Beethoven: Pathétique Flashcards
Basic information
- Published in 1799
- Composed during the Classical period (1750 - 1820s)
Introduction features
- Bars 1-10
- Grave - slow, solemn
- C minor (bars 1-4)
- Free tempo (unpredictable)
- Homophonic texture
- E flat major (relative major, bar 5)
- Strong dynamic contrast
- Chromatic, with run in bar 10
Exposition features
- 1st subject in C minor (bar 11)
- Transition in bar 35, modulates to B flat major in bar 43
- 2nd subject (bar 51) begins in Eb minor
- second part of second subject (b. 89) is now in Eb major
- Codetta (b. 121) hints at 1st subject
Metre and tempo
Introductive - grave
First subject - allegro di molto e con brio
Introduction: 4/4
Exposition: 2/2
Melody
Bar 1 - dotted semiquaver motif used throughout the introduction
Bar 10 - long, rapid, descending chromatic run
First subject - rising staccato theme over two octaves
Second subject - lyrical, legato with use of acciaccaturas and mordents
Development - fragments of the introduction and exposition melodies
Harmony and tonality
- C minor
- Modulation to related keys (E flat major, G minor) and more remote keys such as E minor)
Exposition
Introduces the first subject in the tonic key and the second subject in the dominant or other related key
Development
ideas from the exposition are transformed and taken through keys that are more distant from the tonic
Recapitulation
the music of the exposition returns, but altered to now stay mainly in the tonic key
Transition
links the first and second subjects. It modulates to the related key in the exposition but has to be changed to remain in the tonic for the recap
Codetta
ends the exposition by affirming the related key to which the music has modulated
Coda
ends the movement by affirming its tonic key
