Analysis

Detailed analysis notes on works such as Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier and Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas. It explores the structure and design of each of these timeless masterpieces.

Chopin: Ballade No.1 in G minor Op.23 Analysis

Analysis Largo Form: Through-composed. G Minor LARGO: Bars 1-7: Introduction, G minor, with some tonal ambiguity due to the absence of the tonic triad. It begins with an arpeggiated Neapolitan 6th…
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Chopin: Ballade No.2 in F major Op.38 Analysis

Analysis Andantino Form: Scherzo. F Major The opening passage has a gentle, nostalgic character, with very soft dynamic levels. The use of a recurring iambic rhythm (weak-strong, e.g. quaver-crotchet/eighth note-quarter…
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Chopin: Ballade No.3 in Ab Major Op.47 Analysis

Analysis Allegretto Form: Free Formal Structure. Ab Major A (Bars 1-52): A1: Bars 1-8: Introductory theme, A flat major, settling on the tonic chord in the second inversion in Bars 2, 4,…
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Chopin: Ballade No.4 in F minor Op.52 Analysis

Analysis Presto Form: Free Formal Structure. Ab Major Bar 1-7: (Largo) Introduction, based around the dominant or dominant seventh chord of F minor (i.e. a C major chord), with some tonicisation…
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Chopin: Scherzo No.3 in C# Minor Op.39 Analysis

Analysis Presto Form: Scherzo. C# Minor. EXPOSITION (Bars 1-242): Bars 1-24: Introduction, C sharp minor. An agitated theme in chromatically descending sequence. Bars 25-154: First subject, C sharp minor, modulating to E major…
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Chopin: Scherzo No.2 in Bb minor Op.31 Analysis

Analysis Presto Form: Scherzo. Bb Minor. SCHERZO (Bars 1-264): A: Bars 1-24: Theme 1, B flat minor. Modulates to D flat major (relative major) in Bars 13-17, then returns abruptly to…
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Chopin: Scherzo No.1 in B Minor Op.20 Analysis

Analysis Presto Con Fuoco Form: Scherzo. B Minor. SECTION A: B minor, very dramatic and agitated, in an extended ternary (ABABA) form. Bars 1-8: Introduction. Two loud, arresting chords, inversions of ii…
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Schubert: Piano Sonata in A major D.664 Analysis

Analysis First Movement (Allegro Moderato) Form: Sonata Form. A Major. EXPOSITION (Bars 1-47): Themes introduced in tonic and dominant keys. FIRST SUBJECT: Bars 1-20: First subject theme – an eight-bar melody,…
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Mozart: Piano Sonata No.1 in C major, K.279 Analysis

Analysis First Movement (Allegro) Form: Sonata Form. C Major. EXPOSITION: Bars 1-5: First Subject in Tonic. The first subject is very short. It consists of two three bar phrases which overlap; the…
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Mozart: Piano Sonata No.2 in F major, K.280 Analysis

Analysis First Movement (Allegro Assai) Form: Sonata Form. F Major. EXPOSITION: Bars 1-13: First Subject in Tonic. First Subject in Tonic. The first subject commences with a six-bar phrase, the extension being caused…
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