#16: No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 1

Español: Sonata para Piano nº5 en Do Menor, Op. 10 nº1 1st Movement (Allegro molto e con brio) 2nd Movement (Adagio molto) 3rd Movement (Finale, Prestissimo) Work: Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10, No. 1 Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Soloist: Daniel Barenhoim

I like to call this sonata "Pathetique Lite." It's in the same key, with the same number of movements, and both middle movements in Ab. Actually, now that I'm writing that down, I'm not entire sure the two sonatas aren't actually the same one, just published a year apart.

#15: No. 6 in F major, Op. 10 No. 2

I don't really want to say anything about this sonata. So on to #14.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata para piano Nº 6 en Fa mayor, Opus 10 Nº 2 (Compuesta entre 1796 y 1798 y dedicada a la Condesa Anna Margarete von Browne) 1. Allegro en Fa mayor 2. Allegretto en fa menor 3. Presto en Fa mayor Daniel Barenboim, piano Análisis de los movimientos: 1.

#14: No. 26 in Eb major, Op. 81a "Les Adieux"

Español: Sonata para Piano nº26 en Mi bemol Mayor, Op. 81a 1st Movement (Adagio - Allegro) 2nd Movement (Andante espressivo) 3rd Movement (Vivacissimamente) Work: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Soloist: Daniel Barenhoim

This is likely Beethoven's only "programmatic" sonata. In case you don't know because your brain is filled with useful things, there's "absolute" music and "programmatic" music. Absolute music is every other piece on this list - it just exists and we're supposed to sit in dark auditoriums and listen in silence and not clap between movements. Programmatic music is exactly the same only it's supposed to tell a story of some kind. Those are the only two kinds of music because that's what they teach you in music school. There, now you know. Now something useful in your brain was deleted to know that fact. Isn't learning fun?

#13: No. 12 in Ab major, Op. 26

This is the first of Beethoven's sonatas to really experiment with form and harmony. It's like the start of a new era of his musical development, like we've left his early period and started his middle one.

Hold on, let me check my notes.

Nope, Wikipedia says the middle period started later. Ignore all that. It's easy to divide an artist's work into neatly structured periods and there's no real transition periods. I just got my dates wrong. Silly me!

Español: Sonata para Piano nº12 en La bemol Mayor, Op. 26 1st Movement (Andante con Variazioni) 2nd Movement (Scherzo, Allegro Molto) 3rd Movement (Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe) 4th Movement (Allegro) Work: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat major, Op. 26 Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Soloist: Daniel Barenhoim

#12: No. 18 in Eb major, Op. 31 No. 3 "The Hunt"

Daniel Barenboim's immense knowledge of Beethoven shines in his interpretation of the unique and gracious Sonata no. 18. With it's innovative use of asymmetrical phrases, tempo changes, and at times harmonically unstable content, Beethoven forges new territory into compositional structure and expressiveness, all eloquently conveyed by Maestro Barenboim. Enjoy!

In case you're wondering where the titles of some of these sonatas come from, the answer is "not Beethoven." Most of the time, other people made them up and we're stuck with them. Nowhere is this more obvious than with "The Hunt." Like, what are we even hunting?

#11: No. 31 in Ab major, Op. 110

If the "Hammerklavier" sonata were good, it would be this one. Both have a similar structure, but op. 110 knows when to just shut up and be done already. Every movement is a superior version of the previous sonata. The opening is light and fantastic without overstaying its welcome; the scherzo is brilliant and angular and full of wonderful syncopations; and the final movement captures the grandiose - if pretentious - element with a meandering arietta and fugue.

#10: No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 "Pastorale"

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata para piano Nº 15 en Re mayor, "Pastoral" (Compuesta en 1801) 1. Allegro 2. Andante 3. Scherzo: Allegro vivace 4. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo Daniel Barenboim, piano ---

Both this sonata and the 6th symphony bear the name "Pastorale," and it's because they share this one weird thing in common: both pieces are really good.

#9: No. 25 in G major, Op. 79 "The Cuckoo"

If you're reading along, wondering to yourself "are there any sonatas here that I, an amateur, can play?" then this sonata is for you. It's not the easiest but it's close, and it's one of the most fun to play. There, don't say I never don't help nobody or nothing.

Oh, and if you're reading along and not thinking that, then ignore the entirety of the previous paragraph.

Daniel Barenboim plays Beethoven Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Mov.