The elements of music to consider
Melody
Melodies can be created by using different features which can affect such things as to how it moves and how it is articulated. Piano Concerto No.1 includes:
- appoggiaturaAn ornamental leaning note in which the ornament takes half the value of the note it proceeds. and acciaccaturaNote played as quickly as possible before the聽note that follows. feature so to decorate the melody
- scaleA series of pitches, ascending and descending in a set pattern. are a common feature in the solo passage played rapidly to demonstrate virtuosic abilities of the performer
- call and responseWhere one melody is answered by another. phrases are heard between the orchestra
Metre and tempo
The metre is given by the time signatureNumbers or letters written at the start of a piece of music depicting how many beats are in a bar and what type of beat are in each bar. usually found at the beginning of a score and so too can the tempo marking. Bear in mind the following points:
- the first movement is allegroLively and fast. con brio and written in 4/4 time with regular phrasing
- the second movement is largoA slow tempo which is faster than grave, but slower than adagio. , in 4/4 time and built with regular phrasing
- the third movement is rondo allegro, in 2/4 with more irregular phrases
Structure
叠别别迟丑辞惫别苍鈥檚 Piano Concerto No.1 has three movements:
- the first movement is in sonata formA popular structure from the Classical period consisting of an exposition, development and recapitulation.
- the second movement is in ternary form - A-B-A
- the third movement is in rondoA music structure that continually returns to the A section, eg A-B-A-C-A. form
Instrumentation and timbre
The concerto has been written for a solo piano and orchestra. In the Classical period1750 - 1825. the solo part would have been played on the pianoforte.
The orchestra in the piece is orchestrated with the sections displayed in the table.
Strings | Woodwind | Brass | Percussion |
violin I | flute 脳2 | trumpet 脳2 | timpani |
violin II | oboe 脳2 | trombone 脳2 | |
viola | bassoon 脳2 | ||
cello | clarinet 脳2 | ||
double bass |
Strings | violin I |
---|---|
Woodwind | flute 脳2 |
Brass | trumpet 脳2 |
Percussion | timpani |
Strings | violin II |
---|---|
Woodwind | oboe 脳2 |
Brass | trombone 脳2 |
Percussion |
Strings | viola |
---|---|
Woodwind | bassoon 脳2 |
Brass | |
Percussion |
Strings | cello |
---|---|
Woodwind | clarinet 脳2 |
Brass | |
Percussion |
Strings | double bass |
---|---|
Woodwind | |
Brass | |
Percussion |
Texture and dynamics
The main techniques used by Beethoven are:
- the concerto is written for melody and accompanimentA type of texture where there is only one clear melody and an accompaniment that plays different notes and rhythms but is supporting the melody.
- there are phrases with homophonicA texture where lines of music move together by step, often sounding together to form block chords.
Tonality and harmony
Beethoven decided to write his Piano Concerto No.1 with:
- a tonicThe first degree of a scale and the central key of music. In Roman numerals this is I. of C major - no sharps or flats - for the first and third movements
- the second movement is in the contrasting key signatureA pattern of sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece of music indicating which are to be played. of A鈾 major - the flattened submediant key in relation to C major