The Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110, by Ludwig van
Beethoven (pictured) was published in 1822; the autograph score bears
the date 25 December 1821. Though the sonata was commissioned in 1820,
Beethoven did not begin work on Op. 110 until the latter half of 1821
due to factors such as his work on the Missa solemnis and his
deteriorating health. The piece is in three movements. The Moderato
first movement follows a typical sonata form with an expressive and
cantabile opening theme. The Allegro second movement begins with a terse
but humorous scherzo, which Martin Cooper believes is based on two folk
songs, followed by a trio section. The last movement comprises multiple
contrasting sections: a slow introductory recitative, an arioso dolente,
a fugue, a return of the arioso, and a second fugue that builds to a
passionate and heroic conclusion. The sonata has been recorded by
pianists such as Artur Schnabel, Glenn Gould, and Alfred Brendel.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Sonata_No._31_%28Beethoven%29>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1831:
A Baptist preacher named Samuel Sharpe began an unsuccessful
eleven-day slave revolt in Jamaica.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptist_War>
1927:
The Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng, a revolutionary socialist
political party that sought Vietnamese independence from French colonial
rule, was formed in Hanoi.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vi%E1%BB%87t_Nam_Qu%E1%BB%91c_D%C3%A2n_%C4%90%E1%BA%A3ng>
1941:
Second World War: The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began
when Mark Aitchison Young, the Governor of Hong Kong, surrendered the
territory to Japan after 18 days of fierce fighting.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Hong_Kong>
1991:
In a nationally televised speech, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as
President of the Soviet Union.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Gorbachev>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
Kris Kringle:
1. Synonym of Christkind (“a personification of the baby Jesus who, in
German-speaking parts of Europe, takes the place of Santa Claus in
bringing gifts to people at Christmastime”)
2. Synonym of Santa Claus
3. Synonym of secret Santa (“a Christmas tradition where a group of
people give anonymous gifts to each other, with each person randomly
selected to give a gift to one other person; a person who anonymously
gives a present to another in such a gift exchange”)
4. A gift given in a Kris Kringle or secret Santa gift exchange.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kris_Kringle>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or
other, it came just the same! And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-
cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
"It came without ribbons! It came without tags! "It came without
packages, boxes, or bags!" And he puzzled and puzzled, till his puzzler
was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe
Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more."
--Dr. Seuss
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dr._Seuss>