above). The eighth-note triplet figuration pervades throughout most of the exposition, alongside the main motif's character of "energetic, frantic pursuit of something elusive". A transitional passage (mm. 13–21) modulates to the dominant-minor key (C minor), where a more lyrical but still agitated theme is presented twice. It is noteworthy that Beethoven chose the dominant-minor key as the secondary key, instead of the more conventional relative major. The exposition closes emphatically on C minor (mm. 50–56), with iterations of the first subject chordal motif, and is repeated. Instead of developing earlier material (as would be expected of a conventional allegro-sonata movement), the following middle section starts off with a peaceful new theme in the relative major key (A major), thus compensating for its absence as the exposition's secondary key. This A major theme is articulated in quarter-notes, providing a respite from the eighth-note triplets that pervaded most of the exposition. This major theme provides the answer to the rocket theme that opens the sonata (both ascending, one lyrical and major, the other percussive and minor). It is structured on compound-binary form, where both phrases are played twice each in slightly varied fashion. This is followed by an extended retransition based on alternating motives from the exposition first subject and the middle-section theme. The recapitulation (mm. 138–192) reprises the whole exposition nearly identically (apart from very slight changes in dynamics and voicings), but significantly all the material is now re-stated in the tonic key (F minor), as would be expected of any conventional sonata form. The movement ends on a fortissimo eighth-note-triplet descending arpeggio, perhaps to give a symmetrical ending to a sonata that opened with a raising arpeggio. The first edition (published in 1796) and other early editions direct the performer to repeat the second section. However, Donald Francis Tovey thought that following the repeat sounded "very crude". References External links A lecture by András Schiff on Beethoven's Piano Sonata, Op. 2, No. 1 Recording by Paavali Jumppanen, piano from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Piano Sonata 01 1795 compositions Compositions in F minor Music dedicated to students or teachers