Piano Sonata No.8 "Pathétique" Op.13 - I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio

Description

The eighth sonata, published in 1799, is one of the few works whose nickname Beethoven himself sanctioned: it appeared in print as the Grande sonate pathétique. Where most such names were attached later by others, this one belonged to the work from the start. Dedicated to Prince Lichnowsky, it made the twenty-eight-year-old composer's name widely known.

In C minor, it opens with a Grave introduction of heavy chords before the Allegro breaks away. That introduction is not merely a preface: it returns before the development and again at the very end. Alternating slow and fast music within a single movement was unusual for a sonata of the period.

Its advanced rating reflects the stamina needed to sustain the left-hand tremolo and the judgement needed to switch character completely between introduction and main section. In the Grave, everything is the weight of the chords and the space between them; in the Allegro, everything is not losing momentum. A locked wrist will not survive the tremolo for more than a few bars, so checking that the arm stays free comes first.

Piano sonatas representative of the Classical and Romantic eras, including Beethoven's early works — substantial multi-movement pieces throughout.