Piano Sonata No.8 ‘Pathetique’ Movement 1 - Ludwig van Beethoven Flashcards

1
Q

What bars is the introduction comprised of?

A
  • bars 1-10
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2
Q

What is the tempo and key of the introduction and what mood does it present?

A
  • grave - very slow
  • c minor - tonic - briefly modulating to Eb major (relative major)
  • solemn mood
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3
Q

What form is the piece in and how is this piece unusual to the form?

A

Sonata - usually sonatas don’t have introductions

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4
Q

What can be heard in bar one with a homophonic texture?

A
  • a distinct 6-note motif
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5
Q

What was typical of the first and last movements of sonatas, symphonies and other pieces of the time?

A
  • complex structures
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6
Q

What is the time signature?

A

4/4

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7
Q

What chords can be heard in the introduction and specifically which bars?

A
  • chromatic chords, especially diminished 7ths
  • bars 1 and 3
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8
Q

Where in the introduction is there a brief modulation to Eb major and what is its relation to the tonic of C minor?

A
  • bar 5
  • relative major
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9
Q

Where in the introduction is the 6-note motif repeated?

A
  • used throughout the introduction in different textures and keys
  • bar 5
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10
Q

Describe the dynamics in the introduction.

A
  • beethoven’s use of constant dynamic contrast - frequent use of forte piano and sforzando
  • bars 5 and 6, ‘sfp’ on bar 9
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11
Q

What is an important rhythmic feature of the introduction?

A
  • dotted rhythms
  • bar 7
  • rapid scalic flourishes
  • introduction ends with a long descending chromatic scale in bar 10
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12
Q

State an example of an interrupted cadence in the introduction.

A
  • bar 9
  • chords V -> VI (G7 -> Ab)
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13
Q

What are the note values of the rapid notes?

A
  • septuplets
  • 1/128th notes in bar 10
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14
Q

What bars does the exposition (1st subject) consist of?

A
  • bars 11-50
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15
Q

What key and tempo is the exposition in?

A
  • c minor tonic
  • allegro di molto e con brio - very fast and with vigour
  • main allegro di molto e con brio section is in alla breve time (cut time) - a fast 2 in the bar
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16
Q

Describe the sonata form.

A
  • 3 main parts
  • exposition, development, recapitulation
  • this piece also has an introduction
  • similar to ternary (ABA) but more complex
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17
Q

What does the exposition contain?

A
  • two main subjects - first in the tonic and second usually in the dominant or another related key
  • SUBJECT - a theme/group of themes
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18
Q

What is the range of subject 1 theme of exposition and what is the subject 1 first theme commonly known as?

A
  • range of 2 octaves
  • the rocket theme
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19
Q

What does the left hand of the piano play in the exposition - subject 1, theme 1?

A
  • plays tremolo octaves
  • bars 11-15 - also form a tonic pedal on C -> known as the murky bass - alberti bass
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20
Q

What happens in bar 27?

A
  • subsidiary theme begins + features sforzandos and descending arpeggios
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21
Q

What chordal features does the sonata feature?

A
  • chromatic chords
  • dim. 7th chords
  • augmented chords - bars 30 + 34
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22
Q

When does the transition into the 2nd subject begin and what does it consist of?

A
  • bar 35
  • based on main theme, uses sequences and modulates to the relative major (Eb major) through dominant preparation
23
Q

What bars is the exposition 2nd subject theme 1 in?

A
  • bars 51-88
24
Q

What key is the exposition 2nd subject theme 1 in’?

A
  • key of Eb minor - unrelated
25
Q

What are the key features in the exposition 2nd subject theme 1?

A
  • hand-crossing technique where the right hand moves down over the left to play 4 staccato notes , e.g. bar 51
26
Q

Which ornaments can you hear in the exposition 2nd subject theme 1?

A
  • acciaccatura - bar 52 and 69/70
  • stepwise descending phrase featuring mordents - bar 56-57
  • upper mordents - bars 65-66 and 73-74
27
Q

what key is the pedal in and which bars in the exposition 2nd subject- theme 1 ?

A
  • dominant - Bb
  • bars 51-62
28
Q

compare the exposition, 2nd subject - theme 1 with the other theme/subject.

A
  • much more lyrical
  • crossed hands - creates a dialogue/antiphonal effect
  • left hand accompaniment is much simpler
29
Q

what is an important rhythmic feature in the exposition 2nd subject theme 1?

