Abstract:

In the 18th and 19th centuries, German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, with his works for piano, room music and orchestra, became one of the important composers of music history and piano literature. He created a bridge between the classical and the romantic period, influenced by the leading composers of the period, such as Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and developed their styles to reveal his own style. The creation of the composer is equal to the middle (second) period of creation studied in three separate periods. The 53 'Waldstein Sonate' was composed in the same time as Op. 57 'Appassionata Sonate' is one of the main piano sonates in which the composer's style changes, showing a unique style. The first and third parts of the sonate are composed of three sections, the sonat allegro, and the second sections are composed of diversification. In this sonate, the innovations that the composer brings into the sonate form are clearly seen. With the change in the form in this period, the lyrics style is also one of the important characteristics of the period. This also causes new ideas to emerge in the interpretation of their works. In this study, the 'Appassionata Sonate' will be studied along with its variations according to the composer's changing style and other sonates, form analysis will be made and will be included in different comments by competent pianists such as Wilhelm Kempff, Alfred Brendel and Vladimir Horowitz. The aim of this study is to contribute, as an example of Ludwig van Beethoven's mid-term sonates, to the pianists who want to interpret the 'Appassionata Sonate' by offering a form analysis of the work and a comparison of different interpretations.

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Abstract:

German composer Beethoven who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries became one of the milestones in the history of music and the piano repertoire with his compositions. Beethoven played a transitional role between the classic period and romantic period. His compositional style was derived from the influence of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He adopted their traits into his own style as well as enhancing them. Beethoven’s compositional life is often divided into three periods. In his Waldstein Sonata Op.53 and Appasionata Sonata Op.57 that were composed in his middle period, his style began changing towards a more unique and personal path. The first and third movements of this sonata are in a sonata allegro form whereas the second movement is in a variation form. This sonata displays very clearly the innovations that Beethoven brought to the Sonata Form, one of which is the style of lyrical expression. This led to the emergence of new ideas regarding interpretations of his works. This study will focus on the aspects of the Appasionata Sonata such as Beethoven’s volatile compositional style and the differences between this sonata and its contemporaries along with a structural analysis. The readers will also find a comparison section in which the interpretations by Wilhelm Kempff, Alfred Brendel and Vladimir Horowitz is discussed. This study is aimed to give guidance to pianists who interpret the Appasionata Sonata by presenting a structural analysis and comparison between various interpretations in the lights of examples from his middle period.