Description
Composed around 1767, when the harpsichord was still the primary keyboard instrument, this is one of Haydn's earlier sonatas. It has the soft sonority of B-flat major and the light, graceful melodic style typical of the galant idiom. At around sixteen minutes it is relatively substantial for a work of this period, reflecting Haydn's ongoing experimentation with sonata form.
Sonatas across a range of instrumentations, including piano parts from violin sonatas, spanning Classical to Romantic styles.
About the Composer
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Franz Joseph Haydn was a leading Classical-era composer from Austria who spent much of his career in service to the Esterhazy family. Often called the "father of the symphony" and the "father of the string quartet," he helped establish the Viennese Classical style with clear forms and witty invention. His numerous keyboard sonatas also served as a bridge to Mozart and Beethoven. This site includes 60 of his works, including movements from Sonatas Hob. XVI:27 and 28.
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