Piano Sonata No. 8 (Beethoven)

Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, op. 13 was titled "Pathétique" by the publisher. His justification was that nothing so powerful and so full of tragic passion had hitherto been dreamt of in pianoforte music, and Beethoven did not object. It was published in 1799,

The music

The sonata is in three movements:

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• Grave; allegro molto e con brio
• Adagio cantabile
• Rondo: allegro

The first movement is in standard first movement sonata form. It includes a long grave introduction. The introduction is emotional and intense, and the use of heavy-textured chords in dotted rhythm with sudden dynamic changes create a fiery atmosphere. It delays the primary theme until the exposition at the start of the allegro section. This main section is in 2/2 time in the key of C minor, modulating like most minor-key sonatas of this period to the relative major, E-flat major. A striking event in the movement is the return of the slow introduction. This may have been inspired by Joseph Haydn's "Drumroll" symphony, completed three years earlier in 1795. Beethoven extends Haydn's compositional practice by returning to the introductory material not once but twice, at the beginning of the development section as well as in the coda.

Related Topics:
Sonata form - C minor - Modulating - Relative major - E-flat major - Joseph Haydn - "Drumroll" symphony - 1795 - Coda

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The adagio movement opens with the famous and beautiful cantabile ("in a singing style") melody. The main theme is played three times, interspersed with two modulating episodes, the first going from C minor to E-flat major, the second from A-flat minor to E-flat major. With the final return of the main theme, the accompaniment becomes richer, taking on the triplet rhythm of the second episode. The brief coda is striking for its stylistic diversity: four bars of Romantic transcendence, followed by a strikingly conventional 18th century close. This movement is overall considered extremely romantic for the classical era, and the melody is considered by some scholars to be the most serene and beautiful melody Beethoven ever composed.

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The sonata closes with a 2/2 sonata rondo movement in C minor, which departs to E-flat and A-flat major. The main theme strongly resembles the second theme of the first movement, being identical to it in its pitch pattern for the first four notes and in its rhythmic pattern for the first eight. It follows the standard rondo form (ABACABA). The common use of sforzandos create a forceful effect, although overall the piece is relatively lighthearted compared to the heavy first movement. Beethoven's notes show that he originally planned the movement as a rondo for piano accompanied by another instrument, perhaps a violin.

Related Topics:
A-flat major - Sforzandos

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It is possible that the "Pathétique" sonata was inspired by an earlier work of Mozart, his piano sonata K. 457 (1784). Mozart's work is likewise in C minor, has three movements in roughly the same character as Beethoven's, and in the first movement includes menacing rolling octaves for the left hand.

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The "Pathétique" Sonata takes approximately 19 minutes to perform. It is widely represented on the concert programs and recordings of professional pianists, and is most often played along with the "Appassionata" sonata, the "Waldstein" sonata and the "Moonlight" sonata. It is also a favorite among amateur players.

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