A
  • hand crossing
  • in right hand of second subject 1st theme
  • bars 67-68
30
Q

bars 67-68 - what key does the piece temporarily move to?

A
  • Db major
31
Q

which bars does the exposition 2nd subject - theme 2 consist of?

A
  • bars 89-120
32
Q

what key is the exposition 2nd subject theme 2 in and how is it related to the key of the piece in C minor?

A
  • Eb major
  • relative major
33
Q

describe the texture, dynamics and rhythm and bars in the exposition subject 2 theme 2?

A
  • new broken chord texture
  • two part texture with broken chords in the second idea of the second subject is a distinctive feature - bar 96-97
  • crescendo - bar 93
  • rhythm - continuous quavers like the distinctive feature of the accompaniment of the first subject - bar 106
34
Q

which bars does the exposition 2nd subject - theme 3/ codetta consist of?

A

bars 113-132

35
Q

what key is the exposition 2nd subject theme 3/codetta in and how is it related to the key of the piece in C minor?

A
  • Eb major
  • relative major to C minor
36
Q

describe the melody of the exposition 2nd subject theme 3/codetta.

A
  • scalic melody - bars 117-118
37
Q

what does codetta section mean?

A
  • short rounding off section
  • repeats whole exposition
38
Q

which bars does reprise of intro consist of?

A
  • bars 133-136 (four bars)
39
Q

describe the tempo and key of the reprise of intro.

A
  • grave - very slow
  • g minor
  • dominant of c minor -> g minor
40
Q

which bars does the development consist of?

A
  • bars 137-194
41
Q

describe the tonality, tempo and melody with bars of the development.

A
  • e minor (unrelated key)- long dominant preparation where dominant note g is played in rapid alternating octaves in bass as pedal
  • allegro di molto e con brio
  • introduces the main first subject theme
  • fragments of main first subject theme are heard in the bass from bar 149
  • brief passage in thirds (bars 181-187)
42
Q

which ornaments are heard in the development and what rhythmic/melodic feature does it lead to?

A
  • passage of trills in bars 181-187
  • leads to descending, 8-bar monophonic quaver passage in the right hand (187-194) which links to the end of the development to the start of the recapitulation
43
Q

what is the purpose of the development?

A
  • follows the exposition
  • develops earlier tunes, especially by modulation
44
Q

describe the general texture of the development/sonata.

A
  • predominantly melody dominated homophony
  • except for short monophonic passage (187-194)
45
Q

which bars does the recapitulation 1st subject consist of?

A
  • bars 195-220
46
Q

describe the tonality and tempo of the recapitulation of the 1st subject.

A
  • c minor key (tonic)
  • speed - allegro - brisk speed, fast, quickly and bright
47
Q

describe how beethoven didn’t follow norms of the classical period.

A
  • sonatas didn’t usually have intros
  • recapitulation 2nd subject begins in sub-dominant, not tonic
  • harmonically more adventurous, quite romantic
48
Q

what is the purpose of the recapitulation?

A
  • reinstates the exposition but with both subjects now firmly in the tonic key
  • alters keys of 2nd subject material
49
Q

which bars does the recapitulation 2nd subject - theme 1 consist of?

A
  • 221-252
50
Q

describe the tonality of the recapitulation subject 2 theme 1.

A
  • starts in f minor - unexpected subdominant
  • bar 233 onwards- modulation to expected C minor tonic key
  • bars 244-249 - frequent modulations using circle of fifths - (G7 -> Cm), (F7 -> Bb minor), (Eb7 -> Ab)
51
Q

which bars does the recapitulation end subject theme 2 consist of and describe the tonality?

A
  • bars 253-276
  • tonic key of C minor
52
Q

which bars does the recapitulation end subject theme 3/codetta consist of and describe the tonality/harmony/dynamics?

A
  • bars 277-294
  • tonic key of C minor
  • finishes with 2 fortissimo diminished 7th chords - bar 293-294
53
Q

what is a diminished 7th?

A
  • a four-note chord made up solely of minor third intervals - e.g. bar 294
54
Q

which bars does the coda consist of and describe the tempo, tonality, and harmony?

A
  • bars 295-309
  • material from reprise of intro for first four bars - G minor - dominant of C minor
  • grave (v.slow)
  • allegro from bar 299-309
  • key of c minor from bar 299
  • ends with fortissimo perfect cadences using dominant 7th in the tonic key