Hi Everyone,

I have been playing sonata in A and I was wondering if the D# on the bass in the second variation (first bar) is applied to the right hand. I know te usual rule is that it is, but I have been listening to a recording by Alfred Brendel and he doesn't seem to play it (in the right hand). I have asked a few of the music teachers at my school and the only answer they could come with was 'good question'. If anybody knows I would really appreciate some help.
Thanks

I would keep the RH as D natural - the key is firmly rooted in A major and the melody remains diatonic (using the notes from the A major scale). The LH D sharp is just a decorative chromatic note, even though this produces a false relation with the D natural - eg see bar 6-8 of this variation to see another way in which chromatic decorations are used. If you were to play D sharp in the right hand also, the music would feel like it was modulating to E major, and not in the actual key of A.

Hannah's right. Don't play D sharp in the RH part!

Surely then Alfred Brendel is using the usual rule then, i.e. not to use the accidental for any other than the note shown. Applying the usual rule (haven't seen the score, but from what you've said) would mean not playing the accidental in the right hand (as everyone else has said).

Thanks everyone. It all makes sense now.