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Haydn, Franz Joseph : Sonate für Klavier Nr.40 Mov.1 Moderato

Work Overview

Music ID : 32198
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:sonata
Total Playing Time:5 min 30 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (2)

Author : Ooi, Kazurou

Last Updated: March 5, 2025
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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.

Notes on the First Movement

This is the first movement that evokes a sense of excitement. Its scale is grand, and it might be beneficial to imagine an orchestra. I will provide notes for each section leading up to the recapitulation.

To prevent the tempo from suddenly dropping in sections with intricate notes, determine the tempo of the first measure in anticipation of this. Since it is Moderato, there is no need to rush.

  • Measures 8-9 are full of lyricism. I believe it would be appropriate to use the pedal here.
  • Measure 10 should be played distinctly differently from Measure 9.
  • In Measures 15-17, the triplets on the off-beat of the first beat should be clearly articulated. I feel that the pedal is unnecessary here, to prevent the notes or rhythm from becoming indistinct.
  • Measures 22-23 and 25-26 are sections where the sense of excitement is almost irrepressible. Play with this feeling.
  • Each time the theme appears, vary its expression. For example, in Measures 30-32, three themes appear, one in each measure, so vary the color and dynamics.
Writer: Ooi, Kazurou

Author : Saitoh, Noriko

Last Updated: February 9, 2020
[Open]
Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

The first movement, in E-flat major, is in Moderato 4/4 time. Throughout the movement, notes of small rhythmic values are characteristic. It begins with a melody in the right hand accompanied by a descending figure in the left hand. The exposition is rich in various musical ideas compared to the first movements of other piano sonatas. Therefore, this piano sonata might consist of two movements.

The development section (from m. 28) is less than half the length of the exposition, but it treats various elements presented in the exposition, such as passages where the left hand accompanies the right, ornamented unisons between both hands, and parallel motion by both hands. The recapitulation (from m. 51) closes the movement by faithfully reproducing the third scale degree of the upper voice in the right hand, as seen at the end of the exposition.

Writer: Saitoh, Noriko
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