Chopin Piano Sonatas

The last two of Frédéric Chopin's three piano sonatas occupy an exceptional place in the history of nineteenth-century music, alongside the works of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Liszt, and Brahms. 

Piano Sonata Number 1 in C minor, Opus-posthumous 4, was composed in 1828 when Chopin was only 18 years old, but not published until 1851.

Piano Sonata Number 2 in B-flat minor, Opus 35, (Funeral March) was composed in 1839, except for the famous funeral-march third movement, which was composed in 1837.  The opening bars of this masterpiece allude to Beethoven's last piano sonata: Number 32, Opus 111. Arthur Rubinstein is said to have remarked that the unusual fourth-movement is the "wind howling around the gravestones". 

Piano Sonata Number 3 in B minor, Opus 58, was composed in 1844. This masterpiece is tumultuous, with shifting moods, lyrical melodies, and an almost unbearable sense of longing.

Frédéric Chopin (1810 - 1849), who wrote mostly for solo piano, is generally considered to be one of the great masters of Romantic music. His work, often sounding like spontaneous improvisation, is characterized by beautiful rhythmic melodies expressive of heart-felt emotion.

Tutorials

Sonata No. 1 

• 1st mvt  Allegro maestoso      Part 1     Part 2 not requested

• 3rd mvt  Larghetto    Complete

Sonata No. 2 in Bb minor, Op. 35

• 1st mvt Grave  

  • Part 1

  • Part 2

  • Part 3

• 2nd mvt Scherzo 

  • Part 1

  • Part 2

  • Part 3

• 3rd mvt  Lento  Marche funèbre

• 4th mvt  Presto

Sonata No. 3, Op. 58 in B Minor

• 1st mvt   Allegro maestoso    

Part 1  Pages 1 and 2    

Part 2   Pages 3 and 4     Page 3 (old, has 2 false notes)

Part 3    Pages 5 and 6

Part 4    Pages 7, 8 and most of 9

 Part 5    Rest of p. 9, pp. 10 and 11

• 2nd mvt Scherzo 

• 3rd mvt  Largo    Part 1   Part 2   Part 3

• 4th mvt Presto  Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5