SONATA PASTORAL

Piano Sonata No. 15, Op. 28, is a piano sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was named Pastoral or Pastorale by Beethoven's publisher at the time, A. Cranz. While nowhere near as famous as its predecessor, the Piano Sonata No. 14 or Moonlight Sonata, it is admired for the intricacy and technicality in the ease it portrays. It takes roughly 25 minutes to play the whole work.Published in 1801, it is dedicated to the Count Joseph von Sonnenfels. This sonata was written at a time where Beethoven's alarm at his worsening deafness increased. Nevertheless, Beethoven paints a serene image with this sonata.It has been speculated whether the title 'pastoral' refers to the sense of countryside and nature (the 6th symphony pastoral sense), or to its sense of calm, simplicity and lightness. Beethoven's publishers had a tendency to name his sonatas without any consultation from Beethoven himself. Beethoven wrote most of his works with greatly contrasting parts, and behaves no different in making this sonata. Though its first and last movements can well be described as "pastorale," the inner two find no real similarity to the nickname at all.The first movement, Allegro, begins in the tonic major with a repetitive and monotone bass line sometimes described as "timpanic." On top is the simple primary theme of the movement. It is very simple and quiet, yet cunning. Eventually, the work introduces a second, more tense melody in F sharp minor, which builds up into a passage of constant quavers, on which is laid a rather simple, yet elegant melody. The development of the movement runs through various minor keys, ever becoming more dramatic and angst filled as it compresses the main theme into a repeated one-bar rhythm, which gradually fades away. It then recapitulates back into the sweet and easy-going themes of the beginning.