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Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31 No. 3

180222 min

This guide follows Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31 No. 3 (1802) in four parts: Allegro (sonata form), Scherzo: Allegretto vivace (sonata form), Menuetto: Moderato e grazioso (minuet and trio) and Presto con fuoco (sonata form).

Recording: Daniel Barenboim (piano)

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AnalysisComments
  1. I · Sonata form
  2. II: · Sonata form
  3. III: e · Minuet and trio
  4. IV con · Sonata form
ISonata form0:10–8:33

The opening chord is a question, a harmony that leaves the home unsettled, and the first is highly . The follows, and then the , over an Alberti bass (a broken-chord accompaniment). The questioning chord opens the and the , and in the it is first heard transposed to A-flat before it at its original pitch.

  1. :
  2. :
II: Sonata form8:37–13:26
III: e Minuet and trio13:29–17:47
IV con Sonata form17:49–22:17

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

At a glance

  1. I. AllegroSonata form · 8 min · 253 bars · quarter note ≈ 135 bpm
  2. II. Scherzo: Allegretto vivaceSonata form · 5 min · 173 bars · quarter note ≈ 106 bpm
  3. III. Menuetto: Moderato e graziosoMinuet and trio · 4 min · 69 bars · quarter note ≈ 83 bpm
  4. IV. Presto con fuocoSonata form · 4 min · 335 bars · dotted quarter note ≈ 195 bpm
Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31 No. 3, I. Allegro: first page of the score
Full score

Questions

How long is Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31 No. 3?
About 22 min in this recording, in 4 movements: I 8 min, II 5 min, III 4 min and IV 4 min.
What form are its movements in?
I: sonata form, II: sonata form, III: minuet and trio and IV: sonata form.
How fast is it played?
In this recording, measured from the score: I quarter note ≈ 135 bpm, II quarter note ≈ 106 bpm, III quarter note ≈ 83 bpm and IV dotted quarter note ≈ 195 bpm.
Is there a score of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31 No. 3?
Yes, of every movement.

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BachTrio Sonata No. 1 in E-flat major, BWV 5251730HaydnSymphony No. 1 in D major, Hob. I:11759HaydnHorn Concerto in D major, Hob. VIId:31762HaydnPiano Sonata in A-flat major, Hob. XVI:461770HaydnPiano Sonata in C minor, Hob. XVI:201771HaydnString Quartet in A major, Op. 20 No. 61772HaydnString Quartet in C major, Op. 20 No. 21772HaydnString Quartet in D major, Op. 20 No. 41772HaydnString Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 20 No. 11772HaydnString Quartet in F minor, Op. 20 No. 51772

In the catalog

Ludwig van BeethovenPiano sonatasClassical periodE-flat majorSonata formMinuet and trio

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