Classical Music | Music for Fortepiano

Recorded on 10/21/1991, uploaded on 03/21/2011

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

A brief and simple little piece, the “Farewell to the piano” is attributed to Beethoven and thought to be his final composition for the piano. Its authenticity remains in doubt, however, and its title certainly portrays a romanticizing of the composer’s final years. It is easy to imagine the aged composer bidding farewell to his beloved instrument. Even in the piece is indeed from Beethoven’s hand, in all possibility the work’s title may be nothing more than a publisher’s exploitation of the composer’s legendary life. Nevertheless, this is no way diminishes the tender feelings of the brief piece.

In essence, the piece is a waltz, marked to be played “Moderato con molto espressione.” Its opening melody, atop a rich accompaniment, begins softly in the key of F major but in its second phrase shifts suddenly in a bittersweet moment into the key of A major. In the melody’s second section, the key momentarily shifts into the dominant as the melody begins to unfold over a slow stepwise descending bass beginning on F. The bass holds the music steadfastly to the tonic key as it descends over an octave from where it started, growing in intensity in its final measure before the cadence. The Trio section turns to the key of F minor, emphasizing an underlying feeling of sadness. Only a brief reprise, a mere eight measures, of the first section is given to round out the piece. Yet, hardly anything more is required. The melody begins as it does at the first, but then rises to an affectionate final close.      Joseph DuBose