Music, Playlists, Podcasts and readings April 28, 2020

Charles Rosen Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas A Short Companion – musical examples

These tracks feature pianist and author Charles Rosen performing extracts from several Beethoven piano sonatas, illustrating points made in his book Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companion (ISBN 9780300255119).
Recorded for the book by Giulio Cesare Ricci at the Villa Caetani, Ninfa, Italy, 2001. © Charles Rosen.

Opening of the finale of the Pathétique sonata op. 13

End of the finale of the Pathétique sonata op. 13

Opening of the Scherzo of the Sonata in A flat major op. 26

Opening theme of Mozart's Sonata in B flat major K. 570

A later appearance of the same theme with altered phrasing

Bars 9-10 of the Adagio variation from Mozart's Sonata in A major K. 331

Finale of Mozart's concerto for piano in G Major K. 453 - Theme in the orchestra, Variation I, Variation II

Variation III

Opening of the slow movement, Allegretto, from Beethoven's Symphony no. 7, arranged by Liszt

Opening of the Allegretto finale of Mozart's Sonata for violin and piano in B flat major K. 454 (absent-mindedly announced as 451)

Ending of this finale

Theme of the finale of Mozart's Sonata for piano and violin in E flat major K. 481

Variation V of this finale

Opening of the finale of Mozart's Sonata for piano and violin in D major K. 306

Bars 1-12 of Mozart's Rondo in F major K. 496

Opening of the finale of Mozart's Sonata for piano in B flat major K. 333

A late passage from the same finale

Orchestral theme and variations I-II of the finale of Mozart's Concerto in C minor K. 491

Orchestral opening of the rondo finale of Mozart's Concerto in C major K. 503

Bars 153-170 of this finale

Bars 344-374 of this finale

Opening of the finale of Mozart's Sonata in D major K. 576

Bars 24-36 of the Adagio of K. 576

Allegretto movement of Hayden's 'Military' Symphony no. 100 in G major

Opening of the rondo finale of Beethoven's Sonata for piano in B flat major op. 22

Opening of the rondo finale of Beethoven's Sonata for piano in G major op. 31 no. 1

Opening of the rondo finale of Schubert's posthumous Sonata in A major

Bars 9-16 of the Allegretto con variazioni from Beethoven's Sonata for violin and piano in A major op. 12 no. 2

Opening of the first movement Allegretto of Beethoven's String Quartet in F major op. 135

Bars 41-52 of the scherzo from Beethoven's Sonata for piano in E flat major op. 31 no. 3

Opening of the finale of Beethoven's Sonata for Piano in E minor op. 90

Opening Maestoso and Allegro con brio from Beethoven's Sonata in C minor op. 111

End of the development of Beethoven's Sonata in G major op. 31 no. 1

Beethoven's Sonata in F major op. 54: Tempo di Minuetto

Beethoven's Sonata in F major op. 54: Allegretto

Beethoven's Sonata in F major op. 54: Più Allegro

End of the Sonata in E minor op. 90

These recordings were originally available from Yale University Press as a free CD accompanying the hardback edition of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companion (ISBN 9780300090703). Now available in paperback:

Beethoven’s piano sonatas form one of the most important collections of works in the whole history of music. For today’s audience, Charles Rosen has written a guide that brings out the gravity, passion and humour of these works and will enrich the appreciation of a wide range of readers, whether listeners, amateur musicians or professional pianists.

Charles Rosen (1927–2012) was an internationally respected pianist. A pupil of Moriz Rosenthal, he has performed and recorded a wide repertoire from Bach to Pierre Boulez. His prize-winning books include The Classical Style, The Romantic Generation, Romantic Poets, Critics and Other Madmen, and Critical Entertainments.

Discover the book

Charles Rosen

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