An exploration of the key characteristics in Beethoven's Piano Sonatas and selected instrumental repertoire
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Dimitri Papadimitriou, 'An exploration of the key characteristics in Beethoven's Piano Sonatas and selected instrumental repertoire'Download Item:
Abstract:
Associating Beethoven and tonal affect has been an attractive scholarly practice for
many generations. Although there seems to be a widespread acknowledgment about
Beethoven’s key symbolism, rarely do historians examine how his music reflects the
several verbal characterisations attached to certain keys. The primary objective of this
study will be an attempt to depict Beethoven’s tonal ethos by focusing mostly on his
piano sonatas, without excluding other important instrumental works. Prior to
identifying tonal archetypes upon which he was composing, an exploration of the
concept of key characteristics will be undertaken in order to build a framework which
will be applied to the sonata cycle. Texture will be established as the only objective
means of conveying the character of a key when dealing with untexted music. The
importance of introducing multiple praxes for each key and distinguishing structural
from affective thematic material will also be stressed. During the examination process,
the categorisation of the sonatas according to the choice of key and their praxes will
result in specific excerpts, which will be then compared with the intention to create
groups based on textural signature behaviours. Finally, this study will also address how
the knowledge of Beethoven’s tonal approach can affect several interpretation
decisions
Author: Papadimitriou, Dimitri
Advisor:
Neary, DeniseQualification name:
DMusPerfType of material:
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Music, Musicology, Music analysisMetadata
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