Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 4, in E♭ major, Op. 7, sometimes nicknamed the Grand Sonata, was written in November 1796 and dedicated to his student Babette, the Countess Keglević. The sonata was composed during Beethoven's visit to the Keglevich Palace. Beethoven named it Great Sonata, because it was published alone, which was unusual for the time. Along with the Hammerklavier Sonata, it is one of the longest piano sonatas that Beethoven composed. A typical performance lasts about 28 minutes.

Structure

The sonata is laid out in four movements:

1. Allegro molto e con brio, (E-flat major)
2. Largo, con gran espressione, (C major)
3. Allegro, (E-flat major - Trio in E-flat minor)
4. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso, (E-flat major)

I. Allegro molto e con brio

The first movement is in sonata form.

II. Largo con gran espressione

The second movement is in ternary form.

III. Allegro

The third movement is in scherzo and trio form.

IV. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso

The fourth movement is in rondo form. This movement of the sonata in particular was featured in the documentary Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037