Eleven Great Piano Sonatas

The towering composer who perfected the early symphonic form and invented the modern string quartet also left his indelible mark on the sonata. Joseph Haydn pioneered the development of sonata form, and although the composer favored a three-movement structure from which he seldom varied, his works display extensive experimentation.

Reprinted from an authoritative Breitkopf & Hartel edition, this compilation offers a selection of eleven of the master’s finest sonatas. Its wide range of styles includes short, simple works dating from early in Haydn’s career as well as the more complex thematic developments and variations that followed. Among the highlights are sublime virtuoso Sonatas No. 50 in C Major and No. 52 in E-flat Major, and Sonata No. 40 in G, a superb combination of popular appeal and high art.