Grade 7

Haydn - Allegro moderato (1st mvt from Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI:32)

Haydn’s music is so often sunny and positive in mood, with a humorous streak. The Sonata in B minor is surprisingly dark and dramatic in Sturm und Drang style, with only brief hints of brightness in the second subject material of the exposition. That the first subject is highly ornamented and we find no dynamic markings hints that Haydn may have intended the work for harpsichord. Needless to say, any performance on the piano needs to be pianistic: brought to life by a relatively wide range of dynamics and subtle use of the pedal.

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