LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827) - Piano Sonata in D minor, Op. 31. No. 2

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827)

Piano Sonata in D minor, Op. 31. No. 2

Known as the “Tempest”, this well-known work was written in 1802 when Beethoven was 32 years old. As the name suggests, the sonata rings of much turbulence and emotional upheaval. It is also Beethoven's only sonata in the key of D minor.

The first movement opens unexpectedly with a roll on the dominant chord. The opening theme that uses two opposing characters and three tempo changes within a few bars, namely the largo, then sudden allegro and followed by adagio. The alternating brief moments of peace and turmoil paints the ominous amidst the seeming calm. It then expands into a roaring storm in the tonic key D minor where serenity is now replaced by agitation, as one can hear from the left hand rising bass notes and the tremolos on the right hand. In the section marked Largo, the mysterious long arpeggio rolls return to briefly draw us away from the strife of the Allegro. Another round of the stormy Allegro takes us back to the recapitulation along with a long recitative, and then it launches yet again into turbulence, ending the movement on a pianissimo tonic chord rumble on the left hand.

Almost like an afterthought, the second movement begins by mirroring the same calm opening roll but on Bb major. This Adagio movement paints a sombre mood, featuring a divided melody one could only imagine being played by different instruments. The lower deep voices and the high treble distant voice speaking almost like in a conversation. While this movement sounds tranquil in contrast to the first movement, the muffled timpani or drum-like ostinato in the low bass perhaps hints of the lingering storm in the distance and its inevitable return.

In the Allegretto finale, Beethoven brings back the energy with an obsessive four-note theme and rolling arpeggiated chords throughout. The unwavering semiquavers maintains the passion and tension in the music while driving the energy forward reaching a climax cadenza-like semiquavers passage played by the right hand. It then transits into the recapitulation. The refrain expands and builds up the tension towards the final three exclamations and their falling chromatic scales, unfolding the deep despair amidst the pandemonium of the storm. The final D minor falling arpeggio movement ends the work melancholically.