Description
Friedrich Kuhlau was born in Germany and moved to Copenhagen in 1810 to escape conscription into Napoleon's army, making his career in Denmark. Known to flautists for his flute music, he is known to piano students for the sonatinas of Opp. 20, 55 and 88. Op. 20 No. 1 is the most widely played of them.
The first movement is in C major and common time, in sonata form: a clear first subject, a singing second, and a path through the development to the recapitulation that can be followed by ear. Scales and broken chords are built into the melodic material itself, so playing it is basic practice in its own right.
At over two and a half minutes and more than a thousand notes it is large for a beginner's piece, and its six-octave span keeps both hands shifting position. The task is less speed than evenness in the scales and a tempo held to the end. Changing character at each structural joint is what makes the length audible as form.
Compact piano works that teach sonata form on a smaller scale, often used as a stepping stone toward full-length sonatas.
Browse all songs in Sonatinas →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
What this piece teaches
The first movement of Kuhlau's Sonatina Op. 20 No. 1, a Sonatina Album staple. Sonata form - themes set out, developed and brought back - is clear across a whole movement.
How to practise it
- Listen through first and find where the opening theme comes back. That is your map of the movement.
- It is longer, so loop and learn it theme by theme.
- Mark it "practising" under My Songs in the practice journal to keep track of a multi-movement piece.
About the Composer
Friedrich Kuhlau (1786-1832)
Friedrich Kuhlau was born in Germany and spent the latter part of his career in Denmark, where he became known as the "Danish Beethoven." Especially celebrated for his flute music, he also wrote many pedagogical piano sonatinas notable for their clarity and appealing melodies, still favored by students today. This site features all three movements of his Sonatine, Op. 20, No. 1.
View all works by Kuhlau →