Schiff on Haydn piano sonatas

Haydn made A wide range of piano sonatas from a begginner level to an late intermediate to early advanced. Easy-Intermediate pieces include his Piano Sonata No.1, Hob. XVI:1 Sonata Hob. 16 No. 2, Sonata Hob. 16 No. 3, Sonata Hob. 16 No. 4 and Sonata Hob. 16 No. 8 Sonata Hob. 16 No. 9, Sonata Hob. 16 No. 10, Sonata Hob. 16 No. 11, Sonata Hob. 16 No. 12 Sonata Hob. 16 No. 13 E Major. Late INtermediate include Sonata Hob. 16 No. 15Sonata Hob. 16 No. 16, Sonata Hob. 16 No. 17. Analysis on Piano Sonata Hob. XVI/52

The work has three movements

• I. Allegro (Moderato)

• II. Adagio in E major and E minor

• III. Finale: Presto

The first movement takes approximately 7 to 8 minutes to perform, the second movement 6.5 to 7.5 minutes, and the third movement 5 to 6 minutes.

The first movement, in sonata form, opens with an expansive, French Overture theme and has a contrasting second theme in the upper, "music box" register that has been identified with the wie aus der Ferne (as in the distance) trope of the nineteenth century.[11] Its harmonic exploration is unusually broad for Haydn's solo piano writing. It has a strong rhythmic character and forward momentum.

Joseph Haydn may be the most underrated of all the great composers, especially when it comes to his piano music. András Schiff noticed this situation and wrote: “Haydn is, together with Schumann, probably the most neglected and misunderstood of the greatest composers. On the one hand, the frequency of the performances is not supported by their quality; on the other hand, Haydn has become one of the worst clichés in classical music. It degrades one of history‟s most innovative composers into a lovable but minor figure.”1 Haydn‟s major keyboard works are sonatas, and these generally represent Haydn‟s growth from his early years until 1794, the date of the final three sonatas. The early sonatas are often set in the galant style and were composed as teaching pieces for students. 2 Another group of sonatas is illustrative of a period of artistic development, often referred to as his Sturm und Drang period. Here, Haydn explores new elements, such as the use of minor keys, the growth of both the exposition and development sections, and a higher degree of dramatic character. His late sonatas show mature and refined piano writing with a noticeable growth in virtuosic elements in Hob. XVI: 50 and 52

Haydn was known for developing a style for two movement keyboard sonatas.