Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31 No. 1-II. Adagio grazioso

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31 No. 1-II. Adagio grazioso, C Major, 9/8 time, Ternary form

This work was composed in 1802 while Beethoven was recuperating in Heiligenstadt, a period during which the worsening of his hearing caused him profound despair and anguish. The emotional turmoil of that time is partially reflected in the music. In the same year, he wrote the famous Heiligenstadt Testament, expressing his inner struggles, and this sonata reveals the creativity, formal experimentation, and expanding expressive range that emerged even amid those tragic circumstances.The three Op. 31 sonatas are regarded as a significant turning point in Beethoven’s transition into his middle style, and among them, the Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major is considered an early middle-period masterpiece. Through its humor, dramatic contrasts, and innovative approaches to thematic development, it offers a fresh reinterpretation of Classical-era conventions.

II. Adagio grazioso, C Major, 9/8 time, Ternary form
The second movement features a song-like melody with a sweet and gentle character.

Section A
00:01 -a
01:19 -b
02:26 –a’

Section B
03:08 -Part 1
03:37 -Part 2
04:27 –Part 3

Section A'
05:25 -a
06:39 -b
07:43 -a'
08:22 –Codetta

09:13 Coda

■ Listening with the Score    • Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major,...  
■ Enjoying the Whole Movement    • Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major,...