Piano Sonata no.8 in C minor 'Pathetique'

Question 1

What is the structure of the movement?

Answer 1

Sonata form

Question 2

Name the sections within Sonata form.

Answer 2

Exposition, Development and Recapitulation

Question 3

What is unusual about the structure of this piano sonata?

Answer 3

It includes an introduction

Question 4

What is the tempo at the start (introduction)?

Answer 4

Grave - very slow/solemn/grave

Question 5

What is the texture of the introduction?

Answer 5

Homophonic

Question 6

What is the tonality of the introduction?

Answer 6

C minor (tonic)

Question 7

What features of the music make the introduction dramatic?

Answer 7

Slow tempo, rests/silences, contrasting dynamics and rapid scales

Question 8

How many notes in the melodic idea in the introduction?

Answer 8

6

Question 9

What key does the introduction briefly modulate to before returning to the tonic key (C minor)?

Answer 9

Eb major (relative major)

Question 10

Describe the last bar of the introduction.

Answer 10

Rapid descending chromatic scale

Question 11

What is the tempo marking for the exposition?

Answer 11

Allegro di molto e con brio (very fast with vigour)

Question 12

Name the harmonic device played by the left hand at the start of the exposition.

Answer 12

Tonic pedal (alternating quaver octaves)

Question 13

What rhythm features in most of the accompaniment to the first subject?

Answer 13

Quavers

Question 14

Describe the melodic movement of the first subject.

Answer 14

Ascending/rising scale over 2 octaves

Question 15

Describe the articulation of the first subject.

Answer 15

Staccato

Question 16

Describe how the subsidiary theme opens (bar 27 in exposition).

Answer 16

Descending arpeggios

Question 17

Which articulation features a lot in the subsidiary theme?

Answer 17

sforzando

Question 18

In the transition, parts of the first subject are heard. What melodic device is used to change the first subject?

Answer 18

It’s played in a rising sequence

Question 19

What is the texture immediately before the 2nd subject begins in bar 51?

Answer 19

Monophonic

Question 20

What is the key at the start of the 2nd subject?

Answer 20

Eb minor

Question 21

What playing technique is required in order to play the 2nd subject (bar 51)?

Answer 21

Hands cross (right hand plays lower than the left hand)

Question 22

What is the texture of the 2nd subject?

Answer 22

Melody and accompaniment

Question 23

A new theme starts in bar 89. What is the key of the new theme?

Answer 23

Eb major (relative major)

Question 24

Describe the texture at bar 89 where the new theme starts.

Answer 24

Broken chords

Question 25

For much of the new theme, the two hands play in opposite directions. What is the name for this?

Answer 25

Contrary motion

Question 26

How does the development section open?

Answer 26

4 bar introduction using material from the 10 bar introduction to the exposition

Question 27

In what key is the introduction of the development?

Answer 27

G minor (dominant)

Question 28

In what key is the first subject in the development?

Answer 28

E minor

Question 29

Identify the harmonic device that is played in the left hand from bar 167 to 187.

Answer 29

Pedal note on G (dominant)

Question 30

What ornament/decoration is featured in the right hand part over the pedal note in bars 181 - 186 in the development section?

Answer 30

Trills

Question 31

Describe how the development section ends.

Answer 31

Descending monophonic quaver passage

Question 32

How does the recapitulation start in bar 196?

Answer 32

First subject in C minor (no introduction)

Question 33

In what key is the second subject at bar 221 in the recapitulation?

Answer 33

F minor (subdominant)

Question 34

What key does the music return to during the second subject in the recapitulation?

Answer 34

C minor (tonic)

Question 35

Name the harmonic device in bars 244 - 249 in the recapitulation.

Answer 35

Circle of 5ths (each chord is a 5th lower than the previous one)

Question 36

At bar 253 the second idea of the second subject is heard (first heard in bar 89 of the exposition). In what key is the second idea in the recapitulation?

Answer 36

C minor (tonic) rather than Eb major (relative major) as in the exposition

Question 37

Describe the last two chords of the recapitulation (bars 293 & 294).

Answer 37

Diminished 7th

Question 38

How does the coda begin?

Answer 38

4 bars of the introduction

Question 39

What happens on the first beat of the first three bars of the introduction to the coda?

Answer 39

Silence (rests)

Question 40

What follows the 4 bar introduction in the coda?

Answer 40

First subject

Question 41

Describe the dynamics and how they change during the 12 bars of the first subject in the coda.

Answer 41

Opens piano (softly), crescendo (gets louder) and ends fortissimo (very loud)

Question 42

Describe the two chords at the end of the first subject in the coda (before the final cadence).

Answer 42

Diminished 7th

Question 43

Name the final cadence.

Answer 43

Perfect (V7/dominant 7th - I/tonic)

Question 44

What is the dynamic marking in bar 1 which features throughout the introduction?

Answer 44

fp (fortepiano) - loud then immediately soft

Question 45

How is dynamic contrast successfully used in the introduction?

Answer 45

p/piano (soft) passages followed by ff/fortissimo (very loud) passages

Question 46

What features of the music make this virtuosic?

Answer 46

Fast tempo, rapid rhythms & crossing of hands.

Question 47

Name the two ornaments/decorations that feature in the second subject.

Answer 47

Acciaccaturas and mordents

Question 48

Describe the melodic movement of the 3rd idea first heard at bar 113.

Answer 48

Scalic

Question 49

Name the cadence in bar 9 of the introduction (before the rapid scalic flourish.

Answer 49

Interrupted cadence

Question 50

Which period of music does this piece show early signs of?

Answer 50

Early Romantic