Piano Sonata No. 26 (Beethoven)

The French attack on Vienna, led by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1809, forced Beethoven's patron, Archduke Rudolph, to leave the city.

[2] On the first 1811 publication, a dedication was added reading "On the departure of his Imperial Highness, for the Archduke Rudolph in admiration".

The translation in English shown in italic as below: The sonata opens in a 24 time Adagio with a short, simple motif of three chords, at first forming an interrupted cadence, over which are written the three syllables Le-be-wohl ("Fare-thee-well").

As soon as the introduction is over and the exposition begins, the time signature changes to (alla breve) and the score is marked Allegro.

The rhythmic figure of two short notes and a longer note which is used repeatedly in the first subject is developed inexorably through the "development" section with rich harmonies and discords which are harmonically closer to the later period of Beethoven's compositions than the middle for their intellectual penetration.

The movement is very emotional and is often played with rubato that would be found in later composers such as Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.

Much of the subject matter is rhythmically repeated consecutively as well as sectionally, perhaps to emphasise the feelings of uncomfortable solitude and fear of no return.