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