Haydn Sonatas

[liszmaninopin]

What do you think is Haydn's greatest Sonata?  Which do you think is the most difficult?  Which is your favorite?

[Antnee]

Of his Sonatas (which are all awesome...) I think his greatest are...

Sonata in B minor, H. 16/32
Sonata in C major, H. 16/48
Sonata in C major, H. 16/50
Sonata in C minor, H. 16/20
Sonata in D major, H. 16/24
Sonata in D major, H. 16/37
Sonata in E flat major, H. 16/49
Sonata in E flat major, H. 16/52

I haven't played any Haydn sonatas but I am very eager to... But since I haven't played any I'm not sure of the difficulty. I'd say Sonata in E flat major, H. 16/52 is one of the most difficult.
All of those on the list are my favorites , but I love all of them.

Does anyone know of any exceptional recordings?

-Tony-

[bernhard]

Haydn’s greatest sonata (and also the most difficult) is arguably Hob XVI/52 in Eb major.

Have a look here for my favourites plus CD suggestions:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3729.msg33455.html#msg33455
(Haydn sonatas – best recordings).

Grades (ABRSM: 1 – 8 ) below:
(Keep in mind that difficulty is subjective, and that I couldn’t care less about grades).

Sonata XVI/8 in G major - Allegro (5) - Menuet (2/3) - Andante (2/3) - Finalle: Allegro (2/3 or less)

Sonata XVI/7 in C major - Allegro moderato (4) - Menuet and trio (4) - Finale: Allegro (5)

Sonata XVI/9 in F major - Allegro (5) - Menuet and Trio (4) Scherzo (2)

Sonata XVI/G1 in G major - Allegro (5) - Menueto (2/3) - Finale: Presto (5)

Sonata XVI/11 in G major - Presto (5) - Andante (4) - Menuet and trio (5)

Sonata XVI/10 in C major - Moderato (5) - Menuet and Trio (4) - Finale: Presto (5)

Sonata XVI/D1 in D major - Moderato (5) - Menuet (3 or less) - Finale: Allegro (5)

Sonata XVI/5 in A major -      Allegro (7) Menuet and trio (2/3) Finale: Presto (6)

Sonata XVI/4 in D major - Moderato (5) Menuet and Trio (4)

Sonata XVI/1 in C major - Allegro (5) - Adagio (4) - Menuet and Trio (2/3)

Sonata XVI/2 in Bb major - Moderato (6) - Largo (6) - Menuet and trio (5)      

Sonata XVI/12 in A major - Andante (6) - Menuet and Trio (5) - Finale: Allegro molto (5)

Sonata XVI/6 in G major - Allegro (7) - Menuet and Trio (6) - Adagio (5) -Finale (6)

Sonata XVI/3 in C major - Allegretto (5) - Andante (5) - Finale: Presto (4)

Sonata XVI/13 in E major - Moderato (5) - Menuet and trio (4) - Finale: Presto (5)

Sonata XVI/14 in D major - Allegro moderato (7) - Menuet and Trio (5) - Finale: Allegro (6)


Sonata XVI/47 bis in E minor - Adagio (6) - Allegro (6) - Finale: Tempo di Minuetto (6)      

Sonata XVI/18 in Bb major - Allegro moderato (8 ) - Moderato (7)      

Sonata XVI/5 in D major - Moderato (incomplete) Menuet and trio (6)

Sonata XVI/45 in Ebmajor - Moderato (7) - Andante (7) - Finale: Allegro di Molto (8 )      

Sonata XVI/19 in D major - Moderato (8 ) - Andante (6) - Allegro Assai (7)

Sonata XVI/46 in Ab major - Allegro moderato (8 ) - Adagio(8 ) - Finale: Presto (7)

Sonata XVI/44 in G minor - Moderato (8 ) - Allegretto (6)      

Sonata XVI/20 in C minor - Moderato (8 ) - Andante com moto (7) - Allegro (8 )
      
Sonata XVI/33 in D major - Allegro (7) - Adagio (6) - Tempo di menuet (5)

Sonata XVI/43 in Ab major - Moderato (7) - Menuetto (2/3) - Rondo: Presto (7)

Sonata XVI/21 in C major - Allegro (7) - Adagio (6) - Presto (6)

Sonata XVI/22 in E major - Allegro moderato (7) - Andante (6) Finale: Tempo di menuet (6)      

Sonata XVI/23 in F major - Moderato (7) - Adagio (5) - Finale: Presto (6)

Sonata XVI/24 in D major - Allegro (7) - Adagio (6) - Finale: presto (7)

Sonata XVI/25 in Eb major - Moderato (8 ) - Tempo di menuet (6)

Sonata XVI/26 in A major - Allegro moderato (8 ) - Menuet and trio (al rovescio) (4) -
Finale: Presto (5)

Sonata XVI/27 no. 42 in G major - Allegro con Brio (6) - Menuet (5) - Finale: Presto (5)

Sonata XVI/28 in Eb major - Allegro moderato (8 ) - Menuet and trio (5) - Finale: Presto (6)

Sonata XVI/ 29 in F major - Moderato (8 ) - Adagio (6) - Tempo di menuet (6)

Sonata XVI/30 in A major - Allegro (7) - Tempo di menuet (7)      

Sonata XVI/ 31 in E major - Moderato (7) - Allegretto (6) - Finale: Presto (6)

Sonata XVI/32 in B minor - Allegro moderato (7) - Menuet (5) - Finale: Presto (8 )      

Sonata XVI/35 in C major - Allegro con brio (7) - Adagio (5) - Allegro (6)      

Sonata XVI/36 in C# minor - Moderato (8 ) - Scherzando: allegro con brio (6) -Menuet and trio: moderato (6)

Sonata XVI/37 in D major - Allegro con brio (8 ) - Largo e sostenuto (5) - Finale: Presto ma non troppo (6)      

Sonata XVI/38 no. 51 in Eb major - Allegro moderato (8 ) - Adagio (6) - Finale: Allegro (5)
      
Sonata XVI/39 in G major - Allegro con brio (7) - Adagio (6) - Prestissimo (8 )

Sonata XVI/34 in E minor - Presto (7) - Adagio (6) - Finale: Vivace molto (6)

Sonata XVI/40 in G major - Allegretto innocente (7) - Presto (7)

Sonata XVI/41 in Bb major - Allegro (8 ) - Allegro di molto (7)

Sonata XVI/42 in D major - Andante con espressione (8 ) - Vivace assai (7)      

Sonata XVI/47 in F major - Moderato (8 ) - Larghetto (6) - Finale: allegro (6)

Sonata XVI/48 in C major - Andante con espressione (8 ) – Rondo: presto (8 )

Sonata XVI/49 in Eb major - Allegro (8 ) - Adagio e cantabile (8 ) - Finale: Tempo di menuet (6)

Sonata XVI/50 in C major - Allegro (8+) - Adagio (7) - Finale: Allegro molto (7)

Sonata XVI/51 in D major - Andante (7) - Presto (7)

Sonata XVI/52 in Eb major - Allegro (8+) - Adagio (8+) - Finale: Presto (8 )

 

Best wishes,
Bernhard.