Piano Sonatas No. 19 and 20 (Beethoven)

The Piano Sonata No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49, No. 1, and Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49, No. 2, are short and relatively simple sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven, published in 1805 (although the works were likely composed several years earlier). These sonatas are referred to as the Leichte Sonaten ("Easy Sonatas") and were most likely composed by Beethoven as teaching pieces meant to be passed around to his friends and students. It is said that these pieces were accidentally published by his accountant during a period of financial distress.

The Piano Sonata No. 20 was probably written around the time Beethoven composed the Third and Fourth sonatas, but because it was published in Vienna in 1805, nearly a decade after it was written, it was assigned then-current opus and sonata numbers, placing it amid works from the composer's middle period. Similar circumstances caused Beethoven's B flat Piano Concerto to appear as his Second, even though it predated the First. Owing to his perfectionist tendencies, Beethoven often suppressed works in his early years, either revising them later for publication, or determining after reflection that they in fact did meet his high standards. Still, he withheld many early works from publication for life, apparently never satisfied with them. In the case of this sonata and its immediate predecessor (No. 19), it was Caspar van Beethoven, the composer's brother, who decided they were worthy of publication. Against the composer's will, he presented them to a publishing house, thus allowing posterity to hear works that might otherwise have been lost or destroyed. It is believed that, had Beethoven himself released this sonata for publication, he would have called it a sonatina, owing to its modest proportions.

Each work is approximately eight minutes in length, and each is split into two movements.

onata No. 19, Op. 49 No. 1 in G minor

Movements:

#"Andante"
#"Rondo. Allegro"

The first movement is a standard Sonata-Allegro form. After the first and second theme, it moves into the recapitulation with very little development. After restating the theme in the bass with new counterpoint in the treble, Beethoven closes with a brief coda.

Demonstrating the insignificance of this work, Beethoven skips the slow movement and dance movement and moves directly to the finale, which is simply a brief, light-hearted Rondo in G major.

onata No. 20, Op. 49 No. 2 in G Major

The Piano Sonata No. 20 is cast in two movements, Allegro ma non troppo and Tempo di menuetto. It is a straightforward work, featuring little of the sophistication evident in most of the other piano sonatas. Beethoven obviously gave very little consideration to this sonata; there weren't even any dynamic markings in the autograph or first edition. It is considered the easier of the "Easy Sonatas."

Movements:

#"Allegro, ma non troppo"
#"Tempo di Menuetto"

The first movement features an aristocratic theme, delicate yet stately. It, and a more playful second theme undergo only minimal development before recapitulating at the end, making for a simplified sonata form, with its main theme based heavily on a G Major triad.

The second movement, of the Piano Sonata No. 20 shares a melodic theme with the Minuet of the Op. 20 Septet. Because the Septet was the later piece (1799-1800), Beethoven's suppression of the sonata and reuse of one of its themes suggests that he perhaps planned to scrap the piano work altogether. But the composer was known to recycle melodies, in some instances several times. This movement is cast in the form of a rondo, with the main rondo theme being, essentially, a minuet; the minuet features a charming melody that, along with its accompanying material, is repeated several times, varying somewhat in appearance, but remaining simple and unsophisticated.

External links

* For a public domain recording of these sonatas visit [http://musopen.com Musopen]
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