The Sonata was composed in 1798 and published in Vienna in 1799 with the title Grande Sonata Pathetique. It was dedicated to Prince Carl von Lichnowsky, friend and sponsor of Beethoven. This is the eighth of the eleven sonatas which belong to the first period and were composed between 1795 and 1800. The Sonata includes three movements: i) Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio in C minor ii) Adagio Cantabile in A Flat iii) Rondo Allegro in C minor The exposition opens with a slow introduction marked as Grave in C minor key for the bars 1-10. The use of dotted rhythms which was influenced by the Opera Overtures is an innovative characteristic of the sonata as it was only used in symphonic and chamber works until then. This together with the sudden dynamic changes of fp and the rhythmic contrasts which create tension, give the impression of Pathos. This leads to a reasonable hypothesis that the title Pathetique has possibly derived from the word pathos. The Grave is followed by the contrasting Allegro di molto e con brio which is abruptly introduced by the notation Attaca subito il Allegro, and together with the imitation of tympani with rhythmic octaves accompaniment motif in the base, they are used to strengthen the tension. Generally the first movement is characterised by tension as rhythmic contrasts alter several times from Grave to Allegro di molto e con brio, and big dynamic changes range between pp and ff. The Adagio Cantabile presents a A B A C A structure with a short coda. This movement is divided in a three tiered texture of lines, the first characterized by long singing phrases, the second (inner) shown as a gentle accompaniment, and the third imitating the upper voice as a base melodic line. The dominating dynamic level is p, but dynamics range from pp to f. In bar 17 begins the first episode and in bar 37 the second in A flat minor which contains powerful dynamics for just two bars (42 and 43). After this, the theme returns and the accompaniment in the middle continues gently with triplets. The final movement is a sonata-rondo form, structured A B A C A B A coda. The first theme opens with a rising figure of five notes, a pattern similar to the opening notes of the second theme of the first movement. The Rondo Allegro does not resemble the serious approach of the first two movements and it contains dolce passages, although the brief coda of the finale manages to recapture the drama of the first movement. Sonata op.13 Pathetique in C minor. L.V Beethoven (1770-1827). Performance (piano) and programme notes by Panagiotis Markos. Panagiotis Markos preparing the Pathetique sonata for his public recital. This video was recorded in Deptford Town Hall (London) by a mobile camera , MP4.
