La Campanella

Question 1

Genre

Answer 1

piano etude

Question 2

date of composition

Answer 2

1838, revised in 1851

Question 3

original title of collection:

Answer 3

Etudes d’execution transcendante d’apres Paganini

Question 4

English translation of the title

Answer 4

the little bell

Question 5

source of thematic material

Answer 5

violin concerto NO.2 in B minor by Nicolo Paganini

Question 6

Key

Answer 6

G sharp minor

Question 7

tempo

Answer 7

allegretto

Question 8

time signature

Answer 8

6/8

Question 9

Form

Answer 9

A B A1 B1 A2 B2 A3 coda (ABABABA, but A and B are different each time and there is a coda).

Question 10

From what measure to what measure is the introduction?

Answer 10

m 1-3

Question 11

What does the pedal point on high D# represent?

Answer 11

The bell

Question 12

What adds to the technical difficulty of part A?

Answer 12

wide leaps in the RH part

Question 13

Which section presents the main theme?

Answer 13

Part A

Question 14

What measures are covered by Section A?

Answer 14

Measures 4-20

Question 15

What measures are covered in section B?

Answer 15

Measures 21-25

Question 16

Which of the following best describes section B?
A) florid LH arpeggios that add contrast to the staccato A section
B) features an ascending sequential pattern that builds anticipation, with increased chromatic harmony
C) thunderous descending octaves and a trill representing the bell ringing

Answer 16

B

Question 17

Which key does the B section modulate to?

Answer 17

B major

Question 18

How does the A section change when it returns? (A1)

Answer 18

It is embellished, featuring rapid repeated notes and broken RH octaves

Question 19

composer

Answer 19

Franz Liszt

Question 20

Context of work

Answer 20

from Liszt’s Grandes Etudes de paganini, a collection that paid homage to Nicolo Paganini, one of the century’s most celebrated violinists.

Question 21

In what ways is B1 embellished? Describe its fancy, cadenza-like ending.

Answer 21

The theme is now in the LH with widely spaced RH accompaniment figures
Ends with a cadenza-like section featuring chromatic passages and alternating hands

Question 22

When the melody returns in section A2, where is it played? Also, please tell me one more interesting thing about this section.

Answer 22

Melody is played in the highest register, and is accompanied by 32nd note trills and figures that mimic violin string crossings.

Question 23

True or False: Section B2 stays within a small range, and has a mf dynamic throughout. It tapers off with a gentle cadence.

Answer 23

False. Section B2 has many leaps and abrupt, sudden contrasts in volume. It culminates with thundering octaves.

Question 24

In section A3, please describe the dramatic way in which the melody is recalled. How does this section prepare for the coda?

Answer 24

It is recapped with forceful, dramatic octaves. Chromatic octaves in contrary motion lead into the coda.

Question 25

What is the feel of the coda? How is it marked and how would you describe it? In which key does the piece conclude?

Answer 25

The coda is marked “animato” and brings the work to a compelling close with loud octaves. The piece ends in the tonic key of G# minor.