Structure & Melody

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Structure

The first movement of the Sonata is written in sonata form which is a Classical structure.

Sonata form

The first movement of the Sonata is written in sonata form which is a Classical structure.
This includes the exposition (First Section), development (Second Section) and recapitulation (Re-cap of the Exposition) sections.

10 bar introduction

Beethoven (being the rebel he was!), also added a 10 bar introduction, 4 bars of which also reappear at the start of the development section and the coda (ending).

Repetition

Sonata form was all about repetition of the musical ideas (subjects) and contrast with this mainly taking place during the development section.
The main ideas are then re-capped during the recapitulation section.

Melody

Here the melody is decorated and lyrical.

Melodic features

Within this set work there are:
- Heavy accented chords.
- A florid melody with the left hand.
- Conjunct (moving in steps) movement (b14).
- Disjunct (moving in leaps) movement (b56).

Florid melody

Florid melody means flowery or ornate.
Here the melody is decorated and lyrical.

Chromaticism and dissonance

Chromaticism (moving up or down in semitones) and dissonance (clashing notes) is also used to heighten the tension and highlight the idea of suffering.

Bass

There is also a murky bass which is heard in the repeating and alternating octaves in the bass line during the exposition section.

1Musical Elements

1.1Organisation of Pitch

1.1.1Melodic Pitch

1.1.2Melodic Devices

1.1.3Harmonic Pitch

1.1.4Harmonic Devices

1.1.5Harmonic Progressions

1.2Tonality

1.2.1Major & Minor Tonality

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Musical Elements

2Instrumental Music 1700–1820

2.1Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major

2.1.1Concerto No. 5 in D Major

2.1.2Structure & Melody

2.1.3Instrumentation & Texture

2.1.4Harmony

2.1.5Wider Listening

2.2Beethoven: Sonata ‘Pathétique’

2.2.1Piano Sonata No. 8

2.2.2Structure & Melody

2.2.3Other Features

2.2.4Wider Listening

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Instrumental Music 1700–1820

3Vocal Music

3.1Purcell: Music for a While

3.1.1Music for a While

3.1.2Other Features

3.1.3Wider Listening

3.2Queen: Killer Queen

3.2.1Killer Queen

3.2.2Other Features

3.2.3Wider Listening

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Vocal Music

4Music for Stage & Screen

4.1Schwartz: Defying Gravity

4.1.1Defying Gravity

4.1.2Other Features

4.1.3Wider Listening

4.2Williams: Star Wars Episode IV

4.2.1A New Hope

4.2.2Structure & Melody

4.2.3Other Features

4.2.4Wider Listening

4.2.5End of Topic Test - Music for Stage & Screen

5Fusions

5.1Afro Celt Sound System: Release

5.1.1Release

5.1.2Other Features

5.1.3Wider Listening

5.2Spalding: Samba Em Preludio

5.2.1Samba Em Preludio

5.2.2Structure & Melody

5.2.3Other Features

5.2.4Wider Listening

5.2.5End of Topic Test - Fusions

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