Piano Sonata No.24 Op.78 - I. Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo

Description

A short Adagio cantabile leads into an Allegro ma non troppo in the rare key of F-sharp major at the start of Sonata No. 24, written in 1809. Because it was dedicated to Countess Therese von Brunsvik, it is also known by the name "à Thérèse." It is a compact sonata in only two movements, and its style favors inward emotional warmth over outward drama.

It is in F-sharp major. A short Adagio cantabile introduction of just a few bars leads into the main Allegro ma non troppo, which is in sonata form and built around an intimate, singing melody. With six sharps in the key signature, it uses the black keys heavily, and the hand shapes differ markedly from other keys. It lasts about three and a half minutes with 2,136 notes, ranging from F-sharp 1 to G-sharp 6.

Rated intermediate, it asks you to keep a warm, singing quality within a restrained sound. Until black-key fingerings feel natural, slow the playback and check where each hand sits with the hand colours. Repeat the transition from the Adagio into the main section with the A-B loop so that the singing line carries through the change of tempo.

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