Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata 23 (Appassionata)
in F Minor, Op. 57

Beethoven’s own favorite piano sonata is dominated by a sense of anger and frustration - nothing can prepare you for the first movement’s violent outburst and crashing chords.

ID: 36
Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonatas:

Sonata 23 (Appassionata)
Op. 57

Key: F Minor
Year: 1805
Level: 8+
Period: Classical
piano sheet music Piano score: PS Urtext Download
piano sheet music Piano score: Ruthardt edition Download
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A cry of desperation

Beethoven’s Sonata in f minor op. 57 was composed when Beethoven was coming to terms with the fact that he was going deaf, and the frustration that he felt can be heard throughout the piece. After Beethoven’s death, it was given the unofficial title Appassionata, as it is considered one of the most emotionally tempestuous of Beethoven's piano works.

The first movement begins with a slow, mysterious melody, played in unison. Soon the restrained atmosphere gives way to loud, intense outbursts. The ‘fate’ motive is everywhere, contrasting with the second, more lyrical subject. Dark and ominous sounds dominate this movement, and a sense of restlessness remains even during the brighter moments. The extremes of the piano are used to great effect. This movement demands a lot in terms of interpretative maturity and control of extreme dynamics. Things quiet down in the more introspective second movement, calling for exactness of timing in its very original and predominantly rhythmic variations on a drastically simple theme in D-flat major.

The third movement returns to the emotional intensity of the first. It is an exercise in perpetual motion, partly strangely subdued and partly chaotic, testing the performer's stamina, but also the ability to distribute and hold back power. Czerny imagines "the waves of the sea on a stormy night, whilst cries of distress are heard from afar". At the end the storm is unleashed in a tumultuous, violent coda. It's often pointed out that this is Beethoven's only work to maintain a sense of tragic doom throughout.

Background

The Sonata in F minor opus 57 is known as the Appassionata (meaning "passionate" in Italian), but it was not given that name until after Beethoven's death, by the publisher of a four-hand arrangement of the work. According to Czerny, up to his writing his Hammerklavier-Sonata, Beethoven considered this his greatest sonata. In 1803, he had been given an Erard piano which had an extended range of five and a half octaves, which he uses at the very beginning of the sonata, going down to the lowest note available - the bottom F.


Forum posts about this piece:

Any other tips for Appassionata Sonata Movement 3? by caters
Movement 3 is the hardest movement of the entire sonata for me and it's the one movement that is preventing me from being able to perfor...

Am I skilled enough to play Appassionata 3rd movement? by classicalstudent1
I have learned piano for about 5 years. Some of the harder pieces I can play are moonlight sonata 3rd mov and chopin's revolutionary etu...

Tips forBeethoven Appassionata Sonata (no 23) by calculaepp
Hello, I was thinking of learning the Appasionata! Here are some of the pieces I have already learned. Beethoven Moonlight sonata (all move...

Ranking these pieces in difficulty by charles coop
How would you rank these works in increasing difficulty? -Prokofiev Sonata 8 -Rachmaninov Sonata 2 -Scriabin Sonata 3 -Janacek Sonata "...

Need a help for program incl. Appassionata by bubblessomewhere
Hello everyone:) Which post-romantic or contemporary piece goes well with Beethoven Appasionata? :)) ...

Octaves in Beethoven Appasionata by tripletrobot42
Hello friends! I hope you all are doing well! This is my first post on here, so I apologize if I say anything wrong or cringey  :-\ I ...

Lecture concert Appassionata by bubblessomewhere
Hello everyone:) I have to prepare a lecture concert exam about Appassionata. Have you ever heard of Appassionata in a lecture concert? How...

Appassionata Inspirations by bubblessomewhere
Hello everyone:) I have to prepare a lecture concert exam about Appassionata. Have you ever heard of Appassionata in a lecture concert? How...

Virtuosic Baroque piece / University Audition by ellarosie
Hello everyone:) I've been searching for a virtuosic Baroque piece that I can play for my University Audition in October. The rest of ...

Need Repertoire Advice for Master of Music Audition by maestrowoojulee
I'm applying to top tier grad programs next year and would like your opinions on what kind of pieces are great for ~10 min auditions. U...

Beethoven Appassionata, advice needed by guilleferra
Does anybody can answer the two following doubts about correct reading? 1)why in the attached passage, in bar n. 105 the last two A moll in ...

Learning Pieces by didi100
I know its different for every student, but this question is for more advanced students. How long does it take to learn a movement from Wald...

NEC/Equivalent Conservatory Auditions by skywalker_06
Hello All! Currently, I'm a junior in high school and I'm planning my audition program for next year, when I will be auditioning ...

Learning A Piece in 2-3 Days by fabrizzioreiv
I have acknowledged that classical music will not be appropriate in a school talent show and modified this post: can any of the following pi...

Crazy idea by expressman70
Hey all, Lately ive been getting into Beethoven. What if instead of learning a full 3 movement sonata (Waldstein, Les Adieux, Appasionata...

Are you a Beethovenist? by expressman70
Hi, Do you believe that Beethoven and Bach alone are the true indicators of real, pure musicianship? What do Beethoven sonatas give to a ...

Easy(ish) repertoire by tmjorden
So I am doing a competition in about a week and hopefully January. I have been working on the same pieces for along time, so I'm gettin...

Part 2: OCTAVES.... Earlking, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6, Appassionata (coda 1st m by mrcreosote
The original thread, [url=www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=24891.0]www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=24891.0[/url] is very info...

appasionata 3rd movement help? by sumpianodude
so in my free time (off to the side) I've been learning Beethoven's op.57, mvt 3. I've been working on it for a while now but...

The more I learn the less I know by tinyhands
Recently I feel I have entered a new phase in my piano playing which is quite exciting for me. I feel that the more I learn well it's l...

Sudden loss of technique by nosaj123
Hi everyone, I've been playing piano for about 7 years, and I have been comfortably playing pieces such as the Appassionata, the Rachm...

Stage fright by kristinazx
Do you have tips for stage fright? I don't know how will I play Sonata Appassionata in front of audience with stage fright? I had very ...


Member's recordings of piece:

Beethoven Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 - 1st Movement - Advice please! by liszt123
Hi all, I plan on reviving the 1st movement of the Beethoven Appassionata for a piano competition in 3 months. Attached is a recording I mad...

Beethoven Appassionata 1st movement by pianoville
I thought I would share this recording that to be honest, I'm not entirely happy with. But I still hope you enjoy!...

Appassionata 1st movement by andrewkoay
hehe this is the only piece I recorded properly (with a good mic!) a few years back... before the university and job. :( the good recordings...

Downloadable piano sheet music from Sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven to print: Sonata 23 (Appassionata) Op. 57 in F Minor (published in 1805)
Sonata 23 (Appassionata) Op. 57 in F Minor, a composition by the classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The piano score of this piece was first published in 1805 and is part of Sonatas by Beethoven.