DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (July 9, 2020)

Now we will compare all three movements of the “Pathetique” Sonata with Mozart's work. Today’s post will rely largely on the audio, with the text as reference.

https://soundcloud.com/user-385773…/beethoven-mozart-c-minor

1. Beethoven is in a dialogue with both Mozart's Piano Sonata in C Minor and his Fantasy in C Minor.

2. Beethoven's slow introduction, which reappears (though changed) in the middle and end of his first movement, synopsizes Mozart's “Fantasy” and integrates it with the sonata, so that it is not a separate piece.

3. This is the first time that we might consider that Beethoven surpasses Mozart, but that does not in any way detract from Mozart's work, which was also a scientific discovery of the first order.

4. Mozart's signature opening of 3 octaves of c is compared to Bach and Beethoven.
5. Beethoven took virtuoso piano playing to a whole new level with this work.

6. A key transition to what is sometimes known as the " development section" is compared in both first movements.

7. Recently, we discussed the existence of three and only three double-lydian or diminished 7th chords:

F# A C Eb , B D F Ab, DbE G Bb.

Beethoven opens by repeating the same idea 3 times, but higher in pitch each time. You might expect him to use all three. He does not. He uses 1, then 2, then 1 again. In the coda though, he uses all 3, making it the most powerful statement of the slow section.

8. In the slow movements, Beethoven does not quote Mozart's first theme in Eb, but his second in Ab—giving us a most beloved song.

9. We take the ending of both third movements up to a point of discontinuity, and the return to the main idea. Several key points of similarity are identified. The endings of both third movements are compared. Mozart's is a tour de force.

Some ideas are better transmitted via audio. So please enjoy the audio.

https://soundcloud.com/user-385773…/beethoven-mozart-c-minor

We also leave you with a scored version, performed by Annie Fischer

1st movement
https://youtu.be/kqvBJc9IovI

2nd movement
https://youtu.be/iCL5sHzlDOI

3rd movement
https://youtu.be/Ifj8dwuAzAQ