Symphony Atlas

Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57

“Appassionata”180523 min

This guide follows Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata” (1805) in three parts: Allegro assai (sonata form), Andante con moto (theme and variations) and Allegro ma non troppo (sonata form).

Recording: Daniel Barenboim (piano)

Premium

All 39 sections and the full score, free for 3 days

With the tempo · Live or all at once

Try 3 days freeListen to a free work
AnalysisComments
  1. I assai · Sonata form
  2. II · Theme and variations
  3. III · Sonata form
I assaiSonata form0:35–11:02

A stormy form in F minor and 12/8. The quiet, ominous is played in octaves, a falling and rising arpeggio in dotted rhythm, and then repeats a semitone higher. A knocking recurs that has been compared with the Fifth Symphony. The arrives in A-flat major, then a stormy passage in A-flat minor. The ends unresolved on a diminished seventh chord. Then the begins, and the holds a large and a Piu .

  1. : (a)
  2. : (b)
II Theme and variations11:03–18:32
III Sonata form18:33–23:49

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 assaiSonata form · 10 min · 262 bars · dotted quarter note ≈ 108 bpm
  2. II. Andante con motoTheme and variations · 7 min · 102 bars · quarter note ≈ 44 bpm
  3. III. Allegro ma non troppoSonata form · 5 min · 371 bars · quarter note ≈ 139 bpm
Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, I. Allegro assai: first page of the score
Full score

Questions

How long is Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57?
About 23 min in this recording, in 3 movements: I 10 min, II 7 min and III 5 min.
What form are its movements in?
I: sonata form, II: theme and variations and III: sonata form.
How fast is it played?
In this recording, measured from the score: I dotted quarter note ≈ 108 bpm, II quarter note ≈ 44 bpm and III quarter note ≈ 139 bpm.
Is there a score of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57?
Yes, of every movement.

Report a timing error

More by Beethoven

See all →
BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 11795BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2 No. 21795BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 31795BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49 No. 21796BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 71797BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49 No. 11797BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10 No. 11798BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10 No. 21798BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10 No. 31798BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13Free

More in sonata form

See all →
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 listening paths

See all →

Path 20

The piano sonata, from Mozart to Prokofiev

Twelve piano sonatas from Mozart and Haydn to Prokofiev's war sonata of 1942.

Mozart → Haydn → Beethoven → Schubert → Chopin → Liszt → Berg → Bartók → Prokofiev

12 works · 4 h 15 min

In the catalog

Ludwig van BeethovenPiano sonatasClassical periodF minorSonata formTheme and variations

Join Symphony Atlas

Continue with GoogleCreate account

Have one? Sign in