Doblinger Musikverlag Sonate Agreable in Bb Major, Op.43, No.2 - Vanhal/Strauss - Violin and Piano

Composer: Johann Baptist Vanhal (1739 - 1813)
Editors: John F. & Virginia F. Strauss

The music is truly agreable, with the material presented as a gracious dialogue between the piano and the violin. In all three of the Sonatas op. 43, Vanhal's harmonic choices and melodic shapes are more like Schubert's than like Beethoven's.
The first movement is in conventional sonata form with a substantial development section. A unifying rhythmic motive is present in every theme, the harmonic structure is enlivened and surprising. The second movement is introduced by a gentle, recurring Classical binary melody, followed by a dramatic section with sharp juxtapositions of dolce and forte and an unexpected burst of pianistic activity. In the third movement, a playful rondo-like theme is immediately interrupted by a gruff and humorous chromatic line. These two ideas contend with one another like opposing characters in an opera buffa. The pianist is allowed to revel in rapid passages in triplets while the violin carries a dramatic melody sweeping across all four strings.