Piano Sonata in C Minor, op. 13 ("Pathétique") Flashcards
Piano Sonata background information
- piano sonata
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- comp 1798
- 3 mvts
- solo piano
Piano Sonata essay sections
- First Movement:
- Introduction
- Exposition
- First Theme
- Bridge
- Second Theme Group (Theme 2a)
- Second Theme Group (Theme 2b)
- Codetta
- Development
- Recapitulation
- Coda (1)
- Second Movement
- Sections A, B, A1, C, A2
- Coda (2)
- Third Movement
- Sections A, B, A1, C, A2, B1, A3
- Coda (3)
Piano Sonata First Movement:
- C minor
- Grave (tempo)
- C (meter)
Piano Sonata Introduction
- homorhythmic texture, crisp, dotted rhythms (French overture)
- marked accents, unexpected pauses, abrupt change in volume (dramatic contrasts)
- diminished seventh chords: tension
- descending chromatic scale: 128th note; cadenza-like passage leads directly into exposition w/o pause
Piano Sonata Exposition
- C minor
- sonata form
- Allegro di molto e con brio (tempo)
- cut time
Piano Sonata First Theme
- rapidly ascending right-hand: covers two octaves
- staccato articulation, braod crescendo: agitated quality
- left hand: tremolo octaves (rumbling)
Piano Sonata Bridge
- modulate away from tonic key
- syncopation: propel music forward
Piano Sonata Second Theme Group (Theme 2a)
- unexpected modulation to E flat minor instead of E flat major (relative major)
- register contrast: rapid hand crossing
Piano Sonata Second Theme Group (Theme 2b)
- E flat major finally established
- melody and bass contrary motion: move outwards
- left hand: Alberti-type figuration
Piano Sonata Codetta
- E flat major confirmed
- fragment of first theme used (in closing measures)
- exposition repeated from either Grave or Allegro
Piano Sonata Development
- new key: G minor
- doted-note figure from intro
- (m. 137): key signature eliminated: music continues in E minor
- bridge material combined w/ intro material (w/o dotted rhythms)
- extended dominant preparation: suspense
Piano Sonata Recapitulation
- first theme in tonic key (C minor)
- bridge eliminated (first theme expanded to act as transition)
- second theme group in F minor (subdominant key) unexpected departure from sonata form conventions
- after 16 measures, it is restated in C minor
- Codetta returns, confirm tonic key
Piano Sonata Coda (1)
- fragments of dotted-rhythms chord from intro
- absence of downbeat: uncertainty and reminiscence
- strong authentic cadence marked fortissimo
Piano Sonata Second Movement
- A flat major
- rondo form (A B A1 C A2 coda)
- Adagio cantabile (tempo)
- 2/4 (meter)
Piano Sonata Section A (2)
- lyrical, legato melody: middle register in top voice
- accompanied by broken-chord figure also written for right hand pianistic challenge for performer
- repeated one octave higher (8 measures + 8 measures)
Piano Sonata Section B (2)
- begins in F minor, modulates to Eb major (relative min then dom)
- new melodic material (right hand)
- repeated-chord accompaniment (left hand)
Piano Sonata Section A1 (2)
- principal melody, middle register
- no repeat, 8 measures only
Piano Sonata Section C (2)
- begins Ab minor (tonic minor)
- triplet accompaniment (insistent): brooding tone
- modulates to E major (unexpected) (enharmonic spelling Fb major, submediant to A flat minor)
Piano Sonata Section A2 (2)
- principal melody return A flat major
- accompaniment: triplet figure carried over from Section C
- repeated in upper register (8 measures + 8 measures)
Piano Sonata Section Coda (2)
- derived: (m. 4 of) principal melody (Eb - E - F)
- reiterate authentic cadence in Ab major several times
Piano Sonata Third Movement
- C minor
- rondo form (ABACA1B1A2 coda)
- Allegro
- cut time
Piano Sonata Section A (3)
- right hand melody (agitated): springs from perfect fourth (G to C)
- melody: wide range, piano, grace notes (embellished)
- end: authentic cadence C minor
Piano Sonata Section B (3)
- begins in F minor, modulates to Eb major
- right-hand melody: based on scale passages
- left-hand accompaniment: broken-chord figures
- temp shift to chordal texture
- descend scale passage lead to fermata over dom 7 chord (prepare return of Section A)
Piano Sonata Section A1 (3)
-unaltered
Piano Sonata Section C (3)
- begins Ab major
- contrapuntal texture: contrary motion, dialogue b/t hands
- syncopation
- descend staccato scale passage; first left, then right
- extended dom prep; first w/ 16th note broken-chord figurations, then triplets
- descend scale passage (identical to end of Section B) (prepare return of Section A)
Piano Sonata Section A2 (3)
- begin C minor (like original)
- ending altered: lead directly into Section B w/o authentic cadence
Piano Sonata Section B1 (3)
- begin C major, ends in C minor
- shortened, omit descend passage
Piano Sonata A3 (3)
- opening “pickup” notes omitted
- shortened, leads directly into coda
Piano Sonata Coda (3)
- based on triplet figure from Section B
- brief reference to opening of Section A
- descend scale passage leads to forceful authentic cadence
