Unit XIII The EighteenthCentury Concerto and Sonata

1
Unit XIIIThe Eighteenth-Century Concerto and
Sonata

• Chapter 38 The Classical Sonata

2
Overview

• Instrumental work for one or two instruments
  following the 2-,3-, or 4-movement sonata cycle
  plan outlined earlier.
• Important genre for amateur musicians in the home
  as well as for composers performing in concert.

3
Overview

• Most prominent are solo piano sonatas for violin
  or cello and piano
• Early on the piano played dominant role in duo
  sonatas, with the string instrument acting as
  accompaniment.
• With Mozart and Beethoven, the piano and the
  string instrument became equal partners in the
  composition.

4
Overview

• Mozarts duo sonatas are mostly for violin and
  piano, since these were the two instruments
  played.
• Most important contribution to the genre is the
  piano sonatas of Beethoven, which span his career
  and style changes.

5
Beethoven, Piano Sonata in c sharp minor, Op.
27, No.2 (Moonlight) I and II

• Written in 1801.
• Title given by the poet, Ludwig Rellstab, who
  likened the work to the moonlight scenery along
  Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.
• Dedicated to Countess Guicciardi a last-minute
  decision.

6
First movement Adagio Sostenuto

• Uses modified song form in c-sharp minor.
• Introduction four arpeggiated chords.
• Strophe 1 then Middle section in G sharp followed
  by Strophe 2 in c-sharp minor ending with a coda
  and resolution on the tonic cadence.
• See Listening Guide 23, pp. 212-213,(CD 2/40-43),
  for theme and analysis.

7
Second movement Allegretto scherzo and trio
form

• Short, repeated sections.
• Scherzo/Trio/Scherzo overall A-B-A structure p.
  213,(CD 2/44-48), for theme and analysis.

8
Third movement Presto agitato sonata allegro
form, in c- sharp minor

• This last mvt. is reserved for his most dramatic
  writing as he sets it to full- blown sonata form.
• Work has become one of his most beloved works
  although he felt he had written better things!
  ( not found Listening CDs)