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Ludwig van Beethoven   opus 81a

Piano Sonata No. 26 "Les Adieux"

Piano Sonata in E flat major. 1810. Time: 17'30.

"Das Lebewohl, Abwesenheit und Wiedersehen"

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First two bars of the piece, indicating the syllables 'Le - be wohl' over the three-note theme







Three movements of this sonata originally written in German and France, and the last two movements are describe in German because of the unusual tempo. The translation in English shown in italic as below:

  1. Das Lebewohl (Les Adieux - The Farewell): Adagio - Allegro
  2. Abwesenheit (L'Absence - The Absence): Andante espressivo (In gehender Bewegung, doch mit viel Ausdruck - In walking motion, but with much expression)
  3. Das Wiedersehen (Le Retour - The Return): Vivacissimamente (Im lebhaftesten Zeitmaße - The liveliest time measurements)

The sonata opens in a 2/4 time Adagio with a short, simple motif of three chords, over which are written the three syllables Le-be-wohl ('Fare-thee-well'). This motif is the basis upon which both the first and the second subject groups are drawn. As soon as the introduction is over and the exposition begins, the time signature changes to split C (alla breve) and the score is marked Allegro. The first movement oscillates between a turbulent first subject which portrays deep disturbance and a second subject which is more lyrical in nature and gives the impression of reflections. The rhythmic figure of two short notes and a longer note which is used repeatedly in the first subject is developed inexorably through the 'development' section with rich harmonies and discords which are harmonically closer to the later period of Beethoven's compositions than the middle for their intellectual penetration. The movement has a surprisingly long coda which occupies about three-tenths of the movement's length. The coda encompasses both the subjects in a display of powerful mastery over composition. Typically the movement played properly with repeats lasts a little over 7 minutes.

The Andante Espressivo is harmonically built on variations of the diminished chord and the appoggiatura. The movement is very emotional and is often played with a lot of rubato. A lot of the subject matter is rhythmically repeated consecutively as well as sectionwise. This seems to be for emphasizing the feelings of uncomfortable solitude with a fear that there will be no return. However there is a return and the second movement leads directly into it with the modulation to B flat major at the end. Typically the movement lasts just under 4 minutes.

The finale, also in sonata form, starts joyfully on the dominant, B flat, in 6/8 time. After the startling introduction, the first subject shows up in the right hand and is immediately transferred to the left hand, which is repeated twice with an elaboration of the arrangement in the right hand. Before the second subject group arrives, there's one remarkable bridge passage, introducing a phrase that goes from G flat major to F major, first through distinctive forte arpeggios, then in a more delicate, fine piano arrangement.


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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Piano_Sonata_No._26_(Beethoven)". Allthough most Wikipedia articles provide accurate information accuracy can not be guaranteed.

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