VIOLIN SONATA, NO.9

The Kreutzer Sonata

Composed at around 1802 – 1803, the Sonata For Violin & Piano No.9 in A Major, otherwise known as The Kreutzer Sonata, was originally dedicated by Beethoven to George P. Bridgetower who premiered it on 24 May 1803 at Augarten Theatre. However, it was changed to Rodolphe Kreutzer as rumors have revealed that Bridgetower and Beethoven had a falling out regarding a woman that Beethoven had favored. Because of that, Beethoven changed the dedication to Kreutzer, who unfortunately disliked the piece and refused to play it.

​

The piece is divided into three movements, Adagio sostenuto – Presto, Andante con variazioni, and Presto.

Written in a sonata form, the first movement opens with a slow introduction from the violin in A major key. Then the piano enters, thus turning darker towards the minor key, until the main theme of the movement – a Presto in A minor. Here, the piano and violin matches each other in terms of difficulty. As it nears the end of the movement, it goes to the adagio and then returns to Tempo I and then ends with a rush.

​

The second movement, Andante con variazioni, is a movement with five variations. The first variation is with sixteenth notes triplets decorated with trills while the second variation enlivens it further with the violin as the main melody. The third variation changes to an F minor, turning it darker and more sorrowful. The last variation recalls the first and second variations, elaborating the melody and adding more dramatic flairs inside before ending in a somber, meditative state.

​

The last movement comes crashing in with an A Major chord from the piano and then induces the piece with a tarantella theme and a 6/8 time in a sonata form. A short second theme comes in 2/4, which changes immediately to 6/8 and then progresses to contrasting episodes, until returning to the main theme and ending in a brilliant A major chord.