Description
The second movement of the "Pathétique," an Adagio cantabile in A-flat major. Its melody is among the most widely known in all of classical music — the kind of tune people have heard even if they do not know the sonata. Between two turbulent outer movements, this is the one place that stays calm.
It is a rondo: the theme appears three times with two episodes between. With each return the accompanying figuration grows finer, so the same melody is heard in a different light each time. The second episode turns to the minor and triplets raise the tension before the final return.
The intermediate rating understates the difficulty of tone here, if not of technique. The melody is surrounded by inner voices and chords, and without deliberate attention to which finger carries it, it disappears. Within the right hand, play the melodic notes deeply and the rest shallowly. Keep the tempo largely steady and support the sound through to the end of each phrase — that is what this melody asks for.
Piano sonatas representative of the Classical and Romantic eras, including Beethoven's early works — substantial multi-movement pieces throughout.
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Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Born in Bonn and active in Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven is among the towering figures in music history, bridging the Classical and Romantic eras. Despite losing his hearing in later life, he continued composing, pursuing innovative forms and intense emotional expression in his symphonies and piano sonatas. His beloved piano piece "Fur Elise" and his 32 piano sonatas remain widely performed. This site includes "Für Elise," the two sonatas of Op. 49, movements from his early piano sonatas, and sets of variations.
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