Piano Sonata in E-flat major Op.7 "Grande Sonate"

Beethoven Piano Sonata in E-flat major Op.7 "Grande Sonate"

The earliest sketches for Beethoven’s Grande Sonate Op.7 date from 1796 and the first edition was issued by the publisher Artaria, Vienna in October 1797.  It is dedicated to Beethoven’s pupil Anna Luise Barbara (Babette) Countess Keglevicz, in whom, if Carl Czerny is to be believed, he was passionately in love.  For this reason it is sometimes known by its German nickname “Die Verliebte” (The Lover).

This work is one of the longest and most demanding of Beethoven’s piano sonatas.  Its four movements cover a wide range of emotions – a challenge that the dedicatee, who was 16 at the time and only started taking lessons from Beethoven in 1797, possibly felt unable to master.

Jonathan Del Mar, the worldwide authority and acclaimed specialist on Beethoven, is editing all of this composer's piano sonatas in Bärenreiter Urtext editions, incorporating the latest findings of Beethoven scholarship and evaluating every available source.  Del Mar's meticulous examination of the handwritten
and printed sources as well as the various impressions of prints published in Beethoven’s lifetime lead to a reliable and conclusive  musical text.  Rounding off each volume is a Critical Commentary which documents every source discrepancy and editorial decision.

These editions contain an elegant and spacious engraving with practical page turns as well as informative Introductions on the genesis and significance of the works concerned.  Also included are notes on key period performance practice questions such as the use of pedalling, embellishments, tempo and articulation.

• Evaluation of every available source
• Elegant and well-presented layout
• Practical pageturns
• Detailed Introductions (Eng/Ger)
• Notes on period performance practice (Eng/Ger)
• Detailed Critical Commentary (Eng)