Beethoven: Sonata No.19 in G minor, Op.49 No.1 | Boris Giltburg | Beethoven 32 project

Part of the original idea for the project was to explore the sonata cycle in chronological order. I wanted to follow Beethoven on his path and treat every sonata as I believe Beethoven would have treated it: as the pinnacle of what he was able to achieve at that point in his creative life. But I must admit a mistake of ignorance; when I was planning the cycle, I did not know that the two sonatas Op. 49 were not, in fact, written at the time their numbers (19 and 20) would suggest – that is, between Sonata No. 18 (1802) and Sonata No. 21 (1804). Instead, they are much earlier works. Based on sketches in one of Beethoven’s notebooks, Sonata No. 20, Op. 49, No. 2 was probably composed immediately before Sonata No. 4, Op. 7, while Sonata No. 19, Op 49, No. 1 is likely to date from 1797 or early 1798, around the time of composition of the Sonatas, Op. 10, and before the Pathétique.

The manuscripts then lay unpublished for years until in 1802, Beethoven’s brother Kaspar Karl, serving as part-time secretary to Beethoven, included them in an offer to a publisher. They are mentioned almost as an afterthought: ‘two little easy sonatas of two movements each’, following a list of more major works available for publication: a symphony (No. 2), a ‘grand piano concerto’ (No. 3) and two ‘adagios for violin with complete instrumental accompaniment’ (the violin Romances Nos. 1 and 2). Considering the very long delay since their composition, it is probable that Beethoven never intended these ‘two little easy sonatas’ to be published at all. To quote Ferdinand Ries, Beethoven’s friend and pupil, ‘all trivial pieces and many things which he never wanted to publish, because he did not regard them as worthy of his name, secretly came into the world through his brothers… even small compositions which he had written down in notebooks were thus stolen and engraved.’

Whatever the case, both sonatas are certainly *not* unworthy of Beethoven’s name, the first in G minor perhaps being the stronger work of the pair. The narrative of its first movement is sincere and heartfelt, filled with an artless, touching beauty. The puckish second movement (in G major!) is a delightful companion, wonderfully catchy and very fun to play. It reminds me quite a bit of the finale of the G major Sonata, Op. 14, No. 2 – the same irreverent ease, the same drive and mischievous humour, and the same unexpectedly calm ending over a bass drone.

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Beethoven 32 – Over the course of 2020, I have learned and filmed all 32 Beethoven sonatas. Subscribe to this channel to follow the project, and visit https://beethoven32.com for blog posts and listening guides to each sonata.

Boris Giltburg, piano

Filmed by Stewart French © 2020 Fly On The Wall, London (http://fotw.london)
@Fazioli Pianoforti

Видео Beethoven: Sonata No.19 in G minor, Op.49 No.1 | Boris Giltburg | Beethoven 32 project канала Boris Giltburg