Chapter 36. Disrupting the Conversation: Beethoven and the Symphony in Transition; Listening Guide 25: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67

Drag and drop the appropriate words to describe the first theme of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, movement III. The - opens with a rocket theme in the - strings. This is followed by the short-short-short-long rhythmic motive that first appeared in the - movement of the symphony.

(scherzo) (low) (first)

Which of the following statements are correct about this excerpt from the exposition (the beginning) of the fourth movement? (exposition, 34 seconds)

-It is in a major key -It is in duple meter -The texture is homophonic

Which of the following statements are correct about the trio theme in the third movement?

-It is in a major key -It is set fugally

Which of the following statements are correct about the scherzo theme in the third movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5? Which are incorrect?

-It is in a minor key -It is in triple meter

The third section of sonata-allegro form is the recapitulation. Here, the tension that was created in the development is released with a return of the exposition material in the home key of the work, in this case C minor. Throughout this entire movement, you have heard the fiery four-note motive and its rhythm many times. In this excerpt, you will hear the music that leads up to the beginning of the recapitulation. The recapitulation begins with the fiery four-note motive, which you hear at the very end of the excerpt. How does Beethoven let you know that this time the four-note motive is the return of the exposition material?

-The motive is played loudly. -The motive is played a bit more slowly.

Identify whether each of the statements about the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is true or false.

-The movement is in sonata-allegro form. -The tempo is fast and the rhythm is largely built on a four-note motive: short-short-short-long. -The key is C minor, but the movement features dramatic shifts between major keys and minor keys.

Listen to the following music excerpts and drag each to the correct location on the music chart below. Click the triangle to play the excerpts from the beginning. Click the box anywhere outside the triangle to drag it to the correct location.

1. flowing melody 2. upward four-note motive 3. melody shifts to minor

There are - themes, the first of which is varied extensively. The movement is in - major and is set in a flowing - meter.

1. two 2. A-flat 3. triple

After two dramatic statements of the four-note motive at a very loud volume (dynamic), the recapitulation continues with the first theme, much like the exposition. There are many statements of the four-note motive in the strings, with abrupt changes in dynamics.

But the accompaniment for that first theme changes in the recapitulation when a(n) oboe plays long-held notes higher than the strings. The same instrument continues into a cadenza, a short solo passage played freely.

Fill in the blanks.

Beethoven introduces the development section with loud horns playing the four-note motive.

The final theme introduced in the exposition is the closing theme. It sounds like this: (closing theme)

It starts off loud and fiery like the first theme. But instead of having repeated notes like the first theme, the closing theme has a(n) (descending) melodic line.

Listen to the excerpt, then fill in the blank below.

Near the beginning of the recapitulation, a(n) (oboe) plays a cadenza, a short solo passage played freely.

How does the development section of the first movement begin?

horn call

What instruments first play the famous rhythmic motive (from movement I) after the first appearance of the scherzo theme in the third movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony? What instruments first play the famous rhythmic motive (from movement I) after the first appearance of the scherzo theme in the third movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony?

horns

Listen to these excerpts from different moments in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony: Theme 1 of the second movement: (Theme 1, mvt 2, 0:14) Theme 2 of the first movement: (Theme 2, mvt 1, 0:08) The rhythmic movtive that occurs after the Scherzo theme in the third movement: (Scherzo, mvt 3, 1:39) Before the development ends in the fourth movement, the music shifts to a quieter dynamic and you hear this: (middle of development, 0:16) Where did this music appear prior to this?

in the second half of the scherzo section from the third movement

In sonata-allegro form, the second theme will contrast with the first theme. In the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the first theme is in C minor: (first theme) In what way is the second theme different from the first? (second theme)

it is played in a major key

When the scherzo returns at 3:29, how does it sound different from the first time you heard it? First appearance of scherzo: (scherzo) Second appearance of scherzo: (return of scherzo)

it is played with plucked strings (pizzicato)

Fill in the blanks in the following passage about the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

The first movement of Beethoven's Symphony No.5 is in sonata-allegro form, a musical form that functions like a novel or a film script. It is made up of three large sections: the exposition, which introduces the main melodic themes, or "characters"; the development, in which those themes are put in conflict with one another; and the recapitulation, during which the conflict is resolved.

Drag and drop the appropriate words to describe the fourth movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

The first theme of the fourth movement is in (C major). The second theme is in (G major) and features the short-short-short-long rhythm of the original motive first heard in the first movement. The use of this motivic rhythm across all (four) movements of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony makes this a cyclic symphony.

