A2 Music Revision - Beethoven

Front 1

Background Information & Performing Circumstances

Back 1

> Written in 1799.

> Performed one year later.

> Published 1802, dedicated to Empress Maria Theresa.
> Septets rare, means there is no standard instrumentation for them.

Front 2

Performing Forces & Their Handling

Back 2

> Unusual chamber music combination.

> Four string parts including double bass for textural weight and depth of pitch.

> Clarinet unusual before Mozart, but established by Beethoven. Given an unusually prominent role (as important as violins). Transposed a tone lower than written (Bb).

> Viola and violin use double stopping for emphasis / to increase textural density. E.g. first bar. Penultimate bar = quadruple stopping in violins, triple in viola - creates emphatic ending.
>Violin writing not extensively high in tessitura except 217-18. Wide leaps in abrs 216 and 218.

>Articulation is detailed in all parts. No pizzicato, but lots of staccato --> gives lightness to piece

Front 3

Structure

Back 3

> First movement of a six movement piece in the style of a serenade.
>Sonata form with slow intro.
> Coda much longer than in Classical period.
> 2nd subject includes 3 melodic ideas as well as a codetta.
> 1-18: Intro. Eb with modulations.
>18-52 exp Sub 1 Eb
>53-111 exp Sub 2 Bb
> 111-154: development various related / unrelated keys. See tonality.
> 155-188: recap sub 1 Eb
>189-233: recap sub 2 Eb
>233: coda Eb

Front 4

Tonality

Back 4

> Functional tonality, modulations to related and unrelated keys.
> 1st sub = Eb. Modulates to dominant in 2nd sub.
> Development = various keys. E.g. Relative minor (C minor) , subdominant Ab minor B124, Relative of subdominant f minor (132).

>All keys in development established by P. cadences.
>Tonal fluctuation, dictated by conventions of sonata form - modulations to closely related keys.

>Dominant pedal at 140. Continues into beginning of recap.
>P. cadences used to confirm keys and establish modulations.