Page 183 - ESSENTIAL LISTENING TO MUSIC

Beethoven was a master of the process of thematic penetration—stripping away all extraneous material to get to the core of a musical idea. Here, in this mysterious pianissimo passage, he presents the irreducible minimum of his mo- tive: a single note. In the midst of this quiet, the original four-note motive tries to reassert itself fortissimo, yet at first cannot do so. Its explosive force, however, cannot be held back. A thunderous return of the opening pitches signals the be- ginning of the recapitulation.
Although the recapitulation (4:17) offers a repeat of the events of the exposi- tion, Beethoven has a surprise in store. No sooner has the motive regained its momentum than an oboe interjects a tender, languid, and wholly unexpected solo. A deviation from the usual path of sonata–allegro form, this brief oboe ca- denza allows for a momentary release of excess energy. The recapitulation then resumes its expected course.
What is not expected is the enormous coda that follows. It is even longer than the exposition! A new form of the motive appears, and it, too, is subjected to development. In fact, this coda constitutes essentially a second development section, so great is Beethoven’s urge to exploit this one simple musical idea. Per- haps it goes too far to say Beethoven was a musical Einstein, but he did discover the secret of the musical atom (the motive) and unleased its enormous power.
Listening Cue
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor (1808), Opus 67
First movement, Allegro con brio (fast with gusto) Genre: Symphony
Form: Sonata–allegro
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what to listen for: How much energy and how many startling effects Beethoven extracts from a simple four-note motive, owing to his extraordinary creative powers. In one form or another, the motive dominates almost every moment of this first movement.
ReAD . . . a detailed Listening Guide of this selection online.
LiSTeN TO . . . this selection streaming online.
WATCH . . . an Active Listening Guide of this selection online.
WATCH . . . a Stephen Malinowski animation of this selection online.
DO . . . Listening Exercise 10.2, Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, I, online.
second movement
After the pounding we experienced in the explosive first movement, the calm of the noble Andante comes as a welcome change of pace. The mood is at
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