Piano Sonata No. 25 (Beethoven)

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The Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major "Cuckoo", Opus 79, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1809. It consists of three movements:

1. Presto alla tedesca
2. Andante
3. Vivace

Beethoven's lesser known piano sonata from his middle period is sometimes known by musicians as "Cuckoo" for its frequent jumping around. It is also one of Beethoven's shorter sonatas with an approximate performance time of only nine and a half minutes.

The first movement opens forcefully with a three-note motive (G, B, G) heard frequently throughout the movement. The second theme group in D major is based on fast scale and arpeggio passages and leads very swiftly into the forceful codetta. A few hesitant octave notes are played before the exposition repeats. The entire exposition is but 35 seconds long (without the repeat). The development section dominates this movement, being approximately 60 seconds long. It features frequent modulation as well as themes borrowed and fragmented from the exposition including the opening three note motive which is heard in the form of left-hand crossovers ("Cuckoo" sounds). The recapitulation snaps the listener back to the home key forcefully with its opening three note motive, then proceeds to repeat the exposition entirely in the home key. As a final touch to this sonata, the coda features the main theme played in G Major in the left hand with treble accompaniment, then the theme again in A minor in the right hand with bass accompaniment, then the same thing again except with comedic acciaccatura inserted. The recapitulation and coda together take up approximately another minute. The whole movement (with the exposition repeated) lasts approximately three minutes.

The andante movement uses a beautiful theme and gentle, light atmosphere to present contrast to the ecstatic first movement. It is a little bit shorter than the first movement at two and a half minutes long.

The finale movement is the most playful sounding as well as being the shortest at barely two minutes long. The structure of the movement is a rondo (ABACA' and a Coda), with a two part theme in parts A and contrasting episodes in key (section B) and in rhythm (section C) in the other sections. A very brief coda brings this sonata to a quick end.

Piano Sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven

Op. 2, No. 1 | Op. 2, No. 2 | Op. 2, No. 3 | Op. 7 | Op. 10, No. 1 | Op. 10 No. 2 | Op. 10 No. 3 | Op. 13 (Pathétique) | Op. 14, No. 1 | Op. 14, No. 2 | Op. 22 | Op. 26 (Funeral March) | Op. 27, No. 1 (Quasi una fantasia) | Op. 27, No. 2 (Quasi una fantasia — Moonlight) | Op. 28 (Pastoral) | Op. 31, No. 1 | Op. 31, No. 2 (Tempest) | Op. 31, No. 3 (The Hunt) | Op. 49, Nos. 1 and 2 | Op. 53 (Waldstein) | Op. 54 | Op. 57 (Appassionata) | Op. 78 | Op. 79 (Cuckoo) | Op. 81a (Les adieux) | Op. 90 | Op. 101 | Op. 106 (Hammerklavier) | Op. 109 | Op. 110 | Op. 111