Piano Sonata No. 4 (Beethoven)

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II. Largo con gran espressione (9:34)
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III. Allegro (4:55)
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IV. Rondo (Poco allegretto e grazioso) (6:11)
Performed by Artur Schnabel in 1932
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Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 4, in E♭ major, Op. 7, sometimes nicknamed the Grand Sonata, was written in November 1796 and dedicated to his student Babette, the Countess Keglević.[1][2] The sonata was composed during Beethoven's visit to the Keglevich Palace.[3] Beethoven named it Great Sonata, because it was published alone, which was unusual for the time.[citation needed]

Along with the Hammerklavier Sonata, it is one of the longest piano sonatas that Beethoven composed.[4][1] A typical performance lasts about 28 minutes.

Structure

The sonata is laid out in four movements:

  1. Allegro molto e con brio, 6
    8     (E-flat major)
  2. Largo, con gran espressione, 3
    4     (C major)
  3. Allegro, 3
    4     (E-flat major - Trio in E-flat minor)
  4. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso, 2
    4     (E-flat major)

I. Allegro molto e con brio

The first movement is in sonata form.[5]

II. Largo con gran espressione

The second movement is in ternary form.[5]

III. Allegro

The third movement is in scherzo and trio form.[5]

IV. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso

The fourth movement is in rondo form.[5] This movement of the sonata in particular was featured in the documentary Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037

References

  1. ^ a b McCallum 2007, p. 8
  2. ^ Hewitt 2006, p. 7
  3. ^ Huizing, Jan Marisse (2021). Ludwig Van Beethoven : The Piano Sonatas; History, Notation, Interpretation. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 6. ISBN 9780300262742.
  4. ^ Hewitt 2006, p. 6
  5. ^ a b c d "Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.4 in E♭ major Analysis".
Sources
  • Hewitt, Angela (2006). Liner Notes to Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Opp 10/3, 7 & 57 (PDF) (CD). Hyperion Records. CDA67518.
  • McCallum, Peter (2007). "Program notes - Gerhard Oppitz performs Beethoven" (PDF). Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  • Piano Sonata No. 4: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
  • "The Guardian UK Culture Podcast Culture Andras Schiff lecture recital: Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op 7". TheGuardian.com. 1 Nov 2006. Retrieved 20 Aug 2023.
    • A direct link to its audio file: A lecture recital by András Schiff on Beethoven's piano sonata, Op. 7
  • For a public domain recording of this sonata visit Musopen
  • "Op. 7 - The Beethoven Sonatas". World of Beethoven.com. 5 September 2009. - Discussion and analysis
  • "Piano Sonata No.4, Op. 7: Creation History & Music Criticism". Raptus Association. Archived from the original on 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  • European Archive Copyright-free LP recording of the Sonata no.4 op.7 in E♭ major by Hugo Steurer, piano at the European Archive (for non-American viewers only).


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Piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven
Early sonatas
  • No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2/1
  • No. 2 in A major, Op. 2/2
  • No. 3 in C major, Op. 2/3
  • No. 4 in E♭ major, Op. 7 (Grand Sonata)
  • No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10/1
  • No. 6 in F major, Op. 10/2
  • No. 7 in D major, Op. 10/3
  • No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (Pathétique)
  • No. 9 in E major, Op. 14/1
  • No. 10 in G major, Op. 14/2
  • No. 11 in B♭ major, Op. 22
  • No. 12 in A♭ major, Op. 26
  • No. 13 in E♭ major, Op. 27/1
  • No. 14 in C♯ minor, Op. 27/2 (Moonlight)
  • No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 (Pastoral)
Middle sonatas
  • No. 16 in G major, Op. 31/1
  • No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31/2 (The Tempest)
  • No. 18 in E♭ major, Op. 31/3 (The Hunt)
  • No. 19 in G minor and No. 20 in G major, Op. 49
  • No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 (Waldstein)
  • No. 22 in F major, Op. 54
  • No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 (Appassionata)
  • No. 24 in F♯ major, Op. 78 (À Thérèse)
  • No. 25 in G major, Op. 79
  • No. 26 in E♭ major, Op. 81a (Les adieux)
  • No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90
Late sonatas
  • No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
  • No. 29 in B♭ major, Op. 106 (Hammerklavier)
  • No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
  • No. 31 in A♭ major, Op. 110
  • No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
Duo
  • Sonata in D major for piano four-hands, Op. 6
Unnumbered (WoO)
  • Three Piano Sonatas, WoO 47
  • Piano Sonata in C major, WoO 51 (fragmentary)
Doubtful (Anh.)
  • Sonatina in G major, Anh. 5/1
  • Sonatina in F major, Anh. 5/2
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