Andante favori [SEP] instrumentation
Andante favori
The Andante favori is a work for piano solo by Ludwig van Beethoven. In catalogues of Beethoven's works, it is designated as WoO 57.
Composition and reception.
The "Andante favori" was written between 1803 and 1804, and published in 1805. It was originally intended to be the second of the three movements of Beethoven's "Waldstein" piano sonata, Opus 53. The following extract from Thayer's Beethoven biography explains the change
The reason for the title was given by Beethoven's
pupil Czerny, quoted in Thayer: "Because of its popularity (for Beethoven played it frequently in society) he gave it the title "Andante favori" ("favored Andante").
The music.
The "Andante favori" is in F major (the subdominant of the "Waldstein" key), in 3/8 time, and is marked "Andante grazioso con moto". Formally, the work is a rondo, with each return of the theme appearing in varied form. The theme itself is fairly