jan 1, 1798 - Sonata: Piano Sonata in C Minor, op. 13 "Pathetique"

Description:

Genre: piano sonata
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Date: 1798
Structure: three-movement sonata form
Instrumentation: solo piano
Demonstrates Sturm und Drang style
Written during Beethoven's Period of Imitation
Title given by Beethoven himself
Use of full pianoforte range (F to F)

First movement
- C minor
- Cut time
- Grave + Allegro di molto e con brio
- Sonata form

Introduction:
- starts with Grave introduction that establishes tonic key of C minor
- Dotted rhythm suggest French Overture style
- Gradually ascending line in right hand accompanied by diminished seventh chords in left hand
- Ends with a descending chromatic scale to a fermata

Exposition:
- theme one consists of a rapidly ascending right-hand melody over two octaves
- left hand plays rumbling tremolo octaves
- bridge involves syncopations and modulates away from tonic key
- theme 2a is in E flat minor and involves rapid hand crossing with ornamental decoration
- theme 2b consists of outward contrary motion arpeggios in E flat major
- codetta in E flat major based on theme 1, ends with forte chords
- exposition is repeated from either the Grave or Allegro

Development:
- Begins with opening Grave in G minor, modulates to E minor
- key signature eliminated
- based mostly on material from theme 1 and the bridge
- extended dominant preparation for suspense

Recapitulation:
- dominant preparation flows into theme 1
- bridge eliminated, theme 1 is expanded to modulate
- theme 2a is now in F minor (subdominant key)
- theme 2b is in C minor
- codetta returns, also in tonic key

Coda:
- Opens with Grave again, except the first chord is omitted and the dynamic is much softer
- Theme 1 is restated
- Ends in strong authentic cadence marked fortissimo with bold chords


Second movement
- A flat major
- 2/4 time
- Adagio cantabile
- Rondo form (A B A1 C A2 Coda)

Section A:
- lyrical legato melody in the middle range accompanied by broken chord figures shared between hands
- repeated an octave higher

Section B:
- begins in F minor
- right hand plays melody consisting of leaps answered by descending stepwise motions
- left hand plays repeated chords

Section A1:
- restatement of A without repeat

Section C:
- begins in A flat minor (parallel minor key)
- new triplet figure in accompaniment
- Modulates and repeats in the enharmonic submediant key (e major)

Section A2:
- triplet figure continues into A2
- A2 is repeated in the upper register

Coda:
- Three notes based on m.4 of the original melody (E flat - E - F)
- repeats authentic cadences in A flat major


Third movement
- C minor
- Cut time
- Allegro
- Rondo form superimposed with Sonata form (A B A C A1 B1 A2 coda)

Section A:
- Opening 4 notes from theme 2b from the first movement (cyclical structure)
- Melody has a wide range and embellished with grace notes
- Ends with forte chords in an authentic cadence in C minor

Section B:
- Begins in F minor and modulates to E flat major
- features scale motives
- brief chordal texture section
- ends with fast descending scale to a fermata on a dominant seventh chord

Section A:
- repeated the exact same as the first

Section C:
- Begins in A flat major
- Begins in contrapuntal texture creating dialogue between hands
- features syncopation
- followed by an arpeggio section
- ends the same way as section B

Section A1:
- begins like Section A
- melody moved to bass at the end
- ending altered to lead into Section B2 without an authentic cadence

Section B1:
- begins in C major, ends in C minor
- shortened; omits descending scale passage

Section A2:
- opening pickup notes replaced with a solid chord
- shortened, flows into the coda

Coda:
- based on triplet figure in Section B
- unexpected modulation to A flat major, references opening of section A
- ends in a descending scale passage leading to a strong authentic candence

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