Pathetique Introduction Annotation.webmLesson Objectives:
To understand the ways Beethoven creates drama and tension in the introduction of the Pathetique
To look at the way rhythm is used including dotted rhythms
To understand some of the ways the melody is constructed in the introduction
To look at the use of minor tonality and the way harmony is used including diminished 7ths, discords and interrupted cadence
To look at the use of dynamics, texture and the writing for the piano
The Introduction: Dramatic Music
Listen to the slow introduction to the 1st movement of the Pathetique sonata (Grave written at the top means slow and solemnly)
It is clear that this is a dramatic piece. From the very first chord we are taken into a dark and intense sound world.
Let’s look at some of the ways Beethoven achieves this in the 11 bar introduction.
Tonality:
The sonata has a minor tonality. This was not so common. Of the 32 piano sonatas Beethoven wrote only 8 are in minor keys and of the 18 Mozart wrote, only 2 are in minor keys. A minor tonality gives a darker feel to music. The key of the 1st movement is C minor, which is the relative of Eb major which has 3 flats (Bb Eb and Ab) The 7th note, Bb is raised a semitone to B.
The Introduction: Melody
Melody :
When we get more excited or dramatic, our voices tend to go higher—think about the pitch of a scream!
We also often repeat things, interrupt and slow them down to give them extra emphasis or for dramatic effect.
The 1st bar is repeated a 4th higher and then an octave higher, with the last 5 notes repeated before the bar has ended and extended with 2 added notes.
Melody:
The use of this rising sequence happens again from bar 5 but now with a syncopated start with the last 2 notes halved in value. This gives space for ff dotted rhythms between each melodic phrase.
Chromatic Melody
Another way of creating drama is through harmony and the chords chosen.
One of the ‘darkest’ and most dramatic chords is the diminished 7th.
It is called this because the top and bottom notes of the chord create a diminished 7th. The chord is made up of a 3 minor thirds.
Beethoven uses the chord almost immediately in the bar 1, beat 3 and then again on the 1st beats of bar 2, 3 and 4.
Clashing Discords:
Beethoven sometimes increases the tension and drama of the diminished 7th by adding a note in the melody that clashes forming a discord. An example of this is in on the 3rd beat of bar 6.
Interrupted Cadence:
The least common and most dramatic of cadences—interrupted—is also exploited at the end of bar 9 when it moves from chord V (G B D) to chord VI (Ab C Eb). Remember this in ‘Defying Gravity’ at the beginning of the chorus?
The Introduction: Dynamics
Dynamics:
Sudden changes in volume also creates drama. Looking at the dynamics in the introduction you can see huge changes, for example in bars 5 and 6 when it suddenly moves from p (quiet) to ff (very loud).
This is also the case when ever you see fp under the chords in bars 1, 2 and 3. This literally means loud and then soft. This makes the chords sound very heavy in contrast to the rest of the bar.
The long cresc from p in bar 8 to a dramatic sfp which tells the player to play that chord, loudly and with real emphasis.
The Introduction: Rhythm
Rhythm:
There is something about the use of dotted rhythms that creates tension. Perhaps because the notes are not even, or because it can sound ‘jerky’ or ‘jagged’. Imagine this opening if the notes were even rather than dotted. It would not have nearly the same drama!
The introduction begins with a long held chord (remember how slow the tempo is) followed by a dotted rhythm. This use of dotted rhythms is a feature of the whole introduction.
The continuous semiquaver chords in the LH in bars 5 to 8 also create tension, like a
beating heart!
This is contrasted with the fast descending RH passages as in the last bar of the introduction. This descending chromatic scale at the end of bar 10 covers 2 and half octaves.
The Introduction
Texture:
The texture throughout the introduction is homophonic with the melody dominating with a chordal accompaniment in the left hand.
Note the use of chords and octaves in the right hand melody. This adds extra weight and emphasis to the melody as well as making the texture thicker.
Composing for the piano:
Beethoven composed this piece for the newly invented fortepiano. The main differences were the ability to change volume.
Beethoven clearly takes advantage of this in the introduction and throughout the piece.
The range was also increased to 5 and-a-half octaves and Beethoven exploits this increase in range from a low F# (the 2nd lowest note) and the top note F
Review Question:
1) What is the tonality of the introduction?
2) What key is the introduction in?
3) Give two ways that Beethoven creates tension harmonically
4) Make two points about the dynamics in the introduction
5) What is the texture throughout the introduction?
6) Give two features of the melody in the introduction