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Haydn, Franz Joseph : Sonate für Klavier Nr.59 Mov.1 Allegro

Work Overview

Music ID : 32249
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:sonata
Total Playing Time:10 min 30 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (2)

Author : Ooi, Kazurou

Last Updated: May 30, 2025
[Open]
Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

The first movement of this famous sonata can be interpreted in many ways, but personally, I consider this sonata to be optimistic. The most fitting interpretation is to view this first movement as a scene from an opera. Imagine a tenor proudly singing, with the lyrics expressing anticipation or expectation for something. It is also possible to imagine that the high-pitched sections are sung not by the tenor, but by another singer who enters.

At measure 42, a dialogue begins between the tenor and soprano singers. At measure 53, the soprano's laughter begins with EsEsEsEs, and another person responds with AsAsAsAs, leading to a sense of reconciliation by measure 58.

In the development section, from measure 65, imagine a string quartet, and the string instruments begin to play. At measure 84, it enters C minor, but this is by no means serious; it quickly shifts to a major key, and the sense of anticipation rises again.

At measure 108, the mutual laughter resumes. Even when a seemingly serious diminished seventh chord appears, it quickly changes to a major triad, returning to an optimistic atmosphere.

Fundamentally, consider this entire first movement to be an optimistic world, and play it lightly and joyfully. Timing is crucial. Even in sections with long rests, count precisely and avoid taking extra time.

Writer: Ooi, Kazurou

Author : Saitoh, Noriko

Last Updated: February 9, 2020
[Open]
Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

The first movement, in E-flat major, is an Allegro in 3/4 time. This sonata movement is relatively large in scale among Haydn's piano sonatas, and before the recapitulation (m. 132–), a one-measure phrase with the character of a cadenza is inserted. The opening theme resembles a dialogue between the left and right hands. Furthermore, the transitional passage (m. 13–) preceding the second theme (m. 28–) is so well-established that it can be counted as one of the themes, and indeed, this element is first developed in the development section (m. 65–). Additionally, subsequently, elements of the first theme are also observed (m. 25–). The movement concludes with an ascending scale in the right hand, its upper voice ending on the third scale degree.

Writer: Saitoh, Noriko

Reference Videos & Audition Selections(1items)

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