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Edexcel Music GCSE - Area of Study 1: Instrumental Music 1700-1820: One…
Edexcel Music GCSE - Area of Study 1: Instrumental Music 1700-1820: One Page Notes: Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, The Pathetique.
Texture
If you learn just 1 thing:
- Melody dominated homophony.
If you can learn 3 more things:
- There is a chordal accompaniment in the left hand in the introduction.
- There is a 'murky bass' (pedal) played on a tonic C in the exposition.
- Near the end of the exposition there is an Alberti bass accompaniment in the left hand (broken chords).
If you can learn a few more things:
- The development ends with monophonic scalic runs in the right hand.
Harmony
If you can learn just 1 thing:
- There is a dramatic diminished 7th chord in bar 1 (crotchet 3).
If you can learn 3 more things:
- There is an imperfect cadence at bar 27 in the exposition leading into the transition section.
- There is dominant preparation on G during the last 30 bars of the development leading to E minor for the recapitulation.
There is a perfect cadence leading into the development section.
If you can learn a few more things:
- There is an interrupted cadence (chord V to chord VI) in bar 9 of the introduction.
- There is an enharmonic change from E flat to D# in bar 135 to enable the key to modulate to E minor.
- There is a cadential 6/4 progression at the end of the piece - tis is a common chord progression of Ic-V7-I.
Tonality
If you learn just 1 thing:
If you can learn 3 more things:
- The first subject is in C minor.
- The second subject is in E flat MINOR (unusual as it should be MAJOR according to normal sonata form).
- The development starts in G minor for the grave reprise then changes to E minor at 137.
If you can learn a few more things:
- The recapitulation first subject is in C minor.
- The recapitulation second subject is in F minor (the subdominant minor - unusual!) then modulates back to the tonic.
Tempo, Rhythm and Metre
If you learn just 1 thing:
- There is a big contrast between the grave introduction and the allegro of the exposition.
If you can learn 3 more things:
- The introduction is in C (common time 4/4).
- The exposition is in Cut Common time (2/2).
- The tempo marking of the exposition is Allegro di molto e con brio -very fast paced and lively.
If you can lean a few more things:
- Whenever the introduction material is reprised the tempo reverts to grave and the time signature reverts to C.
Melody
If you learn just 1 thing:
- There are two contrasting melodies that are constantly developed.
If you can learn 3 more things:
- The first subject is a rising 'rocket' staccato theme.
- The second subject contrasts as a more lyrical theme with acciaccaturas and mordents.
- The second subject is more legato.
If you can learn a few more things:
- Sections of the introduction, first and second subjects are repeated and developed throughout the movement.
- The use of melody shows repetition and contrast.
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Structure and Form
If you learn just 1 thing:
- The piece is written in extended sonata form.
If you can learn 3 more things:
- This piece has an introduction, exposition, development, recapitulation and coda.
- Beethoven reuses the ideas from the introduction to start the development and the coda - UNUSUAL!