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Beethoven, Ludwig van : Sonate für Klavier Nr.14 "Sonata quasi una fantasia"(Mondscheinsonate) 2.Satz Allegretto and Trio

Work Overview

Music ID : 30702
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:sonata
Total Playing Time:2 min 30 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (1)

Author : Maruyama, Yoko

Last Updated: March 5, 2019
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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.

Second Movement: Allegretto, 3/4 time, D-flat major

Compound ternary form. The choice of D-flat major as the tonic, enharmonically related to the C-sharp minor of the outer movements, along with the movement type of the first movement, likely represents the composer's attempt to deviate from convention. Furthermore, the movement's opening, which begins not with the root position of the tonic triad but with its first inversion with F as the bass, reveals an inclination to avoid extreme simplicity through harmonic ingenuity.

The opening theme of the main section consists of an alternation of two-bar phrases with contrasting articulations, legato and staccato; a similarity to the second movement of Op. 26 has been noted here. The initial eight measures are immediately varied and repeated, and the melodic syncopation here is shared with the melodic structure of the trio section, contributing to the overall unity of the movement.

The beginning and end of the trio section are imbued with a pastoral character by means of dominant or tonic pedal points. The harmonic stability of the tonic chord resulting from this is likely a measure to balance the main section, which begins with the tonic chord in its first inversion. After the repeat sign, where the pedal point is absent for the first time, the right hand also features a continuous succession of leaping figures of fifths or fourths without stepwise motion, creating a contrast with the preceding and following sections.

Writer: Maruyama, Yoko

Reference Videos & Audition Selections(3items)

瀬田 敦子
林川崇さんのお勧め, フリードマン
ピアノ・ソナタ 第14番 「月光」 第2楽章