Topic 1 Instrumental Music
1700 - 1820

Beethoven's sonatas

what is a sonata?

Refers to a piece played by an instrument (rather than
voices)

Usually played by one instrument (or a melody
instrument with piano accompaniment)

Derived from the Italian “sonare” = to sound

In a Classical sonata there are between 2 and 4
movements.

The standard Classical form is:

2nd movement: Slow

3rd movement: Minuet and Trio or Scherzo

1st movement: Allegro (fast) in sonata form

4th movement: Allegro

Most piano sonatas have three movements

Instrumentation

Context

Harmony

Structure

Tonality

Texture

Tempo/rhythm

Melody

Earliest type of piano, invented by Bartholomew
Cristofori around 1700

The Fortepiano

It was gradually developed and extended, at first
only 4 octaves but by Beethoven’s time up to 6
octaves

This was the instrument used by composers in the
Classical era – Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.

The instrument could vary the volume of each
note depending on the player’s touch – hence
“forte piano”, later changed to pianoforte and
today shortened to piano

The Fortepiano and the modern piano

Bass notes had buzzing resonance,
and the high notes had a light treble
sound

The Fortepiano

Thin strings (light sound)

Hammers covered in leather

Delicate structure in light weight
frame

The Modern Piano

Very responsive keys, requiring a
lighter touch

Keyboard range of up to 6 octaves
(72 notes)

No sustain pedal on early models

More solid, housed in a metal frame

Hammers covered in felt

Thicker strings (more robust sound)

Less responsive keys, needing a
heavier touch

Keyboard range of up to 7 ½ octaves
(88 notes)

Sustaining pedal invented in 1783 by
Scottish manufacturer Broadwood

The tone quality across the register is
more consistent

Beethoven's life.

Beethoven moved to Vienna and made a living writing
music and performing concerts for rich patrons.

In his early career Beethoven wrote in a Classical style
but later incorporated new ideas of Romanticism

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn,
Germany

In later life Beethoven lost his hearing and died in
1827

Beethoven Piano Sonatas

Beethoven spanned the Classical and Romantic
eras and inspired composers who came after him.

He would have been familiar with the piano
sonatas of Haydn and Mozart but Beethoven’s are
on a much larger scale and full of the intensity and
passion of the Romantic style. He expanded
harmonic language and extended structures

Beethoven wrote Piano sonatas throughout his
life, composing 32 in total, some of which are
among the most famous of the piano repertoire