Piano Quintet

Question 1

What is the Texture like in Piano Quintet? (5)

Answer 1

• Wide variety of textures throughout
• Pedal on cello 1-12
• Main theme in trio= melody dominated homophony
• Fugal style from bar 67
• Free imitation between piano and strings bar 5

Question 2

What is the Structure of Piano Quintet? (5)

Answer 2

• Ternary form ABA- Scherzo, Trio, Scherzo
• Scherzo and trio
• 67-100: Fugato
• 3 themes: rising, jerky and March.
• Trio also in Ternary form

Question 3

Describe the Harmony and Tonality of Piano Quintet: (5)

Answer 3

• Tonic key of C: wide ranging tonality
• Pedal notes: beginning 1-12, Dom pedal at 225-233
• Chromatic harmony: dim 7th at 232
• Rare use of perfect cadence- usually imperfect, occasional plagal
• Tierce de Picardie 189-190

Question 4

Talk about the Melody in Piano Quintet: (5)

Answer 4

• Theme 1: rising sequence as broken chords 3-12
• Theme 2: jerky melody- staccato
• Melodies are motivic built from small cells
• Motifs broken into smaller cells (96)
• Falling min 2nd 190-192

Question 5

What is the Rhythm and Metre like in Piano Quintet? (6)

Answer 5

• Duple time
• Syncopation from 1st note played by violin1
• March rhythm for 2nd theme (13)- spiky nature
• Off beat accents emphasised in 3rd theme26-28
• Continuous staccato quavers in piano at 67
• Augmentation 22-25: semiquaver of 2nd theme is replaced by dotted crotchets

Question 6

Describe the Context and Forces in Piano Quintet: (4)

Answer 6

• Chamber Music
• Composed by Johannes Brahms in 1864
• Influenced by Beethoven’s short motifs
• For highly skilled performers