String Quartets

Question 1

‘The Joke’ Context

Answer 1

• Joseph Haydn
• 1781
• finale uses pauses and humorous phrasing
• Eb major
• Example of Haydn’s wit + innovation in chamber music
• Dedicated to Russian Grand Duke Paul

Question 2

‘The Joke’ Structure

Answer 2

4 Movements
1. Sonata - tonic - two contrasting in themes in Eb maj + Bb maj - fake recapitulation to Cmin
2. Scherzo Trio - tonic
3. Slow Movement - no clear form
4. Rondo (ABACA) - tonic
Exposition
- theme 1: Balanced Eb r-bar phrases
- theme 2: Bb contrasting lyrical melody

Question 3

‘The Joke’ Tonality & Harmony

Answer 3

• functional harmony - classical tonic-dominant relationships
• perfect cadence to establish Eb in finale
• interrupted cadence to cret comedic tension at end of finale
• chromaticism - descending in 3rd movement
• unresolved harmony for humour
• explores c minor + gminor in sonata + finale
• dominant min 9th in scherzo

Question 4

‘The Joke’ Metre & Tempo

Answer 4

1. 4-4 Allegro moderato - steady, balanced, elegant, symmetry
2. 3/4 time (Scherzo and Trio form) - offbeat accents disrupt regularity + quicker tempo adds energy and playfulness
3. 6/8 very fast - humor + energy of finale
   - syncopation in minuet
   - comedic pauses in finale

Question 5

‘The Joke’ Dynamics & Articulation

Answer 5

• sudden terraced dynamics - dramatic
• gradual crescendos + dimiuendos in 3rd movement
• lots of stacccato in finale
• scherzo more legato

Question 6

‘The Joke’ Texture & Timbre

Answer 6

• mainly melody-dominated homophony with violins playing all except 3rd - violin + viola
• contrapuntal development in sonata
• dialogic texture in finale - instrument take turns presentng themes
• fermata used in finale - unexpected
• cello provides counterpoint in finale + dominant pedal note