S.B. from Manchester
BEETHOVEN'S PIANOFORTE SONATAS
Played by EDWARD ISAACS
Sonata in G, Op. 14, No. 2
Allegro; Andante; Scherzo (Assai Allegro)
T IKE the Sonata played yesterday, this, the second of two dedicated to the Baroness von Braun, is conceived for the most part in happy mood. The first principal tune is heard at the very beginning, and is set forth at some length before the second appears. The latter, in thirds, goes tripping downwards in a scale. It leads to a little exuberant flourish before the end of the first section and again in the working-out section shows the way to some vivacious running about. The second movement begins with crisp, detached chords, a rather march-like theme of some solemnity, and the movement is made up of variants of the tune, with a little coda at the end in which it almost reappears in its first simple form. There is then a Scherzo, very quick, the right hand beginning the merry tune alone at first. The middle section has a more flowing melody with a rippling left-hand accompaniment, and then the first part returns in an altered guise. Although it is an unusual final movement for a Sonata, the end leaves the hearer with no sense of incompleteness.