How to write a sonata like Beethoven (first movement)

  1. Create a simple introductory theme.
  2. Play it really really fast.
  3. Make a lot of noise that has nothing to do with the theme but makes the piece sound demanding, including tremolos, arpeggios, etc.
  4. About 1/4 of the way through, lead into a beautiful 20 second theme that makes the entire piece worth listening to.
  5. Now’s a good place for a repeat!
  6. Create an “out-of-place” chord for a modulation in the second ending of the repeat. Might as well play it really loudly too, just to make the audience go “what!?” (this is definitely Haydn’s influence on the composer).
  7. Get really quiet as you introduce the new key (possibly repeating the introductory theme in the new key).
  8. Make more noise.
  9. Repeat beautiful theme again, usually twice.
  10. End either by quietly fading out or striking a simple cadence as loud as possible.

There’s your first movement!

This is a joke, of course, but listen to enough of his sonatas and this is indeed the pattern Beethoven followed.

4 thoughts on “How to write a sonata like Beethoven (first movement)

  1. Salvatore Giopelli

    That is really true. If you listen to nearly all the sonatas that most composers write, it follows a pattern of that nature.

    Reply
  2. Chris

    HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

    That’s some of the funniest stuff I’ve ever read.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *