Any other interesting Classical Sonatas?

[beethoartok]

I've been going through tons of Beethoven and Mozart sonatas but I can't find one that I absolutely like and would love to play. Does anyone know of any other classical sonatas that maybe aren't as well known or are underplayed that are very unique/interesting (difficulty- for college audition/panel) ? I need a movement that is somewhere between 3-7 minutes long.

p.s. (I do like beethoven a lot but it's just that I've played his sonatas (pastoral, pathetique, etc.) for the past 4 years and am looking for a change of pace)

[Lance Morrison]

Which sonaten of Beethoven's do you find repetitive? It is the nature of the classical sonate as manifested by C.P.E. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven to have some amount of repitition, often of the literal type

[frederic]

check out Clementi's F# minor Sonata. If you dislike classical Sonatas, this should be your one exception! His other ones are also very good but more classical sounding. I'm currently learning Haydn's "big" one, the Hob XVI:52 in E flat. That's a very good one too.

[dinosaurtales]

Yeah.  I can understand why you wouldn't be able to find anything by Beethoven or Mozart you like.  Uh huh.   

[apion]

Beethoven Waldstein Sonata.

[rhapsody in orange]

Hummel?

[Regulus Medtner]

I'm thinking that if you find Beethoven's sonatas uninteresting then you are not going to be satisfied with any sonata we might venture to propose to you here. Beethoven's sonatas are considered as landmarks among classical sonatas for a reason.

Anyway, if you're just looking for a "diversion" movement , there's a Clementi sonata with a very well known theme that Mozart borrowed for his Magic Flute opera. It's very lightweight and humorous, you might like it. I can't seem to remember the number, though, perhaps someone could help until I check it out.

[pianowelsh]

That would be a YES i think!

[IanT]

How about the Schumann G minor (Op 22?).  The first movement stands alone well (it sounds like you only need one movement).  It's a flashy piece and is a good contrast to Mozart/Beethoven.

You could also look at some of the Schubert sonatas.  The A Major (D.664) is a pretty piece.

Ian

[musicsdarkangel]

Hammerklavier

hehe

kidding.

[steinwayguy]

Schubert of Haydn is definitely the way to go.

Haydn-
No. 46 in E Major, Hob. XVI/31
No. 47 in B Minor, Hob. XVI/32
No. 49 in C sharp Minor, Hob. XVI/36
No. 50 in D Major Hob XVI/37
No. 53 in E Minor, Hob.XVI/34
No. 58 in C Major, Hob. XVI/48
No. 59 in E-flat Major, Hob XVI/49
No. 60 in C Major, Hob. XVI/50
No. 62 in E flat Major, Hob. XVI/52

Schubert-
about any of them, really.

[anda]

schubert is not considered a classical composer everywhere, there are conservatories where they say he's romantic  (anyway he's a "transition" composer). but if you like schubert, try beethoven 109 - the most "schubertian" classical sonata (imho) and i think you'll love esp the 3rd part (theme with variations, about 7 min)

[Lance Morrison]

109 is my favourite Ludwig, but it may have too much repetition for beethoartok, and besides, it is more like 10-14 minutes in length if you play all the repeats

[galonia]

Haydn sonatas are under-rated and under-performed in general.  If you don't want to do Mozart and Beethoven anymore, Haydn is the way to go.

[bernhard]

Now for some really obscure underplayed Classical sonatas :

Mateo Albeniz (1760 – 1831) (no, not Isaac Albeniz, but Mateo) – Sonata in D major, Op. 13 – a lively and energetic piece in one movement, it reminds me a bit of Scarlatti. Alicia de Larocha recorded it for Decca (“Legends”: Favourite Spanish encores).

Sebastian Albero (1722 – 1756)– Another Spanish composer, with 30 one-movement sonatas right on the bondaries between Baroque and Classical. Have a look here for more information:
https://web.ukonline.co.uk/suttonelms/MUSIC2.HTML

Rafael Angles (1731 – 1816) – Yet another Spaniard. His “Two sonatas” are written in the style of Haydn, but maybe considered too easy for your purposes.

Georg Benda (1722 – 1795) – Benda wrote 35 sonatinas and 17 sonatas, in a similar style to C.P.E. Bach. Have a look here for more information:
https://www.harpsichord-sd.com/articles/tangent-0104.html

Domenico Cimarosa (1749 – 1801) –  Apparently there are 88 one-movement sonatas out there. These are charming pieces, perhaps not long enough for your purposes. Andrea Coen has recorded 27 of them for Stradivarius, and Eugeny Soifertis recorded 32 for Meridien; Danae Kara has recorded 62 for Agora. Have a look here:
https://www.meridian-records.co.uk/newreleases/524cimarosaright.htm

Johann Cramer (1771 - 1858) Yes, the one of the studies. He also wrote 150 piano sonatas!

Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf  (1739 – 1799) Two sonatas.

