Piano Sonata No. 5 (Beethoven)

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Ludwig van Beethoven's opus 10 no. 1 is the Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor. It is dedicated to Anna Margarete von Browne. The first movement of the sonata has a 3/4 meter, the second movement 2/4, and the final movement 4/4. Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 5 is a first period composition, anticipating more notable C minor works such as the Pathétique Sonata and the Fifth Symphony in its nervous energy. Indeed, this sonata has been christened "The Little Pathétique"^{[citation needed]} , as it has many characteristics of the sonata, with respect to key and tempo.

[edit] Form

The sonata is divided into three movements:

1. Allegro molto e con brio in C minor
2. Adagio molto in A flat major
3. Prestissimo in C minor

The first movement, in sonata form, opens energetically with contrasting loud and soft phrases. A 24-measure modulating passage provides a quiet contrast before arriving at the second theme in E-flat. In the recapitulation, the second theme is initially in F major before returning to C minor.

The second movement is a lyrical Adagio with many embellishments. It is in A-B-A-B or "sonatina" form (there is no development section, only a single bar of a rolled V7 chord leading back to the tonic key); an apparent third appearance of the main theme turns into a coda.

The third movement is a highly nervous piece in sonata form, making heavy use of a figure of five eighth notes. The coda slows the tempo down, leading to a final outburst which fades to a quiet but agitated C major.

[edit] Comparison to the Pathétique Sonata

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This sonata embodies^{[citation needed]} the Pathétique Sonata in all three movements in many styles. For example, the first movements start out with a storming exposition, before arriving at the quiet secondary theme in E flat major. However, when the secondary theme of both sonatas is used again in the minor key, there is a shocking conversion: the happiness and hope of the secondary theme has been banished.^{[citation needed]}

The second movement of each sonata is written in A flat major, at Adagio tempo and in 2/4 time. Both movements unwind gentle, docile melodies and weave into many modulations.^{[citation needed]}

The third movement of each sonata is written at a vigorous tempo, and contains, on occasion, the storminess of its first-movement predecessor.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] External links

• Piano Sonata No. 5 was available at the International Music Score Library Project.

v • d • e Piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven Nos. 1 – 10 (Opus 2 – 14) No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1 · No. 2 in A major, Op. 2, No. 2 · No. 3 in C major, Op. 2, No. 3 · No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 7 (Grand Sonata) · No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10, No. 1 · No. 6 in F major, Op. 10, No. 2 · No. 7 in D major, Op. 10, No. 3 · No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (Pathétique) · No. 9 in E major, Op. 14, No. 1 · No. 10 in G major, Op. 14, No. 2 Nos. 11 – 20 (Opus 22 – 49) No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22 · No. 12 in A flat major, Op. 26 (Funeral March) · No. 13 in E flat major, Op. 27, No. 1 (Quasi una fantasia) · No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight) · No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 (Pastoral) · No. 16 in G major, Op. 31, No. 1 · No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2 (The Tempest) · No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31, No. 3 (The Hunt) · No. 19 in G minor and No. 20 in G major, Op. 49 (Two Easy Sonatas) Nos. 21 – 32 (Opus 53 – 111) No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 (Waldstein) · No. 22 in F major, Op. 54 · No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 (Appassionata) · No. 24 in F sharp major, Op. 78 (A Thérèse) · No. 25 in G major, Op. 79 (Cuckoo) · No. 26 in E flat major, Op. 81a (Les adieux) · No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90 · No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 · No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 (Hammerklavier) · No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 · No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110 · No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111