Piano Sonata Pathétique in C minor by Beethoven

Context (features of classical and baroque era)

• Beethoven is known as a classical composer but this piece shows romantic features

• He’s a virtuoso pianist

Features of classical music:

• Periodic phrasing

• graceful melodic lines

• use of ornamentation

• use of alberti bass

• use of functional harmony

• melody-dominated homophony texture

• Sonata form: Exposition, Development, Recapitulation

• Light clean texture

• some variety and contrast of mood

Features of Romantic music:

• Full range of pitch exploited

• dramatic contrast and variety of dynamics and mood

• dminished 7th chords used extensively

• use of chromatic harmony and some remote modulations

• changes in dynamics, both sudden and gradual

• weighty textures with heavy chords

• a sense of drama with long pauses, rests

• use of accents and sustain pedal

THE INSTRUMENT PIANOOOO

• 18th century, fortepiano has almost completely replaced harpsichord because dynamics can be played

• therefore this piece has numerous dynamic markings, such as crescendos, diminuendos, wide dynamic range

• no pedal markings but sustaining pedals would be almost certainly used

Structure

• Sonata form (piece for solo instrument containing 3 or 3 movements, each with different tempo)

Unusual slow introduction:

• marked in grave tempo(very slow), with distinctive 6 note motif in homophonic texture, contains rapid scalic runs, ends with long descending chromatic scale

• C minor modulated briefly to Eb maj(relative major)

• sudden dynamic contrasts used (fortepiano, sforzando)

• interrupted cadence

Exposition:

• marked Allegro di molto con brio : very fast and with vigour

• first subject in tonic (rising rocket theme)

• transition, modulates to Bb, dominant of Eb

• 2nd subject begins in Eb minor rather than expected Eb major

• 2nd subject 2nd part in Eb major

• Codetta hints at 1st subject

Exposition is repeated

Development:

• four bar introduction material in G minor

• enharmonic change leads to modulation in E minor, features main first subject theme

• Long dominant preparation (G octaves in the bass as a pedal)

Recapitulation:

• repeats music in the exposition but alters the key of 2nd subject

• finished with two fortissimo diminished 7th chords

Coda

Tonality

• C minor, modulation to various keys

• first subject in C minor

• 2nd subject in