Second Movement

E major, 2/4 time

In contrast to the C major of the main movement, the Adagio second movement being written in E major anticipates Beethoven's later style of constructing tonality through mediant relationships. It is a five-part form where two sections alternate. The form can be diagrammed as [A-B-A-B-A].

• First Part (A): The theme consists of a motive characterized by dotted rhythms and a motive based on a harmonic writing.
• Second Part (B): In E minor, musical ideas unfold in the upper and lower voices against a background of arpeggiated chords.
• Third Part (A): The opening theme returns.
• Fourth Part (B): A shortened version of the musical ideas from the second part appears.
• Fifth Part (A): The opening theme returns again, converging while undergoing slight development.