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Home > Beethoven, Ludwig van > Sonate für Klavier Nr.21 "Waldstein" C-Dur

Beethoven, Ludwig van : Sonate für Klavier Nr.21 "Waldstein" C-Dur Op.53

Work Overview

Music ID : 429
Composition Year：1803　
Publication Year：1805
First Publisher：Bureau d'art et d'industrie
Dedicated to：Graf Ferdinand Ernst von Waldstein
Instrumentation：Piano Solo　
Genre：sonata
Total Playing Time：24 min 30 sec
Copyright：Public Domain
sonata

Commentary (2)

Author : Okada, Akihiro

Last Updated: February 1, 2009
[Open]
Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

In 1803, Beethoven, having received a new piano from Érard in Paris, found himself grappling with this instrument.

For him, accustomed to pianos with Viennese action, the novel English-action piano must have been a difficult instrument to handle. During this period, which was full of masterpieces, the creation of piano sonatas stagnated—though this is often overlooked due to the existence of two masterpieces. In recent years, some voices have questioned whether one of these masterpieces, the “Waldstein” Sonata, was truly composed solely on an Érard piano.

The “Waldstein Sonata” originally had an Andante movement as its second movement, requiring approximately eight minutes to perform. However, Beethoven replaced this with a shorter “Introduzione.” While it is said that the reason for this was to address dissatisfaction with the excessive length of the performance, it is difficult to believe that the composer would modify a piece based on others' advice. The unusual title “Introduzione” for a piano sonata movement, combined with Beethoven's engagement in opera composition at the time, suggests a connection to dramatic music. Indeed, the unclouded C major that dominates the entire work is reminiscent of the finale of the opera “Fidelio (Leonore).” The original second movement is now published as an independent work titled “Andante favori,” WoO 57.

Writer: Okada, Akihiro

Author : Tetsu, Yurina

Last Updated: October 6, 2019
[Open]
Translation in Progress
Writer: Tetsu, Yurina

Movements (3)

1.Satz Allegro con brio

Total Performance Time: 10 min 00 sec 

Videos 11

Explanation 1

Sheet Music 2

Arrangement 0

2.Satz Introduzione-Adagio molto

Total Performance Time: 5 min 30 sec 

Videos 8

Explanation 1

Sheet Music 1

Arrangement 0

3.Satz Rondo-Allegretto moderato

Total Performance Time: 9 min 00 sec 

Videos 6

Explanation 1

Sheet Music 1

Arrangement 0

Reference Videos & Audition Selections(7items)

萬谷　衣里
林川崇さんのお勧め, ホフマン・ヨゼフ
萬谷　衣里
林川崇さんのお勧め, ホフマン・ヨゼフ
萬谷　衣里
林川崇さんのお勧め, ホフマン・ヨゼフ
田所　周琉（入選）
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