Echoes of Farewell: A Comparative Analysis of Beethoven’s Op.81a and Dussek’s Op.44 Piano Sonatas

Beethoven's outstanding contribution to the piano sonata is inseparable from the profound influence of his predecessors, such as Haydn, Cramer, etc. Dussek, as one of the significant composers among them, also had a remarkable impact on Beethoven.This paper aims to explore the similarities between Beethoven's Op.81a and Dussek's Op.44, two sonatas with the same theme of "Farewell".It specifically compares and analyses numerous relevant examples in the scores of these two works, focusing on their tonal structure, contrapuntal features, melodic characteristics, and rhythmic attributes, so as to further reveal the close relationship between these two composers in the creation of sonatas and highlight Beethoven's active exploration and innovation in breaking the form and expressive method of the traditional piano sonatas.These findings not only provide valuable insights for further exploring the transition between classical and romantic music and the research on subsequent composers influenced by Beethoven and Dussek's works but also supply additional comparative examples among these closely related piano sonatas, offering useful references for scholars in the field.