Classical Music | Cello Music

Recorded on 02/24/2010, uploaded on 02/25/2010

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Beethoven’s sonatas for the cello bear the actual title “Sonata for piano with violoncello.” It was the customary nomenclature of the time for sonatas for piano and a solo instrument. Perhaps it was born out of the tradition of the Baroque continuo tradition, yet it serves to adequately stress the mutual importance placed on both instruments. It was no doubt for this reason that Johannes Brahms resurrected the tradition in naming his own sonatas for the cello.

The Third Cello Sonata in A major is the most performed of Beethoven’s five sonatas for the instrument. It was composed during the highly productive year of 1808 which also saw the composition of the Violin Concerto, the two piano trios of op. 70 and the completion of both the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies.

Like the traditional 18^th century and early 19^th century sonata, it has three movements. However, the typical slow middle movement is replaced by a scherzo. The first movement begins with the cello alone playing a lyrical subject answered later by the piano. This principal theme and its subsidiary ideas are treated contrapuntally throughout the movement. The following scherzo, in the tonic minor, makes use of a syncopated main theme and a lyrical trio that is heard twice. The last movement is preceded by an Adagio introduction in the key of E major, making up for the lack of a proper slow movement. It soon gives way to the lighthearted and energetic A major Allegro which forms the remainder of the finale.     Joseph DuBose

Live at Michigan State University College of Music

1. Allegro, ma non tanto

2. Scherzo

3. Adagio cantabile – Allegro vivace