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Haydn, Franz Joseph : Sonate für Klavier Nr.42 Mov.1 Allegro con brio

Work Overview

Music ID : 32203
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:sonata
Total Playing Time:4 min 00 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (2)

Author : Ooi, Kazurou

Last Updated: December 5, 2019
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Translation in Progress
Writer: Ooi, Kazurou

Author : Ooi, Kazurou

Last Updated: March 5, 2025
[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 is one that brings joy simply by imagining it. It is entirely optimistic, refined, and humorous. The most significant interpretive challenge in this first movement lies in how to perform the first measure. One might try playing it without the turn. First, internalize the notes G AH CD, which appear in a dotted rhythm. Subsequently, when incorporating the turn, two approaches can be considered. Ironically, this specific turn in the first measure does not reappear elsewhere in the movement. Consequently, one might be tempted to overthink this section; however, it is crucial to avoid an excessively slow tempo solely for this measure. In some professional demonstration performances, individuals play GAGFisGA HCHAHC, including the turn, with notes of equal duration. While this approach provides ample time and facilitates execution, it sacrifices the dotted rhythm, making the passage sound like two sextuplets. Since Haydn's notation clearly indicates a dotted rhythm, this writer personally finds it undesirable to render the passage in a manner that suggests sextuplets. Conversely, strict adherence to the dotted rhythm necessitates that the initial notes of each beat—G in the first beat and H in the second—be sustained for a certain duration. This, in turn, slows the tempo of that specific measure, ultimately affecting the overall tempo of the movement. Having experimented with various approaches, this writer's conclusion is that "maintaining the dotted rhythm accurately, and proceeding at that tempo even if it results in a slight decrease, is preferable to 'distorting the rhythm of the first measure to accelerate the overall tempo.'" What are your thoughts on this matter?

Writer: Ooi, Kazurou