This Sonata is by far one of the Sonatas composed by the great composer Joseph Haydn which manifests the most delicate and elegant melodic lines, the perfect challenge for any intermediate piano student.
The Classical period serves any piano tutor to impart in their students the necessary perfectionism to achieve an impeccable piano technique.
Why is it essential to study Haydn Piano Sonatas specifically?
Many reasons exist that answer this question. The main one is that Haydn developed his pianistic technique along of his compositions, so it is relatively easy for any piano teacher to pick the pieces for their students, follow the order within the timeline!
Secondly, and especially true in this Sonata (or also called "Divertimento" by the author himself) there are original ideas in his compositions, many attributed to one of his pupils, L. V. Beethoven, that surprises any musician. Alvaro Sisti explains an example of this original twists in his article:
"We can find some unusual things for a sonata, like the lack of a proper recapitulation (something very appreciated in this period), or the secondary theme first showing up in a minor version of the necessary key, or even a quite long development (53 bars against 62 of the Exposition, for instance). These things are more likely in the Post-Beethoven period than in this early Haydn's composition stage."
Another moment in this piece that we can observe Haydn's legacy in Beethoven is in the third movement "Presto". Maestro Sisti comments "The most unusual thing happens towards the end of the development. When we finish the development in a classic sonata, usually we lean on the fifth grade, or we insinuate the come-back to the root. However, in this situation, Haydn finishes the section in a Third degree, the minor relative. Furthermore, without further preparation, we go back to the main theme in A major. Again, this seems more likely to happen in Beethoven's work than in Haydn's."
It is clear now upon the observation of this Sonata the huge influence Haydn had in Beethoven, and today we make a little justice bringing to light many of the "original ideas" attributed to Beethoven are in reality, Haydn's.
If you need to read the full analysis, please click here and read all about this Sonata on WKMT Blog.