Piano Sonata No. 18 (Beethoven)

A third party gave the piece the nickname "The Hunt" due to one of its themes' resemblance to a horn call.

[citation needed] Roger Kamien has performed a Schenkerian analysis of facets of chords of the sonata.

1–18) create an evocative opening, reminiscent of the improvisatory style of C. P. E. Bach's piano sonatas.

This opening cell is repeated extensively throughout the movement – at the start of the development (m. 89), in the recapitulation (m. 137), and during the coda (transposed into the subdominant A♭ (m. 220), and then at its original pitch (m. 237)).

The finale is vigorous and rollicking, with continuous eighth notes in the bass and tarantella rhythms.