Book Description

Middle sonatasAfter he wrote his first 15 sonatas, he wrote to Wenzel Krumpholz, "From now on, I'm going to take a new path." Beethoven's sonatas from this period are very different from his earlier ones. His experimentation in modifications to the common sonata form of Haydn and Mozart became more daring, as did the depth of expression. Most Romantic period sonatas were highly influenced by those of Beethoven. After 1804, Beethoven ceased publishing sonatas in sets and only composed them as a single opus. It is unclear why he did so.Opus 31: Three Piano Sonatas (1802)Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor ("Tempest")Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major ("The Hunt")Opus 53: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major ("Waldstein") (1803) WoO 57: Andante favori -- Original middle movement of the "Waldstein" sonata (1804)Opus 54: Piano Sonata No. 22 in F major (1804)Opus 57: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ("Appassionata") (1805)Opus 78: Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp major ("A Thérèse") (1809)Opus 79:Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major ("Cuckoo") (1809)Opus 81a: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major ("Les adieux/Das Lebewohl") (1810)Opus 90: Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor (1814)Late sonatas Beethoven's late sonatas were some of his most difficult works and some of today's most difficult repertoire. Yet again, his music found a new path, often incorporating fugal technique and displaying radical departure from conventional sonata form. The "Hammerklavier" was deemed to be Beethoven's most difficult sonata yet. In fact, it was considered unplayable until almost 15 years later, when Liszt played it in a concert .Opus 101: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major (1816) Opus 106: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major ("Hammerklavier") (1818) Opus 109: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major (1820) Opus 110: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major (1821)Opus 111: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor (1822)