Monday, June 12, 2023

DCXLIX. HAYDN, Franz Joseph: Sonata #49 in E-Flat Major for Piano



DCXLIX. HAYDN, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)

Sonata #49 in E-Flat Major for Piano (1789-90)
1. Allegro non troppo
2. Adagio cantabile
3. Finale: Tempo di Menuet
Alfred Brendel, piano
(21:36)


A really gorgeous sonata, dedicated to Maria Anna von Genzinger.

First movement

First theme; second theme; first theme on the dominant:



































Development section:

Somehow, one has to imagine the 20-year-old Beethoven soaking up this four-note motif! A dazzling run brings us to the recapitulation ...



































Second movement

Moving to the dominant (B-Flat Major) for this lovely, carefully spun cantabile!

 

This is kinda funny. The dedicatee -- Madame Genzinger -- wrote this to Haydn, concerning this cross-hand B-Flat Minor section:

"I like the Sonata very much, but there is one thing which I wish could be changed (if by so doing it does not detract from the beauty of the piece), and that is the passage in the second part of the Adagio, where the hands cross over; I am not used to this and thus found it hard to do, and so please let me know how this could be altered."

Haydn -- of course -- never changed a note. Amateurs!



































Third movement

A simple minuet, but quite lyrical with beautiful, subtle decoration:



































A move to the dark parallel minor (E-Flat Minor) is a welcome change:


No comments:

Post a Comment

INDEX to 1000 POSTS CLASSICAL BLOG A-M

N-Z ABRAHAMSEN, Hans / 10 Pieces for Orchestra / DCCCXCV ADAMS, John / Century Rolls / XXXVII ADAMS, John / Harmonielehre / CXXI ADAMS, John...