This excerpt starts with a few seconds of music leading into the second theme The four-note motive is played loudly by the - just before you hear the second theme.

The four-note motive is played loudly by the (French horns) just before you hear the second theme.

Listen to the excerpt, then fill in the blank in the sentence below.

The fourth movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 is in a (major) key

Listen to this excerpt from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, first movement. Which part of the form is this? (horn call, 6 seconds)

development

Which part of the form do the loud horns introduce?

development

Listen to this excerpt from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, first movement. Which part of the form is this? (oboe cadenza)

exposition

In order of appearance, what are the three parts of sonata-allegro form?

exposition, development, recapitulation

In the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the four-note motive that opens the work is heard only in the exposition.

false

In the third movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the short-short-short-long motive does not appear. T/F

false

The third section of sonata-allegro form is called the recapitulation, in which the material of the exposition is repeated but with alterations. Here is the first theme of the exposition: (first theme, 0:34) And here is the second theme exposition: (second theme, 0:26) What describes the music at the beginning of the recapitulation heard in the fourth movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony? (recapitulation)

first theme

In what texture is the trio theme set in the third movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony?

fugue (imitative polyphony)

What describes the music in the coda, the closing section of the fourth movement?

it is very loud with a final, emphatic cadence on the tonic

Here is the scherzo theme from the third movement: (scherzo) Here is the trio theme from the third movement: (trio section) And here is the fortissimo rhythmic motive, which occurs in between the scherzo and trio: (four-note idea) Which describes the music in this excerpt? (blank, 0:31)

it sounds like the fugally set motive of the trio

Here is the scherzo theme from the third movement: (scherzo) Here is the trio theme from the third movement: (trio section) And here is the fortissimo rhythmic motive, which occurs in between the scherzo and trio: (four-note idea) Which describes the music in this excerpt? (blank) 0:20

it sounds like the scherzo

In Theme 2 of the fourth movement, the violins play a rhythm that should sound familiar to you. Where have you heard that rhythm?

its the four-note rhythm from the opening of the first movement

In the section that occurs between the first presentation of the scherzo theme and the first presentation of the trio theme in the third movement, the rhythm played by the brass instruments should sound familiar to you. What is that rhythm?

its the four-note rhythm from the opening of the first movement

When the brass instruments enter during Theme 2 (they enter at 0:21 of the excerpt), what describes their volume (dynamic)?

loud

The smooth first theme of this movement is initially played by ___________.

low strings

What is the meter of the third movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony?

quick triple meter

Listen to this excerpt from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, first movement. Which part of the form is this? (oboe cadenza, 39 seconds)

recapitulation

Listen to the four-note motive of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. What is its rhythm?

short-short-short-long

What is the form of the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony?

sonata-allegro

In the third variation on theme 1, which occurs about five minutes into the movement, the theme is broken up into smaller pieces and played by _______.

woodwinds

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the different elements of music as found in the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Form: sonata-allegro Rhythm: short-short-short-long Expression: dynamic contrasts

Match the musical and thematic elements with the excerpts from the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Be sure to listen to each clip in its entirety.

Green (lyrical): theme 2 Red (rousing melody): closing theme Blue: (short-short-short-long): four-note rhythmic motive that opens the movement

Listen to the following music excerpts and drag them to the correct locations on the music chart below.

Green(final emphatic tonic: 3rd Purple (vigorous G major melody): 2nd Red (rocket theme low strings): 1st

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the different elements of music as found in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, second movement.

Harmony - Major Form - Variations Texture - Mostly homophonic Meter - Triple

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the different elements of music as found in the third movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Harmony: C minor and C major Form: scherzo and trio Meter: triple

What is the texture in the first six seconds of this excerpt, from the beginning of the fourth movement?

Homorhythm. All instruments are playing the same rhythms

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the different elements of music as found in the fourth movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Texture: mostly homophonic Harmony: major throughout Expression: forceful dynamics and musical effects Meter: rapid duple

What describes the relationship between the instrumental voices in the first nine seconds of this excerpt (from the beginning of Theme 2)?

The clarinets play the melody while the strings provide a soft accompaniment.

Match the musical and thematic elements with the excerpted clips from the third movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Be sure to listen to each clip in its entirety.

Red (tension mounts): transition to fourth movement Yellow (trio theme): fugal texture Green (horn explosion): four-note rhythmic motive that returns from the first movement Blue (hushed low strings): scherzo rocket theme

Put the following musical events in the correct order in which they occur in the third movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Note that clicking once on the card will choose it as an answer; do not click on the cards until you are ready to answer.