Jan Ladislau Dussek (1760 – 1812) – 42 piano sonatas, so take your pick. These are generally considered his best: op. 9 no. 1, 2, 3; op. 24 in Bb; Farewell sonata in Eb minor op. 44; Elegie harmonique en forme de sonata op. 61 in F# minor; Le retour a Paris op.  64 in Ab major; and L’invocation op. 77 in F minor.

Baldassare Galuppi (1706 – 1785) – Galuppi’s sonatas are an important stage in the development of sonata form, being at the boundary of Baroque and Classical. He composed 90 sonatas, and Peter Seivewright is in the process of recording them all for Divine Art. Have a look here:
https://www.divine-art.com/rev25006.htm

James Hewitt (1792 – 1827) – Although born in England (and later naturalised American) Hewitt is famous for having composed the first American piano pieces. A good one if you are American and want a patriotic slant. 3 sonatas op. 5

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778 – 1837) – Besides lots of sonatinas and smaller sonatas, he wrote six large sonatas of which you may what to check Op. 13 in Eb major, op. 20 in F minor and op. 81 in F# minor.

Hyacinthe Jadin (1776 – 1880) 12 sonatas in 4 opus: 3, 4, 5 and 6. They are very interesting in that they sit halfway between Haydn’ and Beethoven’s style. They are published by Parnassus Harmonicus.
https://members.klosterneuburg.net/handerle/MUSIKVER.HTM#catalogue

Frederick Kuhlau (1786 – 1832) – Known as the “Sultan of the Classical sonatina”, Kuhlau wrote a number of sonatas as well. Have a look at op. 30, op. 34 and op. 46.

Jean Theodore Latour (1766 – 18367) – Four sonatas – These may be too easy: they are similar to Clementi sonatinas.

Christian Latrobe (1758 – 1836) – 3 sonatas op. 3 – similar to the easy Haydn sonatas.

Franciszek Lessel (1780 – 1838) – 3 sonatas op. 2 – Similar to the easy Haydn sonatas.

Christian Gottlob Neefe (1748 – 1798) – Beethoven’s teacher no less, many of his sonatas are now lost, but six are published.

Giovanni Paisiello (1740 – 1816) – His collection 19 sonatas for Harpsichord works well on the piano as well (but then I don’t like the harpsichord that much). They are all one movement sonatas with lots of Alberti patterns. Maybe too easy for your purposes.
 
Pietro Domenico Paradies (1707 – 1791) – He wrote some two-movement sonatas that were much admired by the likes of Mozart, Cramer and Clementi.

Giovanni Benedetto Platti (1690 – 1763) – 12 interesting, pre-classical, sonatas in four movements.

Samuel Wesley (1766 – 1837) – Try his piano sonata in D minor.

Ernst Wilhelm Wolf (1735 – 1792) – Wolf composed 42 sonatas in the gallant style.

Joseph Wolfl (1773 – 1812) – A piano virtuoso, rival of Beethoven, he composed 60 sonatas.

Alternatively you could try Field’s sonatas. I know, I know, he is considered a romantic, but he didn’t know that, and composed his sonatas largely on a classical style. They are underplayed and very original. And since sometimes – depending on the author -  both Schubert and Mendelssohn are also considered classical (as opposed to Romantic – just a s Beethoven is sometimes considered Romantic as opposed to Classical), why not consider their sonatas as well? If this is to fulfil some sort of academic requirement, you better check and make sure what is considered “Classical” by the people you will be auditioning to.

Finally, why not go not for obscure but also unusual and politically correct by playing sonatas form women composers of the classical period? Here are a few (you can listen to excerpts and see sample scores here:
https://www.hildegard.com/


Maria Teresa Agenesi- Pinottini (1720 – 1795) – Sonata in G.
Marianna D’Áuembrugg (1768 - ?) – Sonata for pianoforte (this is a real gem).
Elisabeth Billington (1765 - 1818) Sonata op. 2 no. 6
Anna Bon (1740 - ?) Six sonatas for keyboard.
Sophia Dussek (1775 - 1847) Sonata for pianoforte. (Sophie was the Italian wife of Jan Ladislav Dussek, in case you are wondering).
Marianna von Martines (1744 – 1812) – She was a pupil of Haydn - 3 sonatas (E, A and G).
Juliane Benda Reichardt (1752 – 1783) – Klavier sonata

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[beethoartok]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions... but I've decided to play Beethoven yet again for the 5th year in a row Op.110 Movement I.

[Lisa]

As Bernhard already suggested in his impressive list, Cimarosa, Dussek and Clementi sonatas are wonderful choices: not merely alternatives to Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven sonatas, but truly great works of music.  Cimarosa (a sort of combination of Scarlatti and Mozart?) sonatas are refreshing, and with repeats, can be 4-5 minutes long (therefore, long enough for your requirement).  In general, Dussek's later sonatas are of higher quality than his earlier works.  The Elegie and L'invocation are profoundly moving masterworks.   There are glimpses of Mendelssohn and Schumann.  Also, though he came a little later, Carl Maria von Weber's sonatas are also very effective.