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Home > Chopin, Frederic > Sonate no.2 "Marche funèbre" b-moll

Chopin, Frederic : Sonate no.2 "Marche funèbre" b-moll Op.35

Work Overview

Music ID : 1108
Composition Year：1839　
Publication Year：1840
First Publisher：Breitkopf und Härtel
Instrumentation：Piano Solo　
Genre：sonata
Total Playing Time：22 min 00 sec
Copyright：Public Domain
sonata
Piano Solo
piano solo
b moll

Commentary (1)

Author : PTNA Piano Encyclopedia Editorial Department

Last Updated: January 1, 2010
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Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

Written in 1839, during Chopin's middle period, this sonata is not only a testament to his immense creative drive but also one of the few masterpieces where his extraordinary talent for musical form blossomed. Regarding this sonata, Schumann famously remarked that it was like "forcing his four maddest children together." However, the entire work is masterfully unified through a technique where motifs for the other movements are derived from the two themes of the third movement, the 'Funeral March,' which was completed first. Its content is lyrical, powerful, and supremely original.

First Movement (Grave, Doppio movimento, B-flat minor, 2/2 time, Sonata form)

  • Composed of a wild and intense first theme and a sweet, flowing second theme. The recapitulation features only the second theme, prioritizing the beauty of the overall balance.

Second Movement (Scherzo, E-flat minor, 3/4 time, Ternary form)

  • An imposing and profound scherzo, a movement so far from a joke that it evokes a sense of terror. The middle section, in contrast, interweaves graceful and gentle melodies.

Third Movement (Lento, Marche funèbre, B-flat minor, 4/4 time, Ternary form)

  • The famous Funeral March. The heavy main section and the heavenly beautiful middle section form an exquisite contrast.

Fourth Movement (Presto, B-flat minor, 2/2 time)

  • Throughout, a unison of triplets rushes through a desolate landscape. The piece passes by with both tonality and form remaining ambiguous.
Writer: PTNA Piano Encyclopedia Editorial Department

Movements (4)

mov.1

Key: b-moll  Total Performance Time: 6 min 00 sec 

Videos 9

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mov.2

Key: es-moll  Total Performance Time: 7 min 00 sec 

Videos 8

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mov.3

Key: b-moll  Total Performance Time: 9 min 00 sec 

Videos 10

Explanation 0

Sheet Music 8

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mov.4

Key: b-moll  Total Performance Time: 1 min 30 sec 

Videos 8

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Reference Videos & Audition Selections(7items)

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Scores List (18)

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Japanese