18th Sonata, Opus 31, No. 3, in E flat.
Allegro—Scherzo—Minuet and Trio—Presto con fuoco.
In this characteristic work, where we find both a Scherzo and a Minuet, the former in duple time, we again return to four movements. The mood throughout is of unclouded happiness. It is extremely interesting throughout, from the first bar which opens in an original manner with the "added sixth" chord to the Coda which returns to the same idea.
The Scherzo is in one of Beethoven's freakish moods, full of capricious turns and fun of all kinds. The third movement is a true Minuet of the olden style, whilst the Presto is one of those cantering movements the germ for which must have been derived from the hunting songs of the people.