Romantic Period

Question 1

Sonata Pathétique has ——– movements

Answer 1

Three

Question 2

Tempo

Answer 2

Variations in tempo:

Introduction- Grave (very slow and solemn)

Other sections- Allegro di molto e con brio (very fast and played with spirit

Question 3

Coda?

Answer 3

The piece ends with a coda which mirrors the exposition

Question 4

Transitions?

Answer 4

Short 4 bar references to the introduction, played slow, in contrast to the main sections

Question 5

Exposition- Theme A

Answer 5

Bars 11-50:
Starts in C minor. Rising and falling music with a ‘Murky Bass’ (bass line using a pattern of broken octaves

Question 6

Exposition- Theme B

Answer 6

Bars 51-88:
Starts in Eb minor. Unusual as commonly you would modulate to the relative major, however, it stays minor

Question 7

Exposition- Theme C

Answer 7

Bars 89-134:
Beethoven now uses the relative major (Eb major). A lot of the music is made up of broken chords, using an Alberti Bass where chords are played as separate notes.

Question 8

Development

Answer 8

Bars 139-196
Variation of theme A and this can be heard most in the staccato parts. Murky bass continues and broken octaves are used in the RH part (151-168).

References to the introduction (142-143) mirrors the first phrase of bar 5. There are a number of modulations in the section

Question 9

Recapitulation

Answer 9

Bars 197-296:
Each of the three expositions appear. Theme A is in the same key as the exposition (C minor). Theme B and C are in different keys. Theme C is in C minor which leads to the final reference to theme A at the end of the section.

Theme A returns once more in the Coda and ends with ‘ff’ and a perfect cadence.