Piano Sonata Hob. XVI/33

History#

This sonata was first officially published in London in 1783 by Beardmore & Birchall without Haydn’s knowledge, but copies had been circulating for several years earlier. Haydn seemed to have made the piece not technically challenging, most likely due to the increased demand for pieces for amateur keyboard players in the 1770s. Haydn’s keyboard sonatas evolved with the development of the keyboard through the late eighteenth century. The harpsichord was eventually replaced with the fortepiano, capable of gradual dynamic changes. The first thirty of Haydn’s keyboard sonatas are scored for harpsichord, while the next nine are scored for either harpsichord or fortepiano. This keyboard sonata, being the 33rd according to the Hoboken-Verzeichnis classification, is scored for harpsichord or fortepiano, leaving the choice to the performer.

Structure#

The work has three movements: The first movement is in time and 193 measures in length. It opens with arpeggios, and is elaborately figured with Alberti bass, scales, thirds, and ornamentation. It also makes use of broken triads, double notes, octaves, and trills. The second movement is in D minor in time, and is 52 measures long. It is described as a slow arioso with many dramatic pauses and tempo fluctuations. There are two themes, one major and one minor, which contrast effectively and lend themselves to development. The variations consist of many lively figurations, including fast scales and arpeggios divided between the left and right hands.

References#

• Beghin, Tom, and Sander M. Goldberg. Haydn and the performance of rhetoric. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007.
• Maxwell, Carolyn. “Sonatas." In Haydn, Solo Piano Literature: A Comprehensive Guide, Annotated and Evaluated with Thematics, edited by Carolyn Maxwell, Charles Shadle and Christine Armstrong, 56. Boulder, Colorado: Maxwell Music Evaluation, 1983.
• Schwartz, Judith L. Liner notes to Joseph Haydn: Piano Music, Volume I. Gilbert Kalish. Nonesuch Records 519787. CD. 1975.
• Wigmore, Richard. Liner notes to Haydn Piano Sonatas II. Marc-André Hamelin. Hyperion CDA67710. CD. 2009.