Example 35:
Thematic link between the Scherzo and first movement: the rising
fifth
One final note concerning thematic and rhythmic
interconnections between movements should be included here. Leiken points out
that the prolonged repetitions of a single note seen at the beginning of the
Funeral March is also the backbone of the main theme of the Scherzo and the
closing section of the first movement.
This is possibly the final nail in the coffin for the "lack of structural
unity" theory.
This concludes the study of the reception of Chopin's
Second Piano Sonata. From the early writings of Schumann to the very recent
ones of Samson, a definite trend of increased awareness and understanding of this
work is noticeable. Before concluding this dissertation, however, a separate
chapter will be devoted to the Finale. While it has been touched upon earlier,
many remarks have been deliberately held back until this point. An attempt will
be made to trace the problematic reception of this movement by examining the
writings of various commentators, almost all of whom have already been
mentioned in the dissertation.
