Other Features
Music: Edexcel GCSE, topic 2.2.3
Texture and Instrumentation
A key feature of the Romantic period was compositions for solo piano.
The piano
- A key feature of the Romantic period was compositions for solo piano.
- The piano had started to develop in range and composers felt it was able to express powerful emotions.
The Romantic style
- Through virtuosic playing, adventurous harmony, dramatic chords and use of accented notes this piece shows how Beethoven led the way for the Romantic style.
Homophonic
- The texture of the piece is homophonic (melody and accompaniment) with flowing melodies and dramatic chords.
Alberti bass
- There is use of Alberti bass which is a feature used heavily in the Classical period.
- This is a type of broken chordal accompaniment played by the left hand.
Harmony
The first subject and second subject, as heard in the exposition, are in C minor and Eb minor respectively.
Descending chromatic
- There is a descending chromatic (moving in semitones) line in bar 10.
- The first subject and second subject, as heard in the exposition, are in C minor and Eb minor respectively.
Diminished 7th chords
- Beethoven uses diminished 7th chords which are chords made up of minor third intervals.
- This links with the idea of suffering within the Sonata.
Dominant preparation
- Dominant preparation occurs within the development section where the piece travels through many keys and finishes with 30 bars of G quavers that prepare the return to C minor in the recapitulation section.
The recapitulation
- Within the recapitulation section the first subject returns in C Minor and the second subject is repeated in F Minor.
Test yourself on Other Features
What was a key feature of the Romantic period?
What is the name for a type of broken chordal accompaniment played by the left hand?
What type of line is heard in bar 10?