Beethoven

by Romain Rolland

10th Sonata, Opus 14, No. 2, in G major.

Allegro—Andante—Scherzo.

The first movement, in Sonata form, is a remarkable example of the growth of a whole movement from a single germ.

The Andante is an air with variations. The form of this is really ternary, although if the second part be repeated, it will throw the theme into five sections, A, B, A, B, A. The first variation places the air in the tenor, the second divides the harmony rhythmically, the third breaks up the harmony into semiquavers. Purists hold that this movement is wrongly barred throughout, the first beat coming where the third now is.

In the last sprightly movement, the Scherzo and Finale seem to have run into one.

The only other examples of Beethoven's use of the designation Scherzo for a movement not in Scherzo and Trio form are in the pianoforte sonata Opus 31 No. 3, and in the string quartet in C minor.