Movement 1

A-flat major, 3/8 time, Variation form.

It consists of a 34-measure theme without repeat signs, followed by five variations. This long theme is composed of three sections:

• an opening 8-measure phrase and its repetition (up to measure 16);
• a transitional 10-measure phrase (up to measure 26) where the anacrusis is emphasized by sforzandos; and
• a return of the opening idea (up to measure 34), concluding with a perfect cadence.

In the subsequent five variations, the harmonic progression of the theme is largely faithfully preserved, with each variation featuring a distinctive figural transformation. The third variation modulates to the parallel minor, A-flat minor.