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Topic 1 Instrumental Music 1700 - 1820 (The Fortepiano and the modern…
Topic 1 Instrumental Music
1700 - 1820
Beethoven's sonatas
what is a sonata?
Refers to a piece played by an instrument (rather than
voices)
Usually played by one instrument (or a melody
instrument with piano accompaniment)
Derived from the Italian “sonare” = to sound
In a Classical sonata there are between 2 and 4
movements.
The standard Classical form is:
2nd movement: Slow
3rd movement: Minuet and Trio or Scherzo
1st movement: Allegro (fast) in sonata form
4th movement: Allegro
Most piano sonatas have three movements
Beethoven's life.
Beethoven moved to Vienna and made a living writing
music and performing concerts for rich patrons.
In his early career Beethoven wrote in a Classical style
but later incorporated new ideas of Romanticism
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn,
Germany
In later life Beethoven lost his hearing and died in
1827
Instrumentation
Earliest type of piano, invented by Bartholomew
Cristofori around 1700
The Fortepiano
It was gradually developed and extended, at first
only 4 octaves but by Beethoven’s time up to 6
octaves
This was the instrument used by composers in the
Classical era – Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.
The instrument could vary the volume of each
note depending on the player’s touch – hence
“forte piano”, later changed to pianoforte and
today shortened to piano
Context
Harmony
Structure
Tonality
Texture
Tempo/rhythm
Melody
The Fortepiano and the modern piano
Bass notes had buzzing resonance,
and the high notes had a light treble
sound
The Fortepiano
Thin strings (light sound)
Hammers covered in leather
Delicate structure in light weight
frame
The Modern Piano
Very responsive keys, requiring a
lighter touch
Keyboard range of up to 6 octaves
(72 notes)
No sustain pedal on early models
More solid, housed in a metal frame
Hammers covered in felt
Thicker strings (more robust sound)
Less responsive keys, needing a
heavier touch
Keyboard range of up to 7 ½ octaves
(88 notes)
Sustaining pedal invented in 1783 by
Scottish manufacturer Broadwood
The tone quality across the register is
more consistent
Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Beethoven spanned the Classical and Romantic
eras and inspired composers who came after him.
He would have been familiar with the piano
sonatas of Haydn and Mozart but Beethoven’s are
on a much larger scale and full of the intensity and
passion of the Romantic style. He expanded
harmonic language and extended structures
Beethoven wrote Piano sonatas throughout his
life, composing 32 in total, some of which are
among the most famous of the piano repertoire