DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (October 28, 2020)
We addressed the subject of the Tragic before, in the “Coriolan Overture” (May 29, 2020 post); the reference to the Tomb Scene in “Romeo and Juliet” in String Quartet Op. 18 No. 1, 2nd movement; and in the 2nd movement of Piano Concerto No. 4’s reference to Orpheus and Euridice (June 21 and 23, 2020 posts). Now we add the slow (2nd) movement of Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major’s second movement.
Beethoven was careful to differentiate between poetic inspiration and picture painting, which he felt was inadequate. While we have no specific literary reference for this movement of piano sonata 7, we sense one.
Next listen to movement 3. How does this follow? How does one explain such an emotional shifting of gears?
Then listen to the fourth movement:
and finally the entire 4-movement sonata:
There is much more to a sonata than one might expect!
The different movements of a sonata address the different psychological states of mind in life, and it tries to integrate them as a process of change. The final movement often poses a triumphant solution, as a transformation of what has come before. Beethoven takes this transformational process further than anyone.