Beethoven Symphony No.1 In C Major - Exposition 1St Subject

Front 1

Exposition
Bars 13-109

(bar 13 and intro.)

Back 1

Allegro con brio - lively with vigour

The tonic key of C major is made clear here. The woodwind and horns have the tonic chord to open (bar 13), whilst the melody in C major is played by the violins

thinly accompanied by punctuated crotchet chords by the rest of the strings

Front 2

First Subject
Bars 13-33

(bars 13-24)

Back 2

focus on the violins

emphasises the tonic key of C with use of a strong dominant/tonic (G/C) relationship in the melody

(bars 13-14) The notes C, G and B return the music to its tonic, using dotted minim-dotted quaver-semiquaver rhythms

(bars 15-16) crotchets to emphasise 'C'

(bars 23-24) G7 harmony

Front 3

First Subject
Bars 13-33

(bars 25-33)

Back 3

rhythmic ideas from bars 14 and 15 are re-used based on the dominant chord of G (bars 25-29) - G7 in bar 25 used in 1st inv' for a gentle effect

The G7 harmony is exited by a descending G7 arpeggio in the violins (bar 30)

4 (IV) 5 (V) 1 (I) chordal harmonies in C major complete the first subject by bar 33

Front 4

contrasts and similarities
to introduction

Back 4

In contrast to the introduction, Beethoven firmly establishes the tonic key in:
1) melodic ideas
2) harmony strongly related to C major

Similarly G and C are used in brass and timpani