Page:Rolland - Beethoven, tr. Hull, 1927.pdf/190

 motto of three notes, under which Beethoven wrote Lebe-wohl (Fare thee well) is astounding. Whether written in clear notes or obscured subtly, this leading motive lies at the bottom of every phrase. It is the generating idea, the essence of the whole Sonata. Although we have styled it programme music, it would be the greatest mistake, however, to regard it as something pictorial and definite. The idea is only used as the generating impulse of each of the three chief movements, and the work loses no whit (perhaps, even gains) by being heard as a piece of absolute music. Those interested in musical psychology will find it, however, a most interesting study to trace the derivation of the various phrases of the opening Allegro of the Andante (see bass chords), and even of the Finale to one of the two tiny cellules found in the first three bars of the introduction. The movements are all in Sonata form. The Andante has no development section and runs into the Finale without break.

This work, completed on August 16th, 1814, appeared for the first time in June, 1815. It is in two movements, and is one of the first works in which Beethoven gave bi-linguial tempo in-