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The Piano Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI/49, L.59, was written in 1789/90 by Joseph Haydn.

History

This sonata was written in 1789/90 for and dedicated to Haydn's close friend Maria Anna von Genzinger. It was published with the title: "Grande Sonate per il Fortepiano ... Op. 69 ...". The first and the third movement were written in 1789, as clearly written in Haydn's letters. The autograph is dated June 1, 1790, but that only applies to the newly composed Adagio, and perhaps the final revision of the whole.

The autograph indicated the dedicatee as: "per la stimatissima Signora Anna de Jerlischeck", but in the end, Haydn honored Maria Anna von Genzinger with the work. On July 11, Genzinger wrote to Haydn from Vienna that she liked the sonata "very much indeed", but she asked him to simplify for her that B-flat minor middle section in the Adagio where the left hand crosses over to the right. Haydn promised an altered version, but it has never come to light.

Structure

This work has three movements. Each is in 3/4 time, a time signature sequence unique in Haydn's keyboard sonatas.

1. Allegro non troppo (5–6 minutes)
2. Adagio cantabile (B flat major and minor) (7–9 minutes)
3. Finale: Tempo di Menuet (4–5 minutes)

Critical commentary

The work has attracted the admiration of musicians and critics. Fortepianist Malcolm Bilson recorded the sonata along with its more-famous companion Hob. XVI/52 under the title "Two Great E-Flat Sonatas" (Nonesuch, 1983). Warm assessments, with discussion, are found in the work of Wigmore (2009) and Harrison (2002).

See also

• List of solo piano compositions by Joseph Haydn

Notes

1. Haydn: Piano Sonatas Nos. 59–62, liner notes by Jenő Jandó, Naxos Records. Retrieved 14 December 2014
2. Wigmore (2009:54)

References

• Harrison, Bernard (2002) "Keyboard sonata," article in David Wyn Jones, Oxford Composer Companions: Haydn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Wigmore, Richard (2009) The Faber Pocket Guide to Haydn. London: Faber and Faber.

External links

• Piano Sonata Hob. XVI/49: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Piano Sonata in E-flat major on YouTube, Alfred Brendel

• Classical music
• Music

• Piano sonatas by Joseph Haydn
• Compositions in E-flat major
• 1790 compositions