Description
Haydn's Sonata Hob.XVI:28, in three movements, opens with this one. Unlike its neighbour Hob.XVI:27 in G major, it begins with the settled sound of E-flat major.
In E-flat major and 3/4, broad melodies and gently shifting harmonies unfold at an unhurried tempo that suits its Allegro moderato marking. Triple time is relatively uncommon for a first movement, and the easy flow of the beat shapes the calm character of the whole movement.
It is rated intermediate and, at nearly four minutes, runs fairly long. It asks you to sing without hurrying, with the expressive control to sustain long-breathed phrases and the stamina to keep the melodic line singing without losing focus. It has 1,690 notes and a range from A1 to D6. As the movement is long, it is efficient to finish it section by section with the A-B loop and then play it through to check the flow. Following the melodic line in the score view while listening makes the phrase breaks easier to grasp.
Piano sonatas from Haydn's output of roughly 60, important works that helped shape the development of the Classical sonata.
Browse all songs in Piano Sonatas →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
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 every movement of the Sonatas Hob. XVI:27 and XVI:28.
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