Piano Sonata in C Minor, op. 13 ("Pathétique") Flashcards

1
Q

Piano Sonata background information

A
  • piano sonata
  • Ludwig van Beethoven
  • comp 1798
  • 3 mvts
  • solo piano
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Piano Sonata essay sections

A
  • First Movement:
  • Introduction
  • Exposition
  • First Theme
  • Bridge
  • Second Theme Group (Theme 2a)
  • Second Theme Group (Theme 2b)
  • Codetta
  • Development
  • Recapitulation
  • Coda (1)
  • Second Movement
  • Sections A, B, A1, C, A2
  • Coda (2)
  • Third Movement
  • Sections A, B, A1, C, A2, B1, A3
  • Coda (3)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Piano Sonata First Movement:

A
  • C minor
  • Grave (tempo)
  • C (meter)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Piano Sonata Introduction

A
  • homorhythmic texture, crisp, dotted rhythms (French overture)
  • marked accents, unexpected pauses, abrupt change in volume (dramatic contrasts)
  • diminished seventh chords: tension
  • descending chromatic scale: 128th note; cadenza-like passage leads directly into exposition w/o pause
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Piano Sonata Exposition

A
  • C minor
  • sonata form
  • Allegro di molto e con brio (tempo)
  • cut time
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Piano Sonata First Theme

A
  • rapidly ascending right-hand: covers two octaves
  • staccato articulation, braod crescendo: agitated quality
  • left hand: tremolo octaves (rumbling)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Piano Sonata Bridge

A
  • modulate away from tonic key

- syncopation: propel music forward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Piano Sonata Second Theme Group (Theme 2a)

A
  • unexpected modulation to E flat minor instead of E flat major (relative major)
  • register contrast: rapid hand crossing
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Piano Sonata Second Theme Group (Theme 2b)

A
  • E flat major finally established
  • melody and bass contrary motion: move outwards
  • left hand: Alberti-type figuration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Piano Sonata Codetta

A
  • E flat major confirmed
  • fragment of first theme used (in closing measures)
  • exposition repeated from either Grave or Allegro
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Piano Sonata Development

A
  • new key: G minor
  • doted-note figure from intro
  • (m. 137): key signature eliminated: music continues in E minor
  • bridge material combined w/ intro material (w/o dotted rhythms)
  • extended dominant preparation: suspense
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Piano Sonata Recapitulation

A
  • first theme in tonic key (C minor)
  • bridge eliminated (first theme expanded to act as transition)
  • second theme group in F minor (subdominant key) unexpected departure from sonata form conventions
  • after 16 measures, it is restated in C minor
  • Codetta returns, confirm tonic key
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Piano Sonata Coda (1)

A
  • fragments of dotted-rhythms chord from intro
  • absence of downbeat: uncertainty and reminiscence
  • strong authentic cadence marked fortissimo
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Piano Sonata Second Movement

A
  • A flat major
  • rondo form (A B A1 C A2 coda)
  • Adagio cantabile (tempo)
  • 2/4 (meter)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Piano Sonata Section A (2)

A
  • lyrical, legato melody: middle register in top voice
  • accompanied by broken-chord figure also written for right hand pianistic challenge for performer
  • repeated one octave higher (8 measures + 8 measures)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Piano Sonata Section B (2)

A
  • begins in F minor, modulates to Eb major (relative min then dom)
  • new melodic material (right hand)
  • repeated-chord accompaniment (left hand)
17
Q

Piano Sonata Section A1 (2)

A
  • principal melody, middle register

- no repeat, 8 measures only

18
Q

Piano Sonata Section C (2)

A
  • begins Ab minor (tonic minor)
  • triplet accompaniment (insistent): brooding tone
  • modulates to E major (unexpected) (enharmonic spelling Fb major, submediant to A flat minor)
19
Q

Piano Sonata Section A2 (2)

A
  • principal melody return A flat major
  • accompaniment: triplet figure carried over from Section C
  • repeated in upper register (8 measures + 8 measures)
20
Q

Piano Sonata Section Coda (2)

A
  • derived: (m. 4 of) principal melody (Eb - E - F)

- reiterate authentic cadence in Ab major several times

21
Q

Piano Sonata Third Movement

A
  • C minor
  • rondo form (ABACA1B1A2 coda)
  • Allegro
  • cut time
22
Q

Piano Sonata Section A (3)

A
  • right hand melody (agitated): springs from perfect fourth (G to C)
  • melody: wide range, piano, grace notes (embellished)
  • end: authentic cadence C minor
23
Q

Piano Sonata Section B (3)

A
  • begins in F minor, modulates to Eb major
  • right-hand melody: based on scale passages
  • left-hand accompaniment: broken-chord figures
  • temp shift to chordal texture
  • descend scale passage lead to fermata over dom 7 chord (prepare return of Section A)
24
Q

Piano Sonata Section A1 (3)

A

-unaltered

25
Q

Piano Sonata Section C (3)

A
  • begins Ab major
  • contrapuntal texture: contrary motion, dialogue b/t hands
  • syncopation
  • descend staccato scale passage; first left, then right
  • extended dom prep; first w/ 16th note broken-chord figurations, then triplets
  • descend scale passage (identical to end of Section B) (prepare return of Section A)
26
Q

Piano Sonata Section A2 (3)

A
  • begin C minor (like original)

- ending altered: lead directly into Section B w/o authentic cadence

27
Q

Piano Sonata Section B1 (3)

A
  • begin C major, ends in C minor

- shortened, omit descend passage

28
Q

Piano Sonata A3 (3)

A
  • opening “pickup” notes omitted

- shortened, leads directly into coda

29
Q

Piano Sonata Coda (3)

A
  • based on triplet figure from Section B
  • brief reference to opening of Section A
  • descend scale passage leads to forceful authentic cadence