When Ludwig van Beethoven was 27 years old he wrote a piano sonata that put him on the map as a composer and achieved instant success. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, nicknamed Sonata Pathétique, is a three-movement work with a popular middle movement and lovely theme, Adagio Cantabile (meaning to be played slowly and with a singing style).
Many have noted the similarities between this piece and Mozart’s Piano Sonata K. 457, which is also in C minor and has three very similar movements. The second movements of both Beethoven and Mozart’s sonatas share a remarkably similar theme, as well.
Beethoven’s Adagio Cantabile is in simple rondo form, with the main theme appearing three times, each time in A-flat major. There are modulations between the theme statements but it always returns to the same key. The triplet rhythm that presents in the final statement creates a richness and grandeur that leads to a striking conclusion to the movement.
A quote that we have from Beethoven’s day about this sonata as well as the composer’s own playing is from his friend Anton Schindler, a fellow musician:
“What the Sonate Pathétique was in the hands of Beethoven (although he left something to be desired as regards clean playing) was something that one had to have heard, and heard again, in order to be quite certain that it was the same already well-known work. Above all, every single thing became, in his hands, a new creation, wherein his always legato playing, one of the particular characteristics of his execution, formed an important part.”
The name Pathétique was apparently chosen by the composer himself (one of the rare times Beethoven named his own work). The French word translates to “pathetic” but is more similar to the modern meaning of “pathos” – something that is moving or touching, that evokes tenderness, sorrow, melancholy, compassion, etc. Perhaps Beethoven felt this sonata best expressed his own sentiments. I can just imagine with what passion Beethoven played this piece, and that he used the beautiful signature legato expression he was famous for.