In October 1801 Beethoven offered a “grand sonata for the pianoforte” to the Viennese Kunst- und Industrie-Comptoir. His sonata in D major which was published in the following year has been inseparably connected with its nickname ever since the first English edition proclaimed “Sonate Pastorale” on its title page.

The musicologist Jonathan Del Mar, intimate connoisseur of Beethoven’s music, evaluates all sources and editions published during Beethoven’s lifetime for the present scholarly-critical Urtext edition. Particularly enlightening is the chapter on period performance practice which sheds light on certain issues of Beethoven’s instruments and their range, the usage of the pedals, tempo, dynamics, articulation and ornaments. The Introduction offers information on the work and its genesis. The detailed Critical Commentary accounts for sources, readings and editorial emendations. A clear appearance on the page and good page turns facilitate the study of this work which has been perceived as pastoral and lyrical by its audiences ever since its first performances.