The beginning of the piano and cello sonata: Beethoven's Opus 5

This article is concerned with Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonatas for Piano and Violoncello, Opus 5. In historical terms, these works represent the beginning of the modern-day cello sonata and they are also significant works from Beethoven's early compositional period. Initially, the problems associated with historical retrospect are discussed in relation to Opus 5, commenting on the issue of objectivity of assessment in terms of particular works as part of a composer's complete output. Following this, the rise in popularity of the cello in the 18th century and the increasing independence assigned to it in ensemble playing is examined. The article then describes the significant influence of the court of king Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia on the composition of the Opus 5 sonatas. It then provides a background to the development of the keyboard and string sonata, Beethoven's early compositional style, and the circumstances surrounding the composition of Opus 5. The following aspects are then examined in detail: the methods of combining the piano with the cello, and the form and structure. The summary attempts to rate these works in terms of their historical significance and their artistic merit