Choosing my first Sonata

[gruffalo]

Hi, i was wondering if i could get advice on picking my first sonata to learn. my teacher wants me to learn one and recommends the early Beethoven Sonatas, but im worried that i wont be motivated enough because im not quite into Beethoven yet. are there any good sonatas from the more Romantic period that is possible for me to learn and would be suitable for a first sonata? i will ask my teacher, but i dont see him for another week.

Gruff

[hodi]

what about mendelssohn sonata in g minor?

[thalbergmad]

I would suggest the Schubert Op78.

Easy on the fingers, but makes massive demands on the heart strings.

I can't play it without bursting into tears.

Thal

[gruffalo]

technique isnt the problem, although obviously to a certain extent. tackling the Sonata form is the main issue. i will look into them both. i havent heard them.

[nicco]

Grieg sonata in e minor 

[arensky]

Schubert op.164 in a minor.

[nanabush]

Yes, grieg sonata is awesome!  Totally underplayed!  I don't think any movement in it is boring...
The first and last movement are very flashy and demanding, and the 'slower' middle ones are very dramatic.  go to amazon and listen to a free sample of this, or if you have a recording, even better.  This was my second sonata learnt, the first being Beethoven's pathetique.

[gruffalo]

how difficult is Chopin 2nd? musically, not technically.

[bflatminor24]

how difficult is Chopin 2nd? musically, not technically.

Chopin's Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 is a very difficult piece, musically and technically. I learned the latter two movements (Funeral March and Graveyard), but the first two posed too many musical challenges for me. So I started Rachmaninoff Sonata 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36.

Having played the Rach sonata and the latter two movements of the Chopin sonata, I think it's fair to say that the Chopin is a very difficult piece to learn. It's one of my favorite sonatas but I wouldn't tackle this one until you have a large number of sonatas under your belt. Some great sonatas include:

Beethoven Sonata 8, 13, 14, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32
Rachmaninoff Sonata 1, 2
Chopin Sonata 2, 3
Liszt sonata in B minor
Alkan Grand Sonate
Schubert Sonata in A major (D.664), B flat major (D.960)
Scriabin Sonata 2, 5, 6, 7, 10
Prokofiev Sonata 3, 7
Scarlatti K. 27, L.441 in B minor
Godowsky Sonata in E minor
Brahms Sonata in F minor

lots more...

-Max

[verywellmister]

I'd like to add Scarlatti K.141, Scriabin sonata no.4, beethoven no.2, and prokofiev sonatas 2 and 6 to that list.

[gruffalo]

do you think Rach 1st sonata is do-able? im mad about it.

[bearzinthehood]

do you think Rach 1st sonata is do-able? im mad about it.

As your first sonata?  I dunno man I would probably go Haydn.

[gruffalo]

As your first sonata?  I dunno man I would probably go Haydn.

a tad to early for me 

[pianiststrongbad]

My first sonata was by Mozart.  Though I think early Beethoven is also a good choice.  Romantic sonatas tend to be very difficult, musically and technically.  Schubert Sonatas are LONG.  I would start with Mozart, early Beethoven, or Haydn.

[RealPianist]

why don't you try from classical? it is usually easier. Mozart Kav. 545 in c major is a good choice if you want from classical. or mozart kav. 283 is bit harder than the 545. or you can try Haydn.. like pianiststrongbad said 

[cfortunato]

Not sure what level you are, but how about Beethoven's mini two-movement Sonata in G?  Opus 49, No 2?

[steve jones]

Chopin's 3rd Sonata is my current fave, and if you think you can handle it, then it comes highly recommended!

Beethoven's 1st is another favorite, and much easier to (though not easy by any means). I bet this would be a good one to start with.

SJ

[alejo_90]

Mmmmm... how about Mozart's K331 or Schubert op.78?

A Scarlattti Sonata wouldn't make a big help to learn the Sonata form, since his Sonatas are 2-6 min long...

