Beethoven

Question 1

What were the advantages of the pianoforte to the harpsichord?

Answer 1

You could have rapid contrasts in dynamics, sudden accents and effects such as crescendo and diminuendo

Question 2

Give examples of 4 classical composers

Answer 2

Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert

Question 3

When Beethoven was 21 where did he move to and what did he move to do?

Answer 3

He moved to Vienna, Austria where he established his reputation as a virtuoso pianist, improvising and playing his own compositions as well as the works of others in private and public concerts

Question 4

How did Beethoven aknowledge the support the Viennese nobility gave him?

Answer 4

He dedicated his published works to them

Question 5

Who is this set work dedicated to?

Answer 5

Prince Karl von Lichnowsky

Question 6

What is a classical sonata?

Answer 6

A work in 3 or 4 movements each different in mood but relays in key, written for either solo piano or for a solo instrument with a piano

Question 7

What genre is this set work?

Answer 7

The first movement of a piano sonata

Question 8

Where were piano sonatas usually performed?

Answer 8

In the home either (if it were simple) by the daughters of aristocratic families of if it were harder then by celebrated pianists

Question 9

How many sonatas did Beethoven write and which one is this?

Answer 9

He wrote 32 and this is no.8

Question 10

When was this set work published and what was it’s title?

Answer 10

It was published in 1799 under the title of Grande Sonate Pathetique (meaning passionate)

Question 11

What’s the difference between the pianos used nowadays and the piano used then?

Answer 11

The old ones had wooden frames that could not support the high tension strings used on the iron frames pianos of today so the tone was lighter and less sonorous

Question 12

How many octaves does this set work span?

Answer 12

5

Question 13

How does Beethoven exploit the range of the piano?

Answer 13

Be uses long and rapid descents, wide leaps and uses of different registers (e.g. both hand in the treble clef and both in the bass clef)

Question 14

How does he use dynamics?

Answer 14

Wide range- from pp to ff with sudden contrats. He also uses crescendo’s and diminuendo’s and occasional forceful accents

Question 15

What does Beethhovens piano writing include?

Answer 15

The need for the right hand to cross over to the left, wide separation of the hands (they move apart in contrary motion) and thick dense chords in the low register

Question 16

When was the Classical period?

Answer 16

Between about 1750 and 1825

Question 17

What are the features in this set work that look forward to the romantic style of composition?

Answer 17

Emotional outbursts, extreme contrasts in dynamic and adventurous choices of keys and an unusual structure

Question 18

This set work was written in sonata form. What does this mean?

Answer 18

It has 3 main sections:
-exposition which introduces the first subject in the tonic key and the second subject in the dominant or related key

• development in which ideas from the exposition are transformed and taken through more unrelated keys
• recapitulation in which the exposition returns but altered to now mainly stay in the tonic key

Question 19

What is unusual in the structure of this piano sonata compared to other classical piano sonatas?

Answer 19

It starts with a slow introduction

Question 20

What happens from bars 1-10?

Answer 20

Slow introduction in c minor

Question 21

What happens from bars 11-121?

Answer 21

Exposition

Question 22

What happens from bars 11-35

Answer 22

First subject in c minor

Question 23

What happens from bars 35-51?

Answer 23

Transition, this links the first and second subjects and it modulates to the dominant of eb over a rising chromatic bass

Question 24

What happens from bars 52- 89

Answer 24

2nd subject starts in eb minor then goes to Bb major (dominant of the related major)

Question 25

What happens in bars 121?

Answer 25

The codetta. It ends the exposition by affirming that it has modulated to eb major.

Question 26

What happens after bar 121?

Answer 26

Exposition is repeated

Question 27

What happens in bars 133- 167?

Answer 27

Development

Question 28

What happens in bar 133?

Answer 28

Material from the opening of the snow introduction Returns in C minor. An enharmonic change leads to an abrupt modulation to e minor

Question 29

What happens in bar 137?

Answer 29

Adaptations of transition theme all in e minor. Then there are modulation through d major to g minor

Question 30

What happens in bar 167?

Answer 30

28 bars of dominant preparation with dominant pedal on g followed by descending quavers

Question 31

What happens from bars 195-295

Answer 31

Recapitulation

Question 32

What happens in bar 195?

Answer 32

Return of 1st subject in tonic key (c minor) modified to from a 4 bar sequence that ends on a chord of c major

Question 33

What happens in 221?

Answer 33

2nd subject unexpectedly in f minor before moving to c minor

Question 34

What happens in bar 295?

Answer 34

Coda. Ends the movement by affirming the tonic key

Question 35

How many notes is the introductorary motif made up of?

Answer 35

6

Question 36

How does the slow introduction end?

Answer 36

With a rapid descending chromatic scale

Question 37

What is periodic phrasing?

Answer 37

Where the first subject is repeated an octave higher and then balanced by 4 bars o longer notes.

Question 38

What is rhythmic augmentation?

Answer 38

When a more value is doubled in length

Question 39

What ornaments does Beethoven use in this set work?

Answer 39

Acciaccatura, the mordent and the tri

Question 40

What is the time signature and tempo marking of the introduction?

Answer 40

4 and grave (very slow)

4

Question 41

What does the instruction tempo 1 mean?

Answer 41

To return to the initial (grave) tempo

Question 42

What is the time signature and tempo markings of the main part of the movement

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Describe the Rhythm in this set work

Answer 43

• dotted rhythms and very short notes in the introduction
• occasional syncopation occurs among the staccato crotchets of the allegro
• The constant quavers in the long sections of the left hand part create the effect of an ostinato
• some passages consist of consistent quavers in both hands to drive the music forwards

Question 44

Describe the tonality of this set work

Answer 44

The key is C minor with modulation to related keys (g minor and eb major) as well as modulations to distant keys such as e minor and f minor. The 28 bars of dominant preparation include a long dominant pedal on g

Question 45

What sort of cadences does Beethoven use?

Answer 45

Imperfect (first 4 bars. 1-5). Perfect (second 8 bars) and interupeted in bar 9

Question 46

Give examples of chromatic chords used and where they are found.

Answer 46

• diminished 7th on the first beats of bars 2,3 and 4

* augmented 6th in the second half of bars 30 and 34

Question 47

Describe the texture in this extract

Answer 47

• Homophonic (densely chords at start of introduction) followed by melody and accompaniment in the allsgro.
• bars 93-98 have a two part texture
• bars 187-194 are monophonic
• broken octaves and broken chords are also both used

Question 48

What does sFz mean?

Answer 48

Sforzando. Forced. Sudden accents