Talk:Piano Sonata No. 1 (Beethoven)

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It's a wonderful idea that an analysis of these sonatas is being added to an encyclopedic entry; however, although identifying formal functions and structural boundaries is useful in one sense, it does nothing to illuminate the genius of Beethoven's work. Labeling a number of themes and identifying them throughout is meaningless unless one understands the basic compositional choices behind them. For example, the way in which the harmonic acceleration in the famous first eight bars functions along with the fragmentation of the main theme (or gesture) in order to create tension climaxing on the condensed version of the opening arpeggio (broken f minor chord in upper register). Also, the way Beethoven has carefully chosen a neighbouring harmony in the presentation of the theme (I-V65-I [stable]) and then continues with an ascending bass to increase tension [unstable] as the phrase comes to its climax. My personal opinion is that in an analysis of any type of music, one must strive to understand the composer's choices while abstaining from any abstract notions of form or harmonic analysis. When all are understood as an intricate whole (as the composer views them) the analysis is more accurate and more useful to someone who is trying to understand the true genius behind the work.

On another note, thank you for your contriubtions.

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I disagree. What less abstract notions do you prepose than harmonic analysis? If anything I would love to see a section of much more rigerous analysis. It is wonderful to read critically through a full analysis if only to see how the music functions in logical terms. And while any good piece of music is beautiful and wonderful to hear for reasons that do not require analysis, I find it very helpful as a composer to analyse the music and see how others analyse it. I really think that sort of contribution, along with historical information can really help you appreciate a piece. This is especially true for certain types of composers (by which I mean composers with a certain approach to composition, not a certain genre). Of course, rigerous analysis is most helpful in conjuction with learning to play the piece, or at least listening to it over and over again (I really cannot imagine what good it would do to analize music and not ever hear it played).

I think it would be great if Wikipedia became so universal a resourse, that for an entry for a piece of music like this, there would be a section up top with general information, like what is available now, and a thorough analysis with a formal diagram and sheet music below. I would strongly encourage music academians and composers with stuff like that to start contributing. If a collection of stuff like that for the music of Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Schoenberg, etc. really got substantial, it would be an increadible resource!

65.92.26.97 03:55, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Posting original analyses and dissertations violates No Original Research policy. In fact, all that we're limited to in these articles are Structure and basic information, unless academic sources can be cited. ALTON .ıl 04:14, 10 March

2007 (UTC)

We find difficult problems.The policy should be kept while strict and close music analysis is sometimes useful.In Japanese wikipedia,a mere trial has been done,and more numerous articles have been created.The Japanese have a little more reliable source,however even the pianists don't have the "suitable" views.----The DQN,macbeth 07:14, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

Are there 2 codettas at the end of the 1st movement? I think the first one is actually the third B theme... What do you think? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.111.87.203 (talk) 09:20, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Notes

There are some errors in the samples given of the beginnings of three of the sonata's movements, at any rate according to my edition: The third note of the triplet in the Allegro should be e natural, not e flat. In the third movement, the first chord is staccato, and in the third bar, there should be f - a flat rather than g - b flat in the left hand. Maybe someone could correct these errors... -- 62.178.119.181 15:45, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Link Request

I tried to search for a free score of the 4th movement of this sonata, but was unsuccessful. May someone please add a link to this score? ~~MusicalConnoisseur~~ Got Classical? 05:26, 21 December 2007 (UTC)