Beethoven 2nd movement

Beethoven 2nd movement

1. Rhythm & Meter

   • Bar 1 - Andante Cantabile Con Moto
     • Steady tempo throughout - typical
   • Bar 1 - 3/8 - no meter chanes
     • Typical of period
   • Exposition
     • Bar 1 - 1st theme mainly quavers, some dottted notes
     • Bar 54 - 2nd theme uses semi-quaver triplets
   • Development
     • Bars 71-80 - Rhythmic ostinato in strings
       • New idea, new texture, creates interest
     • Bar 94 - Dotted theme in violin in tutti/solo violin section
       • Variety and interest
   • Recap
     • 101+ - New counter subject - semi and demi quavers
     • Bars 114-115 - Off beat chords in violins

2. Harmony & Tonality

   • Home key - F Major
   • End of 1st subject = C7 chord = modulation (Bars 25-26)
   • Expo ends with perfect cadence in dominant key of C (bars 62-64)
   • Development starts in C minor (bars 64-65)
   • Bar 80 - That crazy Italian Aug 6 chord
   • Some chords: Db, Ab7, Db, F6, Bbm (72-79)
   • Pedal G in timps (53-60)
   • Pedal C in timps followed by trill (81-88-92)

3. Texture & Melody

   • Bar 1 - Theme X - interval of perf 4th to open melody
   • Bar 3 - scalic
   • Bar 10 - False entry
   • Bar 12 - Melody octave higher
   • Bar 72+ - Dialogue between instruments
   • Bar 101 - New scalic counter subject

4. Sonata Form

   • Expo 1-65
   • Development 65-100
   • Recap - 100-163
   • Coda 161-194
   • Typical of period - Sections marked by cadences and modulations, as well as double bar lines, changes of theme and sometimes changes of texture

5. Forces & Timbre

   • Terraced dynamics (Bars 80-86)
   • Tutti/solo violin = loud/quiet/loud/quiet (bar 93)
   • Solo violin = staccato into legato (Bar 96)
   • This use of dynamics and timbre for expression is moving towards Romantic period as it has more contrast & extremes