beethoven's pathetique sonata in C minor

Question 1

when was it pubished?

Answer 1

1799

Question 2

what does pathetique mean?

Answer 2

moving or emotional, French term

Question 3

what period was the sonata published in?

Answer 3

late classical period, shows signs of early romantic era

Question 4

what makes the introduction seem emotional?

Answer 4

the minor key, the use of chromatic chords including diminished 7ths, the constant change in dynamics, including sfortzando as well as changes from slow chords to rapid scales

Question 5

what was rare about the start of the sonata?

Answer 5

it started with a slow introduction (most began with an allegro)

Question 6

what key is it in?

Answer 6

C minor

Question 7

how does the piece start?

Answer 7

a 6-note homophonic and chordal motif that is repeated and shortened

Question 8

how does the motif change in the first 4 bars?

Answer 8

it is repeated up a 4th in the 2nd bar, then up a 5th in the 3rd bar, then shortened to 5 notes by leaving out the first chord

Question 9

how does Beethoven modulate to E flat major at the end of the introduction?

Answer 9

he uses rapid virtuosic scalic passages, which also show off his piano playing skills. the passage leads into the start of the ‘rocket theme’

Question 10

what was new about pianos compared to harpsichords in terms of dynamics?

Answer 10

the piano could change dynamics based on the amount of pressure you used to play, which the harpsichord couldn’t do

Question 11

what are the dynamics like in the introduction?

Answer 11

they constantly change, there are many fortepianos, sfortzandos, and crescendos, for example bar 5 where there is a change from piano to fortissimo

Question 12

what is the exposition?

Answer 12

it is the part where the main ideas are heard for the first time

Question 13

what is the normal sonata form?

Answer 13

exposition, development, recapitulation

Question 14

what is the exposition made up of in this sonata?

Answer 14

the first subject and the second subject

Question 15

what is the first subject nicknamed?

Answer 15

the rocket theme

Question 16

what is the tempo marking for the first subject?

Answer 16

allegro di molto e con brio (very fast and with vigour)

Question 17

what is the tempo marking for the intro?

Answer 17

grave (slow)

Question 18

what does the left hand play at the start of the rocket theme?

Answer 18

continuous tremolo quavers which create a pedal effect, and then gradually rises

Question 19

what does the right hand play at the start of the rocket theme?

Answer 19

rising chordal scale

Question 20

what are the dynamics like in the rocket theme?

Answer 20

it crescendos and then goes to piano twice, and then the right hand plays various sfortzandos, until it crescendos again at the transition section

Question 21

when does the transition from the first subject to the subject start and what does it do?

Answer 21

in bar 35, it starts modulating through the bass, the pedal rises chromatically from G to Bb (the fifth in Eb, showing that it will modulate to Eb minor), and it contains diminished chords

Question 22

what is unusual about the first section of the 2nd subject?

Answer 22

it is played with crossed hands, the LH stays in the treble clef from bar 51 to bar 91 (a few bars into the second section), the right hand changes between treble and bass clef during the first section

Question 23

what ornaments are used in the second subject?

Answer 23

mordents and acciaccaturas

Question 24

what does Beethoven do in the second subject that sounds like an early romantic thing?

Answer 24

he temporarily modulates to Db, which is harmonically more adventurous (as the romantic composers were), Db is the 7th of Eb min and isn’t in the original key of the piece (C minor)

Question 25

what is the pedal in the left hand in the second subject?

Answer 25

it is on the dominant of Eb, Bb