ENJ P6(U10 14) 30-40 2PP 8/28/06 10:48 AM Page 266

266 THE CLASSICAL SYMPHONY I]Z:c_dnbZcid[Bjh^XEVX`V\Z

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Listening Guide -

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 89"GDB

89"GDB 89"GDB

DATE OF WORK: 18078

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MOVEMENTS: I. Allegro con brio; sonata-allegro form, C minor
II. Andante con moto; theme and variations form (2 themes), HijYn<j^YZ
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major
III. Allegro; scherzo and trio form, C minor
IV. Allegro; sonata-allegro form, C major

First Movement: Allegro con brio; sonata-allegro form, 2/4 meter, C minor

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR: Famous motive (short-short-short-long) is basis for entire movement;
heard in sequence, extended beyond 4 notes, and turned upside down.
Sonata-allegro form, with fiery opening theme and sweet 2nd theme.
Dramatic tonal shifts between major and minor.

EXPOSITION
Theme 1based on famous 4-note motive, in C minor:

U U
Allegro con brio
etc.

b bb 2
& 4

Motive treated sequentially:

etc.

b bb 2
& 4
p n
J
Expansion from 4-note motive; horns modulate to key of second theme:
b 2 etc.

&b b4
S S S
Theme 2more lyrical, in woodwinds, in E-flat major; heard against rhythm of 4-note motive:

bb 2
etc.

& b4
p
b 2
L? b b 4
basic rhythm

Closing themedescending staccato passage, then 4-note motive.

Repeat of exposition.

DEVELOPMENT
Beginning of development, announced by horns.
Manipulation of 4-note motive through a descending sequence:
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36 Beethoven and the Symphony in Transition 267

etc.

b 2 n
&b b4
cresc. p
Melodic variation, interval filled in and inverted:

b 2 n # n
&b b 4
n n
? b b 42 J
b

Expansion through repetition; leads into recapitulation:

b bb 2
& 4 J J

b b U
U etc.

b
& J
RECAPITULATION
Theme 1in C minor,
followed by brief oboe solo in cadenza style.
Theme 2returns in C major.
Closing theme.
Codaextended treatment of 4-note motive; ends in C minor.

Second Movement: Andante con moto; theme and variations form,

with two themes, 3/8, meter, A-flat major

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:
Movement based on 2 contrasting themes, both subjected to variation
procedure.
Varied melodies, harmonies (major/minor), rhythms, tempo, and
accompaniment.
Orchestra sections featured as groups: warm strings, brilliant
woodwinds, and powerful brass.

Theme 1broad, flowing melody, heard in low strings:

. . .
Andante con moto
. . .
? b b b 38 . . n . n .
b
p dolce

Theme 2upward-thrusting 4-note motive:

basic rhythm
b
& b b b 38 . .
dolce

Listening Guide continues

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268 THE CLASSICAL SYMPHONY

Examples of variations on theme 1

Embellished with running sixteenth notes:
etc.
n
b b b b 83
?
p dolce
Embellished with thirty-second notes:
etc.

b b 3 n n
?b b 8
p dolce
Melody exchanged between woodwind instruments:
etc.
n
Clarinet Flute
b b3 n
Bassoon

&b b 8
dolce .

. b . . . . . . b . . . . b b. .
Melody shifted to minor, more disjunct:

b b3 .
&b b 8 J J
p
CodaPi mosso (faster), in bassoon.

Third Movement: Allegro; scherzo and trio form, 3/4 meter, C minor

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:
Quickly ascending scherzo theme, followed by recurrence of 4-note
rhythmic idea from first movement.
Contrasting trio featuring low-range strings and imitative (fugal)
texture.
Long transition into 4th movement, without any break.

Scherzo themea rising, rocket theme in low strings:

Allegro
# . . . U etc.

b 3 n
?b b4 &
poco rit.

Recurrent rhythmic motive (from opening of first movement):

. .
Trio themein C major, in double basses, set fugally, played twice:

3
etc.

? 4
f
Trio theme is broken up and expanded through sequences:
etc.

3
? 4
f
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36 Beethoven and the Symphony in Transition 269

Scherzo returns, with varied orchestration, including pizzicato strings

Transition to next movement with timpani rhythm from opening 4-note motive:

?3
4

Fourth Movement: Allegro; sonata-allegro form, 4/4 meter, C major

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR: Triumphant theme in trumpets brilliantly proclaiming C-major tonality.
4-note motive recurs as unifying device for entire symphony.
Long coda affirms victorious C-major tonality (over C minor, the
opening key of the entire symphony).

EXPOSITION
Theme 1in C major, a powerful melody whose opening outlines a C-major chord:
Allegro
. . .
&c J J J J J . .

Lyrical transition theme in French horns, modulating from C to G major:

. . w w . . . .
& c .

Theme 2in G major, vigorous melody with triplets:

. . # .
&c # .
3
p cresc.

Closing themefeaturing clarinet and violas, decisive:

& c . . #
# . # p
fp p fp p fp

DEVELOPMENT
Much modulation and free rhythmic treatment; brings back 4-note motive (3 short and a long)
from first movement.
Brief recurrence of scherzo.

RECAPITULATION
Theme 1in C major.
Theme 2in C major.
Closing theme.
Codalong extension.