Schumann's Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22, is often celebrated as the most perfectly realized of his three sonatas, balancing his characteristic Romanic turbulence with a remarkably taut, classical structure. Written between 1833 and 1838, the work is famous for its relentless energy, particularly in the first movement, where the performance markings famously demand the music be played "as fast as possible," followed by "faster," and finally "faster still." While the outer movements are driven by a feverish, driving pulse, the heart of the sonata lies in its second movement, Andantino, which is based on an early song by Schumann titled Im Herbste. This movement provides a sublime, lyrical contrast to the surrounding virtuosity. Despite its technical demands and the famously "impossible" tempo indications, the sonata remains a staple of the repertoire due to its organic flow and the sheer intensity of its emotional expression.
This edition is a reissue of music originally published by Breitkopf & Hartel, Leipzig..
