Pathetique Sonata - Beethoven

Question 1

What is the main tempo of the sonata?

Answer 1

allegro molto e con brio (very fast with vigour)

Question 2

What does ‘Pathetique’ mean?

Answer 2

emotional

Question 3

At what tempo is the intro?

Answer 3

grave

Question 4

What does ‘grave’ mean?

Answer 4

very slow and solemn

Question 5

When does Beethoven reuse ideas from the intro ? (2)

Answer 5

at the start of the development

in the coda

Question 6

What features of the sonata make it associated with tragedy? (4)

Answer 6

many sudden changes of dynamic
very slow intro then dramatic change to very fast
wide ranging fast scale passages feel out of control
LH low tremolo in 8ves is unsettling

Question 7

In what period was this sonata written in?

Answer 7

Classical

Question 8

What features of the music tell you that it is from the Classical period? (3)

Answer 8

use of piano
wider ranges of dynamic (than Baroque)
use of sonata form

Question 9

In what key is the intro in?

Answer 9

C minor

Question 10

What is the structure of a typical sonata?

Answer 10

Exposition, Development, Recapitulation

Question 11

What key is the 1st subject of the exposition in?

Answer 11

C minor

Question 12

What key is the 2nd subject of the exposition in?

Answer 12

Eb minor then Eb major

Question 13

How does the development start?

Answer 13

With the grave intro (but in Gminor instead)

Question 14

What happens after the grave episode in the development? (bar 137)

Answer 14

development of earlier themes and textures

Question 15

What key is the development in?

Answer 15

Multiple

Question 16

When does the recapitulation start and what key is it in?

Answer 16

195 , C minor

Question 17

What theme reappears in the recapitulation?

Answer 17

First theme (extended) of 1st subject of exposition

Question 18

What reappears in F minor in the second half of the recapitulation?

Answer 18

second subject from exposition

Question 19

Describe the structure of the coda that begins on bar 277

Answer 19

1) Cadential material
2) Grave episode
3) first theme

Question 20

How is the beginning of the development ‘Grave’ different to the introduction ‘Grave’?

Answer 20

Different key and ending

Question 21

What about this piece does not conform to what we would expect from a typical sonata? (2)

Answer 21

keys are different , the ending develops introductory material

Question 22

What aural give away tells you when the codetta begins in the exposition?

Answer 22

tremolo comes back in

Question 23

Name 2 examples of virtuosic playing in the piece

Answer 23

hand crossing

fast scale passages