Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Volume 1 (Nos. 1-8) Alfred Masterwork Edition

Beethoven – Piano Sonatas Volume 1 (Nos. 1–8) brings together the first eight sonatas in a carefully edited Alfred Masterwork Edition by Stewart Gordon. This volume includes Op. 2, Nos. 1–3; Op. 7; Op. 10, Nos. 1–3; and the well-known Op. 13 “Pathétique.”

These early sonatas, written between 1795 and 1799, show Beethoven building on Classical structure while already pushing beyond it. For advancing students, this collection marks the transition from shorter Classical works into large-scale sonata form with deeper technical and interpretive demands.

This edition is especially useful for serious study. Since Beethoven’s original manuscripts no longer exist for these works, Stewart Gordon based this volume on first published editions. The commentary addresses articulation, ornamentation, tempo, pedaling considerations, and the instruments Beethoven had available at the time. Where interpretation is debated, alternative editorial viewpoints are presented so teachers and students can make informed decisions.

We typically see this volume used by:

• Late intermediate to advanced high school students

• College piano majors beginning formal sonata study

• Teachers preparing students for competitions and juries

• Pianists working toward a full Beethoven cycle

The fingering suggestions are practical without being overbearing, and the engraving is clean across its 244 pages. For students preparing Op. 13 “Pathétique” in particular, having the surrounding sonatas in the same volume provides helpful stylistic context.

If you’re building a long-term classical piano library, this is a foundational book. And if your teacher assigned “Beethoven Sonatas, Alfred Volume 1,” this is the edition they’re likely referring to.

Specifications:

SKU: 242901
Publisher SKU: 00-16743
UPC: 038081175690
ISBN-13: 9780739027356
ISBN-10: 0739027352
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Editor: Stewart Gordon
Publisher: Alfred Music
Published: 2002
Binding: Paperback
Series: Alfred Masterwork Editions
Format: Collection / Songbook
Instrument: Piano Solo
Level: Late Intermediate to Advanced
Form: Sonata
Genres: Classical Period, Romantic Period
Number of Pages: 244
Item Type: Physical
Usages: School and Community
Shipping Weight: 2.19 lbs
Language: English