Composed between 1809 and 1810. Three movements.
"The genie is made up of 2% talent and 98% constant perseverance." –L. V. Beethoven.
Info and RegistrationLes Adieaux is one of Beethoven's great works of the middle period and stands out for several reasons. To begin with, it is Beethoven's only explicitly programmatic sonata; The three movements are named The Farewell, The Absence and The Return respectively. The first movement is linked to a painful motive; the second is full of painful suspensions and diminished seventh chords, and the last movement is an explosion of joy.
There is also the fact, very little commented, that the last movement is really a Concerto for Piano Solo, with many passages that could well be marked as tutti , virtuous passages that come out straight from the Emperor's Concert, and symphonic layers.
Better known is the use of the Lebewohl motif throughout the first movement, and the two very substantial codas for the external movements, which develop themes already introduced.
