Beethoven: Symphony No.5

Beethoven: Symphony No.5

1. Introduction

   • A symphony is a large-scale work for an orchestra, usually in four movements.
   • The opening bars of the 1st movement contains one of the most famous orchestral motifs of all times.
   • Beethoven followed the classical tradition of Haydn and Mozart by composing this movement in sonata form.

2. Musical Elements

   • Form
     • Sonata
   • Structure
     • Exposition: (bar: 1-124)
       • Development: (bar: 125-247)
         • Recapitulation: (bar: 248-373)
           • Coda: (bar: 374-502)
             • Material derived from 1st and 2nd subjects. Tutti and antiphonal passages.
           • Subject 1: (248-268), Subject 2: (303-345), Codetta: (346-373)
         • Variety of Keys. Using mainly 1st Subject material.
       • Subject 1: (1-24), Subject 2: (59-93), Codetta: (94-124)
   • Texture
     • Ranging from dense homophonic (bars 248-252) to sparse (bars 63-82)
   • Tonality
     • Home Key: C Minor
     • Modulations
       • Eb Major (relative major) - 2nd Subject
       • F minor (sub-dominant minor) - bar 130
       • G minor (dominant minor) - bar 154
       • C Major (tonic major) - bar 195
   • Harmony
     • Chords
       • C minor tonic chord 5/3 (root position) - bar 492
       • Db major 6/3 (first inversion) -bar 382
       • Dominant 7th chords - bars 182-186; 292-294
       • Diminished 7th chords - bars 56; 300
   • Techniques + Devices
     • Pedal (tonic) - bars 33-47, CELLO & BASS
     • Repetition - bars 160-167, VIOLIN I & II and FLUTES
     • Sequence - bars 408-414, VIOLIN I
     • Cadences: Perfect - bars 194-195; 501-502, Imperfect - bars 267-268
     • Pizzicato accompaniment - bars 254-263, VIOLA,CELLO,BASS.
     • Antiphonal answers - bars 196-227; 442-449, STRINGS & WOODWIND.
   • Instrumentation
     • zu 2: Both players play the same part in unison
     • 1. - first player (principal) to play the part.
     • Flauti: Flutes
     • Oboi: Oboe
     • Clarinetti (Bb): Clarinets. Transposing instrument (written a 2nd higher than the sound)
     • Fagotti: Bassoons. Written in bass clef normally, but sometimes in tenor clef when bass part goes high and uses many ledger lines (e.g. bar 102)
     • Corni (Eb): Horns. Transposing instrument (written a Major 6th Higher than the sound)
     • Trombe (C): Trumpets.
     • Timpani (C.G): Timpani tuned to C and G (tonic + dominant)
     • Violino I & II: Violin I & II
     • Viola: (written in alto clef)
     • Violoncello: Cello. written in bass clef but sometimes in tenor clef when part goes high and uses many ledger lines. (e.g. bars 83-93)
     • Contrabasso: String/Double Bass (sounding 8ve lover than written)
   • Score Indications
     • Allegro Con Brio: Fast and Vigorous.
       • Adagio: Slow
       • Minim: 108 beats per minute.
       • Dolce: sweetly
       • sf (sforzando): strong accent
       • piu: more
       • sempre piu: always more