Beethoven Eroica

Question 1

How many movements are in the symphony?

Answer 1

Standard 4 movements

Question 2

What is the key of the 1st movement?

Answer 2

Eb major

Question 3

What is unique about the length of the symphony compared to previous symphonies?

Answer 3

Double the length of most previous symphonies - about 45-50 mins

Question 4

What replaces the minuet and trio in the 3rd movement?

Answer 4

Energetic Scherzo

Question 5

What form does the 1st movement follow?

Answer 5

Sonata form

Question 6

What occurs in the development section of the 1st movement?

Answer 6

Explores minor keys and includes a new theme in Em

Question 7

How does the recapitulation in the 1st movement challenge expectations?

Answer 7

Horns play the first two bars of the 1st subject apparently four bars early

Question 8

What characterizes the coda of the 1st movement?

Answer 8

Very long and doesn’t initially reinforce the tonic key

Question 9

What is the key of the 2nd movement?

Answer 9

Relative minor (Cm)

Question 10

How long is the 2nd movement compared to standard movements?

Answer 10

14-18 mins

Question 11

What does the 2nd movement portray?

Answer 11

A funeral procession and expressions of grief

Question 12

What is the form of the 3rd movement?

Answer 12

Ternary form

Question 13

What is a notable feature of the 4th movement?

Answer 13

Theme and variations

Question 14

What begins the 4th movement before the theme and variations?

Answer 14

An initial flourish/call to attention

Question 15

What is the tonality of the 1st, 3rd, and 4th movements?

Answer 15

Tonic key (Eb major)

Question 16

What is a key feature of Beethoven’s harmonic exploration?

Answer 16

Extensive exploration of distant keys

Question 17

How does Beethoven use dissonance in the symphony?

Answer 17

Prolongs dissonances to create tension

Question 18

What is a striking feature of the 2nd movement?

Answer 18

Slow, funereal Cm with moments of major brightness

Question 19

What texture is primarily used in the symphony?

Answer 19

Much MDH (melody-dominated homophony)

Question 20

What is the significance of counterpoint in the 2nd movement?

Answer 20

Extensive Fugue

Question 21

How are melodies constructed in this symphony?

Answer 21

From short motifs which then develop

Question 22

What is unusual about the time signature of the 1st movement?

Answer 22

It is in 3/4

Question 23

What dynamic range does the symphony exploit?

Answer 23

Full dynamic range of the orchestra

Question 24

What instrumentation is notable in the symphony?

Answer 24

Use of 3 horns

Question 25

Does the symphony have a programmatic intent?

Answer 25

No explicit program but titled 'Heroic' symphony

Question 26

What does the 1st movement suggest in terms of programmatic intent?

Answer 26

Dramatic and turbulent music which struggles to reach the tonic

Question 27

Fill in the blank: The 2nd movement is most programmatic as it suggests a _______.

Answer 27

Funeral march

Question 28

True or False: The 4th movement ends with a celebratory flourish.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

How did the structure of the symphony change from 1750 to 1900?

Answer 29

a) The length of it was double previous ones - 45 minutes rather than 20 minutes. b) The 3rd movement started straying from the typical "minuet and trio" (Eroica's third movement is a scherzo)

Question 30

How did the role and nature of 1st movements change from 1750 to 1900?

Answer 30

a) It includes an extensive development section that explores minor and tonally distant keys, which it did not do previously in time. b) Codas are long and don't do what they had done previously - enforce the tonic key.

Question 31

How has the role and nature of 2nd movements changed from 1750 to 1900?

Answer 31

a) Less often in the subdominant - can be in the relative minor more often b) Longer than standard 2nd movements

Question 32

How has the role and nature of 3rd movements changed from 1750-1900?

Answer 32

a) Scherzo rather than minuet and trio b) Allegro vivace rather than elegant

Question 33

How has the role and nature of finales changed from 1750 to 1900?

Answer 33

a) Starts out with bare bones of theme (does not sound like a melody), which is unusual as usually starts full and tutti

Question 34

How have composers' approach to tonality and harmony changed from 1750 to 1900?

Answer 34

In later symphonies, composers often can base more on a sense of stability and disturbance rather than staying predictable and pleasant. There is also use of dissonance, but prolonged rather than just touched on like previously.

Question 35

How have composers' use of texture changed from 1750 to 1900?

Answer 35

a) More fugues than previously b) MDH was the main use in early symphonies, but then counterpoint was used more in later symphonies

Question 36

How has melody and melodic development in the symphony evolved from 1750 to 1900?

Answer 36

a) Melodies constructed from short motifs which then develop b) In later symphonies, the melody is not always played by violin, and other instruments (eg cellos) get melody more than before

Question 37

How have composers treated rhythm and metre in the symphony from 1750 to 1900?

Answer 37

Use of hemiola and rhythm disruption is used

Question 38

How has the development of the orchestra impacted symphonic composers?

Answer 38

More instruments meant composers could exploit the full dynamic range. Having more of each instrument (eg horns) also meant more harmonically complex music could be written.