Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79, I

History

Beethoven-Haus dates the parent G-major sonata to 1809. The first-edition bibliography records London and Leipzig publication branches in 1810. The work has three movements; this entry presents one of them while retaining the shared sonata history.

Sources

• beethoven.de
• bu.edu

What to listen for

1. 1

   Detached calls lead into a flowing melody

   The full opening octave call leads into connected melody and alternating support. Hear the contrast between short calls and the following longer line.

2. 2

   Different endings introduce a changed region

   The first endings either recall the opening or lead into changed octave replies. Hear the different continuation into the second repeated region.

3. 3

   The opening returns in an expanded form

   Opening-related calls return with higher flights and broader chords. Recognise the familiar gesture through its expanded response.

4. 4

   Light figures rise into a held rest

   The closing broken figures lead to a rising flourish and fermata rest. Hear the final release without adding a sounded chord to the written silence.

How to practise it

Octave contour above a repeating low pattern; long octave arrival over shorter attacks.

1. Sing the lower member of each octave pair, then listen for that contour over the repeating low pattern.
2. Sustain the arrival in a slow rehearsal while counting the continuing low-note attacks separately.

How hard is it

About this piece

Collection

Sonata journeys

Licence

Public Domain

Source

mutopiaproject.org

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