Beethoven Appassionata Essay

“Appassionata” is a piano sonata central to the heroic period. Beethoven first started writing this piece in 1804, but did not complete it until September of 1806 (Broede). “Appassionata” is Beethoven’s 23rd sonata. There are three movements, which include allegro assai, andante con moto, and allegro ma non troppo. As quoted by Glenn Gould, “The ‘Appassionata’, in common with most of the works Beethoven wrote in the first decade of the 19th century, is a study in thematic tenacity. His conceit at this period was to create mammoth structures from material that, in lesser hands, would scarcely have afforded a good 16-bar introduction” (Broede). “Appassionata” Sonata is one of Beethoven’s highest and greatest achievements, as only the best of highly talented pianists dare to come near playing this piece. Beethoven’s “Appassionata” Sonata, as well as Beethoven’s music in general, is important and worthy of the highest praise as he commits to structure, surface tension and drama using a variety of musical elements such as rhythm, texture, timber and register.

Before we dive too deep into this piece, let us briefly speak about what the sonata form is. In a way, it can be seen as a blueprint for many musical pieces. Besides, understanding what a sonata form is will allow us to understand Beethoven’s and other classical composer’s music. The sonata form is divided into three sections: the exposition, the development, and recapitulation stage. The exposition is a “presentation of the musical materials for the movement” (Holoman, 65). It is known as the tonic key, and usually begins with the first theme. Before the second theme though, there is a transition or a bridge, where the theme is restated in dominance or “five steps above the tonic...

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...hoven’s heroic talents and skills of mending together structural surface tension to create dramatic effects and music to the ear. The harmonies, texture, and rhythm all reinforced and complimented what underlined the music’s surface. Beethoven’s music is so pivotal, and it seems as if he created music that only he could understand, despite being deaf. Along with many other reasons, this is why Beethoven deserves to be placed at the summit of Western classical music. It is because of Beethoven and other less familiar classical composers that we are able have such sounding melodies stream through our ears unconsciously. Many of us lack the understanding and underestimate the value and power music has in our everyday lives, but if we look past the superficial standpoint of music, we will truly be able to appreciate precedent music and its contribution to modern music.