Ludwig van Beethoven composed his Piano Sonata in E flat Major Op.31 No.3 in 1802. It was said that he was not satisfied with his previous compositions and he intended to make a fresh start with this work.
It is to be believed that indeed the scherzo and finale of this sonata mark the beginnings of the new phase.
This sonata is Beethoven’s most bright and cheerful piano sonata. Unusually, there is no dedication to anyone. This sonata, Opus 31 No.3, first appeared on its own without an opus number in 1804. In 1805, the publisher brought out all three sonatas in one volume.
It is notable that this sonata, Op.31 No.3, with the exception of Op.106, is the last of the piano sonatas to contain four movements, and is the last one to include a formal minuet. Moreover, in all of the four movements not one of them goes at a slow pace. The absence of a slow movement helps to emphasize the light but deeply happy mood of the whole sonata.These four movements are Allegro, Scherzo, Minuet, and Presto.
Here is pianist Igor Levit who will play this amazing composition for you:
