Sonata in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2 (concluded)
Sonata in E Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3 (Movement 1)

It is said that once when Beethoven was living at his summer retreat near Vienna, a horse-man galloped past, and from the beat of the horse's hoofs the composer took the rhythm of the First Main Tune of this Last Movement of the D Minor Sonata.

He was rather fond of a four-note motif (listeners may remember that such a figure was prominently made use of in the opening of the Sonata in D, Op. 10, No. 3, played on Tuesday). The Second Main Tune begins with a little two-note motif, the first note ornamented, which is repeated six times. The opening galloping figure is

On these two themes the Movement is firmly yet lightly, built . heard through all the 'development,' and it even comes back for an extra appearance after both it and the Second Tune have been duly 'recapitulated.'

Sonata in E Flat, Op. 31, No. 3 (First Movement)

Chopin, we are told, always thought this Sonata vulgar, until Sir Charles Halle (whose name is perpetuated in that of the well-known Manchester Orchestra which he founded) played it to him in his rooms at Paris. Then he was converted!
The work has not the depth of feeling that we found in the Sonata immediately preceding it, but it has real charm, and is most deftly touched off. The First Main Tune opens with a three-note motif. Notice how much use is made of this throughout the Movement. The Second Main Tune is a melody that begins smoothly with a rippling left-hand accompaniment, and contains in its third bar a little jumping two-note figure which we have already heard in the First Main Tune.