Ivan Shiu

The Revolution of Beethoven's Cello Sonatas, by Ivan Shiu

The Revolution of Beethoven's Cello Sonatas

For this research showcase, I intend on showcasing my research on the five Beethoven Cello Sonatas. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to write two major papers on these cello sonatas for two separate courses: Topics in Classical Music and Beethoven. As a cellist myself, these five sonatas form a cornerstone of the cello repertoire and thus sparked my interest in these pieces. Within these two papers, I discussed the significance of Beethoven sonatas using an analytical overview of each piece, while also regarding the context of when each piece was composed. For the purpose of this research showcase, I will be highlighting important historical and analytical aspects of each piece that contribute to the significance that these pieces established the precedent of cello sonatas featuring parity between the cello and piano.