Beethoven's second compositional phase, often known as his heroic period, is most obviously exemplified in the Eroica Symphony of 1803-4. But, as the slow movement of his Op. 26 Piano Sonata shows ...

In his next sonata ( Op. 90 ) he would reject Italian tempo markings as being Napoleonic, and later even replace pianoforte with Hammerklavier. Beethoven began the first movement of his E flat ...