Three Piano Sonatas, WoO 47 (Beethoven)

The Three Early Piano Sonatas, WoO 47, "Kurfürstensonaten" were composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1783 when he was just thirteen years old. Though lacking a distinct musical identity, the sonatas show a certain level of precocity and serve as a precursor to the masterworks he later produced. They are dedicated to the Elector (Kurfürst) Maximilian Frederick.^[1]

Contents 1 Overview 2 The Sonatas 2.1 No. 1 in E-flat major 2.2 No. 2 in F minor 2.3 No. 3 in D major 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

Overview

Like Mozart, Beethoven's musical gifts were recognized at a young age^[2], and it is in these three sonatas that we are given an early glimpse of the composer's talents, as well as his boldness. Even at his young age, Beethoven was writing in a form usually attempted by older, more mature composers, as the sonata was a cornerstone of Classical piano literature.

The Sonatas

No. 1 in E-flat major

1. Allegro cantabile
2. Andante
3. Rondo vivace

No. 2 in F minor

1. Larghetto maestoso - Allegro assai
2. Andante
3. Presto

No. 3 in D major

1. Allegro
2. Menuetto - Sostenuto
3. Scherzando: Allegretto, ma non troppo

See also

• List of compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven

References

External links

• 3 Piano Sonatas, WoO 47: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.

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 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