Home>Beethoven Music>Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1
Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1
Although Beethoven performed on many such private occasions during his first few years in Vienna, his official Viennese debut did not occur until April 1800, when he was the featured soloist and composer in a Hofburgtheater concert given late on a Wednesday afternoon. The program included Beethoven's Septet, his Symphony no. 1, and his opus 15 Piano Concerto (which was to become known as his first concerto) along with a Mozart symphony and selections from Haydn's oratorio The Creation. (Elizabeth Schwarm Glesner)
Composed in 1797 (after the second concerto, op. 19), Concerto no. 1 for piano will be interpreted on numerous occasions in the concerts Beethoven held in German cities and in Prague.
|
The piano concerto has three parts:
- Allegro con brio
- Largo
- Allegro scherzando
Part I - Allegro con brio, constructed like a sonata begins with the presentation of the two themes by the orchestra: the first one is of great joy, tuned by an orchestral tutti and is generously linked to the second theme that is softer and more lyrical.
Borrowing a technique from Mozart’s manner of composition, the piano does not start with the theme presented by the orchestra, but with an innovative musical idea, and the themes proper are later presented by the instrumental soloists.
Part II – Largo – has at its core a very musical theme first presented by the unaccompanied instrument and later by the whole orchestra.
Part III – Allegro scherzando – is constructed as a rondo and begins with the refrain, a musical theme with a prominent dancing character.
The concerto was first performed by the composer himself at his Viennese debut in April 1800. This Piano concerto was not Beethoven’s first attempt at the genre. Actually it was his third piano concerto, but since it was the first to be published it remained known as Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
Read more about Beethoven's Concertos
- Piano Concerto no. 1 in C major op. 15
- Piano Concerto no. 2 in B flat major op. 19
- Piano Concerto no. 3 in C minor op. 37
- Piano Concerto no. 4 in G major op. 58
- Piano Concerto no. 5 “Emperor” in E flat major op. 73
- Violin Concerto in D major op. 61
- Triple Concerto for piano, violin and cello in C major op. 56
Read more about Beethoven's music
|
|
|
Help Us Improve |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What should I do ?
Help us improve by reporting any spelling, typographical or grammar mistakes you see on the site. Also, please fell free to send us your feedback related to any other aspect regarding our site.
Thank you!
| |
|
|
|
|
by Edmund Morris;