A highly regarded pianist named Therese Jansen was the fortunate person receiving the dedication of Haydn's final trio of keyboard sonatas. The first five notes of the first movement of Sonata number 60 in C major serve as the basis for the entire movement. The first of many miracles occur in the development section, when this motif appears in octaves in the bass with the sustaining pedal pressed down. It is heard later, in the treble, with far-off bells tinkling a syncopated descant — once more with sustaining pedal down. Next Haydn offers a poised "Adagio" in F major, somewhat reminiscent of his own final symphonic slow movements, and an anticipation of Beethoven. It was written earlier than the other movement, though Christa Landon cites the earlier version as less precise, but worthy of comparison. The final "Allegro molto", in 3/4 time, finds Haydn teasing us with a "forgotten waltz" of a dance-like theme — "I can't recall (ritard)... let's see (fermata)... oh, (a tempo)," an effect which occurs several times during the working out of the prattling tune. Sonata number 61 in D major is first of all anything but a work of lesser scale than the preceding sonata, despite its brevity. The opening "Andante" unfolds as a concentrated final distillate of many things, including the jaunty swagger of many earlier sonatas, here mellowed and owning maturity’s dignity in its quietly happy course. The final "Presto", in 3/4 time, does much playing with duple-versus triple meter, cross-accents, and other devices. Over in a trice, it is not trifling but packed with many riches ; it is the perfect balance for the Andante it follows. Although Sonata number 62 in E-Flat major was one of thtee written for Therese Jansen (either the first, which would make it number 60, or the last of the series, as it is generally published and recorded here) is not clear. This sonata was also published without Haydn's permission and dedicated to another excellent pianist, Magdalena von Kurzböck. The music is at once a summation of what had gone before and a clear-eyed look into the nineteenth century. It is worthy of note, that the three sonatas of Beethoven's Opus 2 appeared in 1796, two years before the publication of the present sonata, and was dedicated to Haydn...
Edwin S. Bergamini (from the original Liner Notes)
Arthur Balsam
Plays
Joseph Haydn
(1732-1809)
Tracks
Piano Sonata in C major, Hob.XVI-60
1 I. Allegro 8:31
2 II. Adagio 5:32
3 III. Allegro molto 2:21
Piano Sonata in D major, Hob.XVI-61
4 I. Andante 3:56
5 II. Finale (Presto) 1:56
Piano Sonata in D major, Hob.XVI-62
6 I. Allegro 7:44
7 II. Adagio 6:00
8 III. Finale (Presto) 5:17
*
Arthur Balsam - p
Recorded Fall, 1957