Second Movement

Among Beethoven's early works, it possesses outstanding musicality for depicting the darkest abysses of the human psyche. Here too, motive a and motive b both appear, but whereas the first movement primarily developed motive a, in this second movement, motive b creates an extremely strong impression from the outset. The interval of a fourth latent in the three notes of motive b is greatly transformed here (perfect fourth → diminished fourth), and this interval, which resists ascent, suggests a strong psychological sense of confinement.

Numerous dissonances, especially diminished seventh chords, are repeatedly played fortissimo (ff), creating the effect of a heart's scream expanding in panic. The long coda ascends spirally with hesitation, pleading for help from heaven, but without reaching revelation, it sinks back into the abyss with the deep despair conveyed by numerous diminished intervals (diminished fourth, diminished seventh, diminished third).