Well regarded among pianists, the "Little"
A major sonata is so called to distinguish it from the
hefty 1828 sonata in the same key.[citation needed] It is the shortest among Schubert's complete sonatas.[1] The manuscript, completed in July 1819, was dedicated to 18-year-old Josephine von Koller of
Steyr in Upper Austria, whom he considered to be "very pretty" and "a good pianist". The lyrical, buoyant, in spots typically poignant nature of this sonata fits the image of a young Schubert in love, living in a summery Austrian countryside, which he also considered to be "unimaginably lovely".[2]
The A major sonata is straightforward, with a dulcet melodic opening. It was the first of Schubert's piano sonatas where the
sonata form as perfected by his idol,
Beethoven, does not seem to be wrestled with; rather, it is a "joyous breakthrough", a carefree triumph over strict rules of construction.[3]
The original manuscript to this "little" sonata has been lost.[4]
Further reading
James Webster noted the particular A–B–A form of the first movement's first thematic group.[5] Daniel Coren summarised the nature of the
recapitulations in the first and third movements.[6] Leo Black noted Schubert's reworking of the opening theme from the sonata's slow movement into his song "Der Unglückliche".[7]