Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata Exposition

Two main themes which contrast in character and key. The first subject will be in the home key. A transition passage of music or bridge connect the two themes and modulates to a closely related key in preparation for the second subject theme. The second subject theme is commonly in the dominant key or some other closely related key

What is expected in a sonata form exposition?

The first half of the theme is a rising 2 octave melody which is mostly conjunct. It uses a combination of longer minims with staccato crotchets and also uses some chromatic notes. The second half of the theme is mostly minim chords that descend ready for the subject theme to be played again

Describe the melody of the exposition first subject theme.

Tremolo octaves in the left hand of the piano. Also known as murky bass. The first 4 bars are a tonic pedal before the bass line begins to climb in a scalic motion

Describe the accompaniment that supports the first subject theme.

G major (at bar 35)

What key does the end of the first subject theme finish in?

Homophonic

What is the texture of the first subject theme?

It is based on the first half of the first subject theme but shorter (2 bars rather than 4) and uses a 4 note pattern, with some chromatic notes, which is repeated an octave higher. The accompaniment continues to be the tremolo octave - murky bass idea

Describe the music of the transition section (35-50)

From G major, the music first move up a semitone to Ab major and ends the section up another step (this time a tone) to Bb major

What keys does the transition section move through?

Eb minor

What key does the 2nd subject begin in?

It is the usual move to the relative major BUT Beethoven keeps the key minor. This is unexpected and unusual - a harmonic surprise. Beethoven keeps the key in the minor mode to preserve the tragic sound of the piece

What is the relationship of this new key to the first subject key?

There are 3 melodic ideas (check the music)

Bars 51-88

Bars 89-112

Bars 113-120

How many melodic ideas make up the second subject section?

There is an antiphonal effect as the right hand has to play below the left hand in the lower bass clef and then move back in to treble clef. The melody is made up of rising staccato crotchets and longer minims that have acciaccaturas as ornaments which then moves into a descending conjunct pattern which is decorated with mordents. The accompaniment is a bass note then three chords. The first 12 bars create a dominant pedal (Bb in the key of Eb minor)

Describe the music of the first section of the second subject theme.

Starting in Eb minor, it moves down a step to Dd major then from bar 79 rises in a sequence back to Eb minor before quickly moving through F minor, C minor and Bb major

What keys does the first section of the second subject theme move through?

It is based on broken chord patters with the melody hidden within the texture and highlighted by strong staccato markings. Both hands move away from each other in contrary motion widening the range of the theme.

How does the music of the send section of the second subject change?

Both repetitions of this theme end with a perfect cadence.

Bb7 to Eb major at 100-101 and 112-113

What cadences are used at the end of each repetition of this theme?

Homophonic

What is the texture of the second section of the second subject theme?

The accompaniment goes back to the same as the first section of the second subject with a bass note followed by three chords. the melody is scalic and conjunct with two long runs of quavers that also uses some chromatic notes

Describe the music of the third section of the second subject theme.

Codetta

The exposition finished with 12-bars of music to round off the section. What is this section called?

The codetta begins with a reminder of the first subject theme and the rising 2 octave idea before ending with semibreve chords (one per bar) - played forte to end the exposition. * Note that the very last chord of the exposition is fortissimo.

Describe the music of the codetta.