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Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53

“Waldstein”180427 min

This guide follows Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 “Waldstein” (1804) in three parts: Allegro con brio (sonata form), Introduzione: Adagio molto (ternary form) and Rondo: Allegretto moderato (rondo).

Recording: Daniel Barenboim (piano)

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AnalysisComments
  1. I · Sonata form
  2. II: molto · Ternary form
  3. III: · Rondo
I Sonata form0:15–11:30

Quiet repeated chords in a nervous rhythm open the , with no melody for the first two . The rises and is then repeated a whole tone lower. The , a calm chordal marked e molto (sweetly and very smoothly), comes in E major, a third above the home rather than the expected G major. The starts in F major and moves through many keys. At the the in A major. The long recalls both themes.

  1. :
  2. : (a)
II: moltoTernary form11:32–15:37
III: Rondo15:52–26:55

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. Allegro con brioSonata form · 11 min · 304 bars · quarter note ≈ 151 bpm
  2. II. Introduzione: Adagio moltoTernary form · 4 min · 28 bars
  3. III. Rondo: Allegretto moderatoRondo · 11 min · 543 bars · quarter note ≈ 94 bpm
Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, I. Allegro con brio: first page of the score
Full score

Questions

How long is Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53?
About 27 min in this recording, in 3 movements: I 11 min, II 4 min and III 11 min.
What form are its movements in?
I: sonata form, II: ternary form and III: rondo.
How fast is it played?
In this recording, measured from the score: I quarter note ≈ 151 bpm and III quarter note ≈ 94 bpm.
Is there a score of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53?
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 periodC majorSonata formTernary formRondo

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