Casestudy: ‘Choral’ - Beethoven Flashcards
When did Beethoven write this piece?
1823/4.
Which symphony number is this?
Symphony No. 9.
What key is this piece in?
D minor.
How does its instrumentation defy conventions?
Its proportions are gigantic, using the largest orchestra Beethoven ever scored for.
What instrumentation does Beethoven use?
4 horns
3 trombones
Piccolo
Contrabassoon
Bass drum
Triangle
Cymbals
SATB soloists
Choir
What tempo is the first movement?
Allegro.
What form is the first movement in?
Sonata form.
Describe the tonality of the opening of the first movement.
Beethoven suggests A major through using bare 5th.
D minor is not firmly established until bar 17.
Describe the harmonic change of the first movement.
Slow, which adds solemnity to the content.
What does the development of the first movement include?
Triple fugue.
How does Beethoven develop the material in the first movement?
Main theme is presented in both major and minor variations.
Presented in a variety of figuration.
How does the structure of the first movement differ from convention?
It is slightly vague, and not totally defined with no distinction between sections.
How does the coda of the first movement differ from convention?
It is essentially another development section.
What does the coda of the first movement include?
Chromatic 4th.
What is the coda in the first movement similar to?
Beethoven’s No. 3.
