Beethoven's Spring Sonata

I love Beethoven's Spring Sonata

During the lockdown, with my head shaved so close I looked like a walking thumb, I picked up my long neglected violin. In our orchestra, I play the viola, its earthier, more romantic, larger cousin. I have done since I was about 16, though I picked up the violin when I was about 9 or so. It feels so petite now: playing the viola is a physical undertaking (especially after, say, a long Mahler symphony); so much so that the violin feels faintly silly.

But Nav had the score for the Beethoven Spring Sonata, so he played the piano - one of my great regrets is that I never learnt - and I played the fiddle. Its full name, for official documents etc, is the Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24: it’s a truly beautiful piece.

Here are Krzysztof Smietana and Colin Stone performing it at the Royal Academy of Music:

I love the little suspension at the beginning of the third bar, and where the violin and piano swap, the latter playing the tune with the former accompanying. I love the way the two interests play with each other. Uncharacteristically, Beethoven gives equal attention to all of the various themes. I love how it is spritely but elegant and soft. Like spring.

I loved playing it with Naveen.

I love Beethoven’s Spring Sonata.