiscent of the improvisatory style of C. P. E. Bach's piano sonatas. This opening cell is repeated extensively throughout the movement – at the start of the development (m. 89), in the recapitulation (m. 137), and during the coda (transposed into the subdominant A♭ (m. 220), and then at its original pitch (m. 237)). The modulatory passage between the first and second subjects (mm. 33–45) explores the opening chord, but in a minor variation (with a C♭, implying ii7 of E♭ minor), even appearing in bar 36 in the exact spacing (albeit with different spelling) of the Tristan chord written by Richard Wagner some 55 years later.
II. Scherzo
This scherzo differs from normal scherzos by being in 2 4 time rather than 3 4, and because it is in sonata form rather than ternary form. This wasn't the first time Beethoven wrote a scherzo not in ternary form; Op. 14, No. 2 has a scherzo in rondo form as its finale. But this movement still contains many characteristics of a scherzo, including unexpected pauses and a playful nature. The theme is in the right hand while the left hand contains staccatoaccompaniment.
III. Menuetto
The third movement is the most serious of the movements, with a sweet and tender nature. The minuet and the trio are in E♭ major.
IV. Presto con fuoco
The finale is vigorous and rollicking, with continuous eighth notes in the bass and tarantella rhythms.
Adaptations
Camille Saint-Saëns used the Trio section of the Menuetto as the theme for his 1874 Variations sur un thème de Beethoven, Op. 35, for two pianos.
References
^"Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major description". AllMusic.
^Kamien, Roger (Summer 1998). "Non-Tonic Settings of the Primary Tone in Beethoven Piano Sonatas". The Journal of Musicology. 16 (3): 379–393. doi:10.1525/jm.1998.16.3.03a00060. JSTOR 763997.
^Harding, Henry Alfred (1901). Analysis of form in Beethoven's sonatas. Novello. p. 37.
External links
A lecture by András Schiff on Beethoven's piano sonata Op. 31, No. 3
For a public domain recording of this sonata visit Musopen
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Piano Sonata No. 18 (Beethoven).
March 21, 2023
piano, sonata, beethoven, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, piano, sonata, beethoven, news, newspapers. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Piano Sonata No 18 Beethoven news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Piano Sonata No 18 in E major Op 31 No 3 is an 1802 sonata for solo piano by Ludwig van Beethoven A third party gave the piece the nickname The Hunt due to one of its themes resemblance to a horn call 1 Beethoven maintains a playful jocularity throughout much of the piece but as in many of his early works the jocular style can be heard as a facade concealing profound ideas and depths of emotion citation needed Beethoven in 1801I Allegro source source source II Scherzo source source source III Menuetto source source source IV Presto con fuoco source source source Played by Artur Schnabel Problems playing these files See media help Roger Kamien has performed a Schenkerian analysis of facets of chords of the sonata 2 Contents 1 Analysis 1 1 I Allegro 1 2 II Scherzo 1 3 III Menuetto 1 4 IV Presto con fuoco 2 Adaptations 3 References 4 External linksAnalysis EditThe sonata consists of four movements AllegroScherzo Allegretto vivaceMenuetto Moderato e graziosoPresto con fuoco The sonata is unusual in lacking a slow movement I Allegro Edit Beethoven s progressive harmonic language is apparent from the very first chord of the piece third inversion of the eleventh on dominant B 3 the stability of a tonic chord in root position is delayed until bar 8 The expressive harmonic colour coupled with the changes of tempi in the introduction mm 1 18 create an evocative opening reminiscent of the improvisatory style of C P E Bach s piano sonatas This opening cell is repeated extensively throughout the movement at the start of the development m 89 in the recapitulation m 137 and during the coda transposed into the subdominant A m 220 and then at its original pitch m 237 The modulatory passage between the first and second subjects mm 33 45 explores the opening chord but in a minor variation with a C implying ii7 of E minor even appearing in bar 36 in the exact spacing albeit with different spelling of the Tristan chord written by Richard Wagner some 55 years later II Scherzo Edit This scherzo differs from normal scherzos by being in 24 time rather than 34 and because it is in sonata form rather than ternary form This wasn t the first time Beethoven wrote a scherzo not in ternary form Op 14 No 2 has a scherzo in rondo form as its finale But this movement still contains many characteristics of a scherzo including unexpected pauses and a playful nature The theme is in the right hand while the left hand contains staccato accompaniment III Menuetto Edit The third movement is the most serious of the movements with a sweet and tender nature The minuet and the trio are in E major IV Presto con fuoco Edit The finale is vigorous and rollicking with continuous eighth notes in the bass and tarantella rhythms Adaptations EditCamille Saint Saens used the Trio section of the Menuetto as the theme for his 1874 Variations sur un theme de Beethoven Op 35 for two pianos References Edit Piano Sonata No 18 in E flat major description AllMusic Kamien Roger Summer 1998 Non Tonic Settings of the Primary Tone in Beethoven Piano Sonatas The Journal of Musicology 16 3 379 393 doi 10 1525 jm 1998 16 3 03a00060 JSTOR 763997 Harding Henry Alfred 1901 Analysis of form in Beethoven s sonatas Novello p 37 External links EditA lecture by Andras Schiff on Beethoven s piano sonata Op 31 No 3 For a public domain recording of this sonata visit Musopen Piano Sonata No 18 Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Recording by Paavali Jumppanen piano from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Wikimedia Commons has media related to Piano Sonata No 18 Beethoven Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piano Sonata No 18 Beethoven amp oldid 1050618591, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