Scherzo theme, Trio theme, Scherzo theme followed by pizzicato strings, Transition to next movement

Which statements are true about the fourth variation on theme 1, which occurs about six and a half minutes into the movement?

TRUE - It is in a minor key. - The woodwinds are accompanied by strings. - The notes of the melody are played in a detached manner (staccato). FALSE - The melody is played by the low strings only.

Which of the following statements regarding Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, second movement, are correct? Which are incorrect?

TRUE - The movement is in a major key. - Theme 2 makes use of the brass section of the orchestra. FALSE - The tempo is allegro. - The form is a scherzo and trio.

Listen to the excerpt, which begins about 45 seconds into the first movement, then fill in the blank below.

The loud horns introduce the second theme.

When you hear the first variation, how is the opening theme altered?

The low strings play a continuous stream of sixteenth notes accompanied by a solo woodwind.

How is the second variation of theme 1 (which occurs about four minutes into the second movement) different from the first variation of theme 1 (which occurs about two minutes into the second movement)?

The low strings play the theme much more quickly in the second variation.

Listen to the excerpt, then fill in the blank in the sentence below. (scherzo, 10 seconds) The scherzo theme in the third movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony is in a - key.

The scherzo theme in the third movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony is in a (minor) key.

Listen to the excerpt, then fill in the blank in the sentence below.

The trio theme, which first appears about two minutes into the third movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony, is in a (major) key.

Listen to the excerpt, which begins about a minute into the first movement, then fill in the blank below. (rousing melody)

This is the closing theme.

Listen to the excerpt, then fill in the blank below.

This is the first theme.

Listen to the excerpt, which begins about 45 seconds into the first movement, then fill in the blank below.

This is the second theme.

Which describes the meter in the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5?

Triple meter

Which describes the form of the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5?

Variations with two themes

Match the musical and thematic elements with the excerpted clips from the fourth movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Be sure to listen to each clip in its entirety.

Yellow (vigorous melody): theme 2 Blue (triumphant C major chord): recapitulation of theme 1 Red (tension resolved many times): coda

Listen to the following music excerpts and drag them to the correct location on the music chart, below. Click the triangle to play the excerpts from the beginning. Click the box anywhere outside the triangle to drag it to the correct location.

Yellow(extended treatment of the motive): 4th Green(oboe cadenza): 3rd Red(Theme 1): 1st Orange(Horn call): 2nd

Which of these describes what appears in the recapitulation of the first movement?

all of these

The main shape of the second theme (the highest melodic idea in this excerpt) is _______.

ascending

Which term best applies to this excerpt, in which the oboe is featured?

cadenza

Listen to this excerpt from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, first movement. Which part of the form is this? (extended treatment of four-note motive)

coda

Which instrument family plays the scherzo theme at the beginning of the third movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5?

string

What happens during the transition between the third and fourth movements (heard in the first 27 seconds of this excerpt)?

the music builds in tension and crescendos directly into Theme 1 of the fourth movement

The second section of a sonata-allegro form is called the development section, and the themes you've already heard in the exposition are taken through different keys. Here is the first theme of the exposition: (first theme, 0:34) And here is the second theme of the exposition: (second theme, 0:26) Which theme do you hear most in the development section of the fourth movement?

the second theme of the exposition

While the smooth, lyrical second theme is played by strings and woodwinds, what do you hear played in the background? Hint: Listen carefully to what is being played in the low register.

the short-short-short-long rhythm

How is tension or suspense created in this excerpt?

the short-short-short-long rhythm Is played quietly and then builds dramatically to a loud volume

Often composers will end a piece with a coda, the last part of a piece (it means "tail" in Italian). Some pieces will have a short coda, perhaps a few seconds. The coda that Beethoven writes to end the first movement of this symphony is a minute and a half long, and it contains many dramatic changes in volume (dynamics) and some pauses too. Which of the themes receives extensive treatment in the coda?

theme 1

Put the musical events in the correct order in which they appear in the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Note that clicking on the cards will select them as answers; do not click on the cards until you are ready to answer the question.

theme 1 in exposition, theme 2 in E-flat major, theme 2 in C major, coda

How do the four-note motive and its short-short-short-long rhythm unify the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony?

they provide the melody, accompaniment, and rhythm throughout the entire movement

There is no break between the third and fourth movements of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. T/F

true

What is the meter of the fourth movement, as heard in this excerpt?

very fast duple meter

The last movement begins with the entire orchestra, including piccolo, trombones, and contrabassoon. What describes the dynamics (volume) of the first theme? (last movement, 35 seconds)

very loud