Best
Alex

[tompilk]

im learning beethoven pathetique as my first whole sonata and it really is manageable... moreso than I first thought.  Also, I wasn't really into Beethoven but after working with it it has made my interest in Beethoven much more... I love it now and i hope to work on another when i have finished this one...
Tom

[steve jones]

Beethoven is one of my favorite composers! And the P is probably my favorite sonata, so congrats on the fine choice old boy 

Which sonatas had you done previously?

SJ

[pita bread]

Gruff, what else do you play?

[kriskicksass]

If you're looking to learn about handling the sonata form, you should definitely choose something from the classical or baroque period. Aside from the fact that romantic sonatas are very difficult technically and musically (not to say that classical  and baroque sonatas aren't), the sonata form was broken away from quite a bit by the romantics. I would second Beethoven's Opus 49 No. 2 personally. Beethoven was the master of form, and that little sonata has everything you need. Mozart, Scarlatti (his tiny little sonatas do follow form, believe it or not), or Hayden would be good starters, too.

[gruffalo]

Gruff, what else do you play?

My recent repetoire: (starting from last piece learned)

Liszt - Jeux d'eau a la villa d'Este

Chopin etudes: op.10no.7 and op.25no.1

Debussy:Etude No.1 for 5 fingers
               La plus que lent valse
              Jardin sous la pluie
               Images- reflet dans l'eau
              Prelude from suite bergamasque
Liszt: Consolation no.3

Bartok: Diary of a fly

for the other replies that were mentioned, i made this thread for the intention of being able to find something else other than the classical or baroque period (therfore, Romantic onwards) as a starting Sonata. I did learn a Mozart sonata at one point and i did not find it difficult to get a grip of the sonata form.

thanks for all the replies.

Gruff

[cziffra]

Scriabin Sonata in e flat minor is one of my favorite pieces, you should check that out.

[gruffalo]

im also starting ravel's ondine from gaspard.

yea, scriabin is nice. i havent heard any of the sonatas though.

[bflatminor24]

im also starting ravel's ondine from gaspard.

yea, scriabin is nice. i havent heard any of the sonatas though.

Gaspard is quite a challenge! Perhaps you should get some etudes under your belt before you tackle this.
I am in the process of preparing for Gaspard, and here are some etudes that prepare the sonority, texture, rhythm, and technique you will need.

Chopin Etude 25/11, 10/12, 10/2 (For intricate fingering and chromaticism
Chopin Etude 25/6 (for thirds technique)
Scriabin Etude 8/2, 8/3 (for awkward rhythms and octaves)
Liszt Un Sospiro (for arpeggios and texture)

[gruffalo]

im learning 10/12 and 25/12, but may learn another, not sure yet. i have absolute trust in my teacher choosing the right things for me, and it was he who suggested Ondine, not me (although i would have ended up asking  ). im not learning whole of Gaspard, just Ondine for now.

[nonfox]

Schubert D. 157 in E

[thierry13]

im also starting ravel's ondine from gaspard.

yea, scriabin is nice. i havent heard any of the sonatas though.

Most of them are uber hard. Especially sonata no.5 ... but it is absolutely AMAZING. As for sonata no.1 by rachmaninoff ... it's a monster, and is REALLY long. I don't think it's a good choice as a first sonata ... not at all ...

[soliloquy]

Scriabin Sonatas 4/6/9/10 wouldn't be impossible.


Vine Sonata No. 1 rocks

[thierry13]

Scriabin's 3rd is ... magnificent. The first movement is SOOOO amazingly beautiful.

[presto agitato]

Allow me to ssuggest Beethoven´s num 27.

[dnephi]

Grieg sonata in e minor 

Crazy for a first sonata.  Mine was an early Beethoven.

[keyofc]

What do you think is the easiest Scarlatti sonata?

[tompilk]

What do you think is the easiest Scarlatti sonata?

theres hundreds arent there? im not intending on listening to them all...
Tom

[mila5405]

Beethoven - "Pathetique" and "The Tempest"