Critical Analysis Of Beethoven Sonata

ANALYSIS of

L.V.BEETHOVEN:
SONATA NO.7 IN D MAJOR, OP.10 NO.3, PRESTO

General Information:
• L.v.Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10, No. 3, was dedicated to the Countess Anne Margarete von Browne, and written in 1798.
• The Opus 10 sonatas are usually described as angular or experimental, as Beethoven began moving further and further away from his earlier models.
This is also apparent in the structure and layout of this particular sonata.

The Analysis:

 The very opening of the sonata is set in motion by an agitated melody presented in unison and consists of a descending-fourth motif followed by a rising melodic line till the dominant.

 Although harmonically, the opening in itself is not particularly distinctive, it is

The cadential themes are just as clearly based on the initial basic idea of the movement, notably on the thematic motto of the descending fourth.

o Regarding phrase structure:
The second theme opens with an irregular period of 12 bars.
The first part (Antecedent) is made up of 7 Bars (Including the upbeat) and ends with a ‘PAC’ (Although it is presented in unharmonized octaves, it strongly suggests a cadence)
The second part is an -inconclusive- 5-Bar Consequent (Including the upbeat again), that ends with a ‘suggested’ half cadence, consisting of a sequence of descending octaves forming a diminished 7th chord.
Following that, we are presented with a series of extensions and further developments of the basic thematic material that is hard to ‘pigeonhole’ in a specific phrase-structure category. Only after those 27 Bars are we presented with a PAC, the first strong cadence since the beginning of the second theme.

 Following a strong PAC in bar 93, starts the closing section, progressively creating a smooth transition to the Development

General Remarks:

 Overall, this particular movement can be characterized as rather Monothematic, as most of the material used throughout the piece is based on a single idea.
Nevertheless, there can be room for argument regarding alternative interpretations of its thematic structure. (Such as a bi-thematic* and a polythematic approach)
Indeed, the density and tempo of this movement and the fact that most of the material used throughout originates from the basic idea, creates a feeling of constant continuity, making it at times unclear what is a continuation, extension or further development of a previous theme and what a new start