Piano Forum

Hi guys,

So I decided to take a step back from the intermediate repertoire I've been working on for the past few months and take some easier pieces into my repertoire that I never played or learned when I was younger. I picked o.a. Haydn's Piano Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:1 (really simple one, I know) and, as I always do when learning a new piece, I'm right now attempting to thoroughly analyze it to really get a connection with the piece.

However, I'm experiencing some trouble analyzing the first movement, so any help would be very much appreciated. Let me tell you what I've got so far:

So, the first movement (Allegro) is written in a very compact sonata-allegro form. The first problem I'm encountering trying to do a traditional sonata analysis, is from which bar to which bar the first theme spans. I would say it goes from bar 1 through 7 because there it ends on a half cadence, but I'm not sure. Could it also be that the first theme spans from bar 1 through 5?

Anyway, if I'd say the first theme is bars 1-7, that would mean there is not really some kind of transition from the first to the second theme. After the half cadence in C major, you would expect it to go back to C major but it simply jumps into the second theme, which is where the second problem arises. Is the second theme bars. 8-11 or 8-14. I'd say bars 8-11 and bars 12-17 a coda but again, I'm not sure. Any ideas?

Third problem, in the development section which is almost as long as the entire exposition, Haydn develops three different sections (themes): First he develops the first theme by putting it into a harmonic progression from G minor to a half cadence in A minor (?). Next, he develops material from, which I would call, the first bar of the coda (bar 12), again by putting it into a harmonic progression which starts in A minor and ends on a half cadence in A minor. The problem arises after this. The third section he develops can be one of two. To me it sounds like here he develops both the second theme (bars 8-11) and the last bars of the coda (15-16). In the left hand there is a pattern that is the same as in the coda and in the right hand there is a pattern that's similar to the pattern of the second theme. Could this be? Is he developing the remainder of the material he didn't develop yet at the same time? Again, please help?

The last problem arises in last few bars of the development which, I think, are bars 30-34. Haydn doesn't make a harmonic progression from A minor to a half cadence in C major and then starts the exposition with the beginning of the first theme. He cuts out the first three bars of the first theme and blends them into the final bars of the development. Very clever, I must say. But where does the first theme, and thereby the exposition, start? Is it in bar 34, where we are clearly back in C major again, or is it in bar 35 where actual material from the first theme is used again. Or maybe it is earlier. Once again, please help?

That was the last of the four problems I'm encountering. So, basically I think I figured it out, I'm just looking for some confirmation of my ideas by experienced musicians. Thanks so much if you can help me out in advance!

BW,
Marijn