13th Sonata, Opus 27, No. 1, in E flat.
Sonata quasi una Fantasia.
Andante—Allegro—Andante—Allegro molto e vivace—Adagio con espressione—Allegro vivace.
Dedicated to Princess Lichtenstein.
This Sonata was first published together with the following one in C sharp minor on March 3rd, 1802. They were both composed in 1801, the happy year of the composer's love for Countess Giuletta Guicciardi. The term Fantasia by no means implies formlessness, but rather a departure from the ordinary Sonata form. The first movement—an Andante, full of light and shade—is held by purists to be wrongly barred throughout, the first beat being the third, and so on. It is followed by an Allegro in C major which leads back to the return of the Andante, this time varied. The Allegro, which takes the place of the Scherzo, is full of imagination and vigour. The slow movement is used as a bridge leading into the Finale. All the movements are chained together in one whole. Just before the precipitant Coda, Beethoven takes a final glance back at the subject of the Adagio.