Three Easy Sonatinas, No.1, - Ludwig van Beethoven

"Sonatina rusticana" (piano) | classical-style sonatina in three movements

I. Rondo: Allegro giocoso 0:07 II. Andante cantabile 2:56 III. Vivace 5:10 © 2011 BachScholar Publishing, LLC All Rights Reserved Playlist of Hall's Original Compositions and Arrangements: youtube.com "Sonatina rusticana" (Rustic Sonatina) does not have a story, but rather each movement has a title that suggests a story. In this respect it is similar to Beethoven's op. 81a Sonata whose three movements have the descriptive titles: "The Farewell", "The Absence", "The Return". The first movement, Peasants' Gathering, suggests the happy optimism of friends and family gathering together. It is in a symmetrical rondo form ABACACABA, each of the three themes presenting contrasting ideas. The second movement, Peasants' Song, suggests a simple and expressive song. The third movement, Peasants' Dance, presents a lively country dance in 6/8 which begins in simple two-part form with inversions (stated piano or relatively soft) which culminates in a rousing conclusion (stated forte or fortissimo). When I decided to compose a neo-classical sonatina I did not initially plan on so much Beethoven influence; however, it sort of turned out this way by chance. Or perhaps it was because Beethoven is my favorite classical-era composer and he wrote the most "rustic" or "peasant" sounding music of the classical-era composers? My initial plan even before I wrote the sonatina, was to keep each movement less than three minutes at the very maximum and at the same time present effective themes ...


Downloadable sheet music: Three Easy Sonatinas, No.1, - Ludwig van Beethoven