beethoven's pathetique sonata in C minor Flashcards
when was it pubished?
1799
what does pathetique mean?
moving or emotional, French term
what period was the sonata published in?
late classical period, shows signs of early romantic era
what makes the introduction seem emotional?
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
what was rare about the start of the sonata?
it started with a slow introduction (most began with an allegro)
what key is it in?
C minor
how does the piece start?
a 6-note homophonic and chordal motif that is repeated and shortened
how does the motif change in the first 4 bars?
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
how does Beethoven modulate to E flat major at the end of the introduction?
he uses rapid virtuosic scalic passages, which also show off his piano playing skills. the passage leads into the start of the ‘rocket theme’
what was new about pianos compared to harpsichords in terms of dynamics?
the piano could change dynamics based on the amount of pressure you used to play, which the harpsichord couldn’t do
what are the dynamics like in the introduction?
they constantly change, there are many fortepianos, sfortzandos, and crescendos, for example bar 5 where there is a change from piano to fortissimo
what is the exposition?
it is the part where the main ideas are heard for the first time
what is the normal sonata form?
exposition, development, recapitulation
what is the exposition made up of in this sonata?
the first subject and the second subject
what is the first subject nicknamed?
the rocket theme
what is the tempo marking for the first subject?
allegro di molto e con brio (very fast and with vigour)
what is the tempo marking for the intro?
grave (slow)
what does the left hand play at the start of the rocket theme?
continuous tremolo quavers which create a pedal effect, and then gradually rises
what does the right hand play at the start of the rocket theme?
rising chordal scale
what are the dynamics like in the rocket theme?
it crescendos and then goes to piano twice, and then the right hand plays various sfortzandos, until it crescendos again at the transition section
when does the transition from the first subject to the subject start and what does it do?
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
what is unusual about the first section of the 2nd subject?
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
what ornaments are used in the second subject?
mordents and acciaccaturas
what does Beethoven do in the second subject that sounds like an early romantic thing?
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)
