Unfinished Sonata 1829
Piano Sonata in E-flat Major
In October-November 1829, Hensel composed three movements of a piano sonata in E-flat major (H246). This work was written in between two significant life events for Fanny: her wedding to Wilhelm Hensel in early October and her reunion with her brother Felix Mendelssohn in December after the siblings’ first extended separation. The sonata was inspired by Beethoven and her brother’s music, and she directly quotes the latter in the first movement. Five years after drafting this unfinished sonata, she repurposed it into her string quartet in E-flat major (H277).
This sonata does not appear to have been previously published. Nor have I been able to find any recordings or performance history of the work, which would make the September 7, 2025 performance by Monica Chew at the Glenview Classical Series’ Henselpushers concert in Oakland, California the world premiere.