Piano Sonata No. 1 in E major, Op. 6 – Felix Mendelssohn

Piano Sonata No. 1 in E major, Op. 6 by Felix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn completed this sonata for piano in 1826 at the age of 17. This would be the second piano sonata composed by Mendelssohn, with the first sonata being composed in 1821 (while only 11). With Mendelssohn being an established composer by 1826, the Berlin publisher F. Laue was eager to distribute the sonata Mendelssohn composed in 1826, with the work having the first publication the same year.

It would not be until 1868 that the Leipzig publisher Winterthur would distribute the piano sonata No. 2 in G minor (the first piano sonata composed by Mendelssohn). It is due to this that the first and second piano sonata have been switched in the official record.

This sonata is comprised of four movements:
I. Allegretto con espressione 00:00
II. Tempo di Menuetto – Più Vivace 05:56
III. Recitativo: Adagio e senza tempo – Andante – Allegretto con espressione 10:15
IV. Molto Allegro e vivace – Allegretto con espressione 16:10