Piano Sonata No. 26 Movement 1 (Beethoven)

History

The institutional work history places the sonata between 1809 and 1810 and records its dedication to Archduke Rudolph of Austria. It gives a departure date of 4 May 1809 and a return date of 30 January 1810. The publication bibliography lists London and Leipzig issues in 1811.

Sources

• beethoven.de
• bu.edu

What to listen for

1. 1

   A quiet chordal opening

   Two upper chord sounds open the movement while the lower staff rests. The next bar introduces a held bass octave beneath a dotted upper gesture. Keep the opening broad and the small ending figure connected.

2. 2

   Short figures add movement

   The upper line repeats notes with dotted figures while the lower part moves through changing chords. Keep the short values precise without turning the whole phrase into a faster tempo.

3. 3

   Several lines share the texture

   The upper melody rises while inner notes and bass voices move underneath. Listen for the melody above the texture, but do not lose the independent inner motion.

4. 4

   Hold the tied sound through the decoration

   A sustained B-flat leads into a short tuplet figure while other voices continue below. Keep the held sound distinct from the moving notes, and do not reattack its tie continuation.

How to practise it

Hear the top-note line through the opening pairs and dotted figures.

1. Coordinate the opening pairs.
2. Follow the changing top notes.
3. Keep dotted and short values distinct.

How hard is it

About this piece

Collection

Sonata journeys

Licence

Public Domain Mark

Source

musescore.com

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