Pathetique

Question 1

Key of the piece

Answer 1

C minor

Question 2

Era of music

Answer 2

End of Classical with romantic features 
—> unusual intro, weird modulations 
New piano = more pitches & dynamics 
Does not use functional harmony in development bc of romanticism 
Virtuosic playing 
Large dynamic contrast

Question 3

Metre of the piece

Answer 3

Grave = slowly (funeral theme) in 4/4
—> unusual u wouldn’t start with a slow metre
Very fast w. Vigour played in cut time 2/2 bar 11
fast and cheerful bar 137

Question 4

Use of intro

Answer 4

• Unusual in piano sonata.
• Homophonic writing
• Dotted rhythm
• Distinctive 6 note motif (repeated in different keys through out)
• Chromatic chords esp. diminished 7th bar 1
• Virtuosic playing (hemi-Demi-Hemi-semi quaver)
• Octave playing bar 5
• Interrupted cadence bar 9
• Rapid scalic flourished & ends with descending •chromatic of D

Question 5

Structure names?

Answer 5

Exposition, développement and recapitulation

• Bar 11-50 , 52-132
• Bar 133-194, weird 4 bar intro, starts with funeral theme
• Bar 195-294, rocket theme
• bar 295-298, funeral theme
• bar 299 to end - rocket theme

Question 6

Are there modulation?

Answer 6

• bar 10* briefly to Eb major
• bar 11* EXPO = c minor
• bar 38* Modulates to Eb major -> dominant prep
• bar 42* Bb major
• bar 51* 2nd subject = Eb major (unusual)
• bar 133* 4 bar intro of Dev = G minor
• bar 137* dev= E minor (weird relative minor)
• bar 195* recap= C minor (rocket theme)
• bar 221* 2nd subject = F minor
• bar 252* c minor

Question 7

Describe harmony?

Answer 7

Rising C minor scale over 2 octaves bar11-5
Augmented 6th chords bar 30
Hands move in contrary emotion bar 92-8
Imperfect cadence bar 131-2
Enharmonie shift Eb (bass), D# (RH) bar 135-6
Diminished chord bar 135
B7 chord bar 136
Long dominant prep g-g in 8ths as pedal bar167
Passage in 3rds bar 182
Cycle of 5ths bar 244-249
Ends in perfect cadence -> dominant 7th in tonic key

Question 8

Describe the melody?

Answer 8

Augmented 2nd- Napoleon chord bar 12
Subsidiary theme ft Sf& descending arpeggios & broken chords bar 27-30
Transition based on main theme bar 35
Stepwise repeated phrase bar 59-67 ft
mordants are an important feature of 2nd subject
Third theme - scalic melody bar 113-120
bar 137 introduce main first subject
bar 139 2nd theme fragments heard in bass
bar 149 fragments of development heard in bass
Important ornament use in bar 182 (trills)
All 3 musical ideas heard bar 221 2nd sub RECAP

Question 9

Describe rhythm metre and tempo

Answer 9

sFp - heavily feathered throughout
Continuous quavers - distinct fr of 1st subject Accompaniment bar 16-26
Staccato crotches important ft 1st subject bar 39
Articulations alternate between lagatto and stacatto bar 54
Passage of trills leads to monophonic descending quaver passage bar 182-195

Question 10

Main texture?

Answer 10

Homophonic

Question 11

Recalculation modulation?

Answer 11

Random, unrelated keys in bar 195

Question 12

2 types of bass patterns?

Answer 12

Merky bass
In the exposition bar 11, experimenting with piano, makes it more dramatic (romantic)

Alberto bass
2nd subject bar 93, 2 part music with broken chords

Question 13

Describe texture?

Answer 13

Homophonic in beginning
Monophonic leading to recapulation
2nd subject, melody-accompaniment
bar 181 passage of 3rds

Question 14

How is this piece dramatic

Answer 14

Sustained chords, accents, long scalic descends, sudden dynamic changes