Beethoven - Sonata No 10 in G Major op 14 No 2 (excerpt)

Описание: A memorable sonata from Beethoven's early period, composed between 1798 and 1799. He would have been about 28 years old. Sandwiched in the timeline between the Pathétique of the year before, and the Pastoral and Moonlight composed the year after. So quite a productive period!

Perhaps if this one had a nickname it would be more well-known too? If it has to have one I would vote for ‘The Brook’ - the continuous semiquavers resembling water cascading down the course of a stream. Later in the piece there is a section that resembles a section of tumultuous rapids. Maybe music is just music, but does giving a piece a subject make it more accessible and popular? Or is it just that only the particularly special pieces are deemed worthy of a title? And does it add anything to a piece if you give it a subject or programme?

It is interesting to note that these classic sonatas all pre-date Beethoven’s first major orchestral work, his Symphony No 1. I guess his experiments with sonata form were key to developing his symphonic style.

This particular sonata (and its companion piece) was dedicated to one of his patrons, Baroness Josefa von Braun. Her husband Baron von Braun was the court theatre director in Vienna and provided Beethoven with a venue and date for the premier of his first symphony, thus enabling his instrumental ambitions.