12/14 Piano Sonata 3, Annotated Breakdown

(Would Beethoven have used an iPad?)

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 3 In C, Op.2, No.2 (1795) is one of my favorites of his early sonatas.  It's got power and wit to spare.  I did a casual annotated breakdown with help from Donald Tovey's notes in the video below.

Beethoven: Sonata No.3 in C Major, Op.2 No.3 - I. Allegro con brio.
Elena Kuschnerova's performance at the 1990 Tchaikovsky Competition, first round.
Ms. Kuschnerova is a fantastic pianist who I just discovered from Youtube.  Looking forward to checking out her other recordings, especially as this is 20 years old now...
http://radio-elena.com/classic-radio.php

Exposition

Theme 1

  Pt 1 - Main motif

   Pt 2 - Hammerblows add dramatic energy

Modulating bridge based on 2 sets of sequences

Theme 2 - contrasting theme in dominant key

Cadence Section 

  Pt 1 with hammerblows 

  Pt 2 reprises main Motif from Theme 1

(Exposition Repeat - skipped in this performance)

Development

  Pt 1 - Main motif leads to modulations

  Pt 2 - Modulating with huge scalar runs

  Pt 3 Theme 1 Motif Variations

Recapitulation

Theme 1

  Pt 1 - Main Motif

  Pt 2 - Unexpected Syncopated Variation

Modulating bridge based on 2 sets of sequences

Theme 2 - contrasting theme in home key

Cadence Section 

  Pt 1 with hammerblows 

  Pt 2 reprises main Motif from Theme 1

Coda

  Pt 1 - Sudden Evasion of closed cadence signals Coda

  Pt 2 - cadenza-like fantasia

  Pt 3 - Main motif returns to wrap up the sonata wittily.