Prelude And Fugue Essay

It is truly difficult to isolate a dominating theme or melody from part B. In fact, italmost sounds as if Beethoven is wordpainting the act of composing music, of throughrecycling rhythmic, melodic, and contrapuntal ideas. For example, the rhythm in this section is composed of sets of patterns of long and short notes. B_1 starts of with ‘- ‘-,where ‘ represents a short note and – a long note. B_2 becomes -‘’ -‘’, and then

This transition creates a large contrast in not only meter and rhythm, but also emotion. Section C is different in that its meter is the least definite. Its meter starts out very slow, clearly slower than all other sections. Slowing the meter here feeds to a more solemn expression, which is a stark contrast from the faster, fuller, and more excited state of section A. A conveys a forceful, strong expression with its fast meter and strong harmonic chords whereas B has a softer tone and slower, patient rhythm. Contrasting rhythm and meter changes help lead to an emotionally charged piece, typifying music during the Romantic Era.

Section two marks the beginning of a different theme which is shown by the transition from a

The piece has a time signature of 4/4 (C=common time) and is primarily in Db Major, modulating to C# Minor (the enharmonic equivalent). The accompaniment (left hand) through section A is based around the tonic and dominant chords- Dᵇ and Aᵇ- with the repeated quavers being Aᵇ - the dominant. In the B section, the repeated quavers played both as singular notes and octaves are on the dominant G#, which is the enharmonic equivalent to Aᵇ and therefore is the repeated quaver as in section A.

In the second movement, the percussion section is more noticeable, especially at the beginning. This movement is also in D minor. The range of the melodic tune is dramatic. At times, I recognized the downbeat in three measures (da da da). This

Section A’’ (mm. 51-65) repeats the MT with variation mostly in rhythmic changes leading up to the PAC in A♭ major at m. 66 where the coda (m. 66-73) begins. The coda essentially acts as a tonic expansion with some added 9ths to the dominant as seen in m. 67 and m.69. The piece works the V-I in a decrescendo to the final PAC in A♭ major in m. 73.

The mood through-out the piece to me seemed to have a lightness and grace to it. During the piece I also realized that you pick up on a dark undertone. The dark undertone is in the harmony of the

This leads us to the third and final section of the sonata: the recapitulation. It begins in measure 102 and goes to the end of the piece in measure 148. The entire recapitulation is in the key of Bb major, but includes several thematic statements from both the exposition and the development. It begins with the same exact introduction from the exposition; same theme, same key (Bb). Then, it gets thrown off at 108, when it doesn’t quite follow the introduction. Basically, measures 7 through 10 are deleted from the re-statement, and instead takes us to the equivalency of the bridge section, but in Bb instead of F. That part is very crucial I feel, because when it was in F, its purpose was to sound like it needed to go on, whereas in Bb, it sounds like we’re coming to a close by returning to the original key. So in conclusion, from 110 to the end, it is exactly the same as the second part of the exposition, except instead of being in F, it is in Bb. If I may say so, this

The sonata begins softly but with unmistakable energy. The trill like sixteenth notes on the third beat of this motif surge the piece forward into the next bar. The two bar motif appears again, and is then varied and

The first is evident in m. 3, when the bass, tenor, and alto sing “Care”, and a c seventh diminished chord is sung. It then breaks off, and is resolved into a B major chord. Nevertheless, dissonance is portrayed in this word again when the soprano joins in at m. 7 and an augmented c triad is sung. This is significant in delineating the sadness of the piece. This first section continues with this technique, oscillating between dissonance and consonance. A highly consonant area is in the following section starting at m. 15, rightfully expressing the joy that music can bring. In m. 23, there is a dissonance for a one beat duration before the piece returns to the melancholic text. A dissonance is heard again in a c diminished chord between the top three parts in m. 26 in the word “deadly”, bringing back the text’s tension. The dissonances become less prevalent as the piece moves into the next section discussing happiness. Properly, the first part ends on a major chord, providing an uplifting end and supporting the triumphant mood the text brings.

Each section leads into the next and by this excerpt it obvious that although the section started heavy it has lowered down to lead into the next section which enhances

After a minor wobble of the director stand, a few adjustments and giggles, Symphony No.1 in D major began. The first movement started off with an eerie introduction, with the first two notes morphing into a birdcall as well as main theme but a very magical sound. It made for a very soothing, romantic time. Throughout the piece I felt as if it told a story as most music does, what I came to believe it was a love story. The Allegro begins in the cello with the second Wayfarer song, “Ging heut morgen Ubers Feld,” (I Walked this Morning over the Field). With a light and happy tone in the beginning as if two lovers had just met, this was the main theme of this movement. Suddenly there was a deep, heavy part maybe one of despair in paradise but that only lasted for a short period as it came to a victorious ending of happily ever after. (Kahn)

28 No. 15 was written during the second period. This movement (III) is in ternary form (ABA). This first A section (A1) is in binary form and consists of 70 total measures in the key of D major. It is made up of two 32-bar sections that are divided into eight 4-bar phrases, a 4-bar extension at measures 45-48, and a 2-bar cadence at the end of the section. The second A section (A2) is made up of nine 4-bar phrases. A1 consists of a repeating theme that follows the chord progression I, ii6, V7, 1 in measures 5-8 and then goes to V6, vi6, V7/V, V I in measures 13-17 and the repeats these same progressions in measures 18-32 except measure 32 ends on the V chord instead of the 1 chord. A2 continues in D with a different and less melodic theme in measures 33-49 before repeating to the main theme in measures 50-70. This section crescendos and grows in

The cello and organ provide the basso continuo, following the figured bass. The modulation in bar 10 to A major ends in a V7 - I, providing strength to the piece. This differs from Sonata pian’e forte which is in the Dorian mode with lots of root position chords (bar 1 and 2) and suspensions (bar 3). The melody is mostly stepwise and the tierce de Picarrdie in bar 4 gives a sense of balanced phrasing. This is felt again in bar 8, due to the consonant 4th. The modal harmony in bar 13 creates an imperfect cadence to mark the end of the A1 section. An interesting phrygian cadence (IVb - V) is used in bar 16 leads into a short circle of 5ths (bar 17) and then a perfect cadence in F major with a 4-3 suspension (bar 20). This ‘busy-ness’ before cadences was not uncommon, due to the very expressive works that were composed in this era.

In the third section, it makes me feel jumpy and very fast again. It must be a bright fugue. And the last one, a quick transition