Count Ferdinand Ernst Joseph Gabriel von Waldstein was one of Beethoven’s most important patrons in his Bonn years. He arranged for Beethoven to study with Haydn in Vienna and wrote “With the help of assiduous labor you shall receive Mozart’s spirit from Haydn’s hands.”
Before he left for Vienna in 1792, Beethoven wrote a set of variations for piano four hands based on a theme by Waldstein (Day 32). Waldstein was an accomplished pianist, and very likely Beethoven wrote these variations so they could play them together.
Beethoven and Waldstein do not seem to have been in touch during Beethoven’s first decade in Vienna. Waldstein was spending much of his time travelling or in London during these years, and there is no evidence of any correspondence between them.
It is not clear why Beethoven would dedicate his 21st Piano Sonata to Count Waldstein. Perhaps Beethoven wanted to thank him again. Perhaps this amazing Piano Sonata was Beethoven’s way of saying “Look how far I’ve come.” How far, indeed!
The Waldstein Sonata was influenced by a new Érard piano Beethoven had recently acquired, with an extended range and four pedals.
Never again in his career did the composer try to find so many tone colours and technical innovations for the pianist in one work. — Charles Rosen
The first movement of the Waldstein Sonata begins with pulsing chords that soon break apart into tremolos, followed by a host of brilliant exhilarating pianistic effects, including pounding chords in the left hand, walking octaves, and extended runs.
Once much longer, the second movement of the Waldstein Sonata is a short mysterious adagio labeled “Introduzione” with uneasy silences and strange modulations. But then without warning — before you’ve even realized it’s begun — the third movement of the Waldstein Sonata has blossomed into a gloriously soaring song of pastoral rapture. It’s not obviously a rondo, but the theme becomes more endearing with each return, leading into an exciting coda.
#Beethoven250 Day 181
Piano Sonata No. 21 “Waldstein” in C Major (Opus 53), 1803–04
A masterly performance by Curtis student Ying Li.
#Beethoven250 Day 181
Piano Sonata No. 21 “Waldstein” in C Major (Opus 53, 1st movement), 1803–04
The first movement of the Waldstein played on marimbas makes us want to hear these guys play the whole sonata.