베토벤 피아노 소나타 Op.81a 《고별》의 정치사회적 배경과 그 의미 = The Sociopolitical Background and Meaning of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 81a, “Das Lebewohl”

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 81a, “Das Lebewohl,” (“The Farewell”) is a composition that is highly appreciated by pianists. Given its title and dedication note, it is considered to demonstrate the emotional friendship between Beethoven and his imperial highness, the Archduke Rudolph. This piece was composed in 1809 and is assumed to have been started soon after the departure of the Archduke. However, a recent sketch study around these very dates led to the somewhat different discovery that the composition began before the Archduke’s departure or evacuation, during wartime, when the patriotic movement was dominating the city. Burstein has demonstrated that this piece was conceived based on this movement and that the farewell motif mainly corresponded to the reality of soldiers heading to war.
Apart from this new story, 1809 marked a crucial year for the composer, as Beethoven began to develop a serious interest in musical history and intensive study of counterpoint at that time. His return to the past seems motivated by the war and the troublesome events of that year. Moreover, his music took on a lyrical or intimate mood, compared to his ‘heroic’ style. It also had a certain resonance with the social background. To understand this specific work, a comprehensive understanding of the composer’s surroundings, or sociopolitical background, is recommended.