Ludwig van Beethoven (17 December 1770–26 March 1827)

The Kreutzer Sonata, Sonata for Violin and Piano #9, Opus 47

Story of this work (4 minutes)

The music:

First movement (3 parts) performed by Martha Argerich and Gidon Kramer

• Part 1
• Part 2 
• Part 3

Second movement (2 parts) performed by Rachel Barton-Pine

• Part 1
• Part 2

Third movement performed by Nathan Milstein

More stories of this work

• from “In search of Beethoven” ( at 32:28--36)
• from "Immortal Beloved"
• On Percy Bridgetower, the violinist for whom the violin part was written
• Poet Laureate Rita Dove reading from her poem about Bridgetower

A short musicological commentary on the first movement by Rob Kapilow

Blake on Beethoven:

Title page: Songs of Innocence and Experience
Marriage of Heaven and Hell, plate 4: Energy is Eternal Delight

Lecture Notes