Piano Sonata No. 22 (Beethoven)

The first theme is written in a rigidly classical style with repetitive phrases that are a caricature of elegance, while the second consists of a bombastic canon in octaves.

Then the B, the trio section, reappears, this time in the tonic key of F major and of considerably shorter length.

The finale, again in F major, is a cheerful moto perpetuo sonata form movement in 24 time with a monothematic exposition.

The piece becomes more agitated in the faster coda, in F major, keeping a forward motion till the end.

The two movements present opposite faces on many levels:[citation needed] Donald Tovey writes: ...the whole work is profoundly humorous, with a humour that lies with the composer rather than with the childlike character portrayed by the music.

No biographical details are known as to whether Beethoven thought of any person or household divinity in connection with this sonata; but its material is childlike, or even dog-like, and those who best understand children and dogs have the best chance of enjoying an adequate reading of this music; laughing with, but not at its animal spirits; following in strenuous earnest its indefatigable pursuit of its game whether that be its own tail or something more remote and elusive; and worthily requiting the wistful affection that is shown so insistently in the first movement and even in one long backward glance during the perpetuum mobile of the finale.