Beethoven Piano Sonata No 17 in D minor, Op 31 No 2 'The Tempest'

Recording: Audition piece
Recording Date: 24 November 2017
Performed and recorded by: Marc Yeo

This piece was a monumental achievement for me as I (re)learnt it in 3 weeks! Towards the end of October, I was beginning to realise that choosing Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy just was not working out for me and by the grace of God, managed to pull of this audition recording in time for my application and submissions for Masters!

The 3 sonatas of opus 31 marked the ‘middle period of Beethoven, striking out on what the composer himself regarded as ‘a new way’. The Tempest (or Der Sturm in his native German) was among the most striking works Beethoven had written at the time, far more so than his Second Symphony which came slightly later. The title of the second opus 31 sonata was never coined by Beethoven nor referred to during his lifetime, but the unofficial title now associates famously with the piece.

Beginning with an unusual harmony in the dominant rather than a tonic of D minor, a distant rumble through a calm pastoral breaks into passages of turmoil, expanding into a ‘haunting storm’ as the peacefulness is lost. An idea of a storm’s ever-changing power and ferocity is shown through this movement which gives the sonata its nickname. A rather Haydn-like second movement begins with similar rumble but breaks into a peaceful and more dignified passage. However, a recurring drum-like triplet figure in the bass interrupts the tranquillity with tension, as if another storm is about to blow over. The final Allegretto displays pure keyboard music from start to finish.

All three movements are remarkable for their codas: the raging storm of the first movement concludes quietly in D minor as if it dissipated, the Adagio introduces a new melody before fading away in the distance, and the Allegretto sums up with simplicity after a brief climax.

I hope you enjoyed listening to this as much as I enjoyed recording it! Do subscribe to my channel for more videos coming your way!

[YURIKAclassical]

I enjoyed it! The dynamic range was great!