The contrast between conjunct/scalar motion and disjunct/arpeggiated motion is common in the subjects of many fugues, that begin with a disjunct "head motive" followed by scalar motion afterwards. When the subject recurs in full counterpart, the disjunct head motive serves to bring attention momentarily to that particular voice.
Fascinating. I used to compose using a guitar, and would always start with chords and build up a melody from there. But for some reason, when I began composing with a piano I abandoned that practice and started with the melody and built chords around it. In retrospect, starting with chords seemed to produce richer melodies.
Like wise. I force myself to only play one note at a time sometimes, to see how long I can hold of adding any harmony. I end up thinking about one note samba and abandoning that approach.😁
Your comments on melodies that leap up and down without passing tones reminds me very much of a piece of Bach clavier music rearranged for bass recorder that I am currently working on. Arpeggio after arpeggiated not quite arpeggio after arpeggio. It's a bit of a pain to play - I think it was rather better suited to the original instrument than to the bass recorder. Claviers don't need to breathe. A very interesting video. Thank you.
Delightful video! Even in his earliest works, Ludwig is teaching “all and sundry” how the simplest of ideas can be masterfully developed into a piece of musical artistry. ‘Tis roughly the equivalent of a child gathering together a pile of common wooden blocks and constructing a magnificent cathedral. Thanks so much for this video. It takes me back to the many happy hours spent in Music Theory and Music Lit classes at university.
Another piece or two that I feel uses a similar technique are the minor key Mozart Symphonies. The opening movement of the 25th, after the syncopated intro notes the Violins play the theme by outlining chords, and in the Finale of the 40th arpeggios play a critical role in the main theme from bar one. Another Beethoven example is the Scherzo from his Symphony No. 5. Anyways, great video as always!! Love getting to watch you break down and analyze pieces like this! As a self-taught composer, there just aren’t enough out there. I feel people truly understanding and appreciating the Theory behind the music is becoming a lost art. But like I said, great job! You do these videos on the composers… have you ever thought of doing a video on how Haydn uses just one theme in Sonata Form but changed it enough for the listener in a monothematic piece?
@@MusicMattersGB After listening to it, another example of this pops up in the opening movement of Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 17 in B-flat. Being self-taught I’ve studied and analyzed Mozart’s music for a long time, and it always amazes me at how he can do abrupt and unexpected things in with his harmonies and melodies, but so much of it simply arpeggiated chords and scale runs!! Often so simple, but he finds a way to make it flow so much more naturally than other composers!!
@@MusicMattersGB Just for the record, if I could, I would undoubtedly be taking one of your courses. Unfortunately that’s not an option. I was planning on perusing Music Composition in College, but I suffer from Epilepsy. I’m nearly 30 and have never been able to drive and it’s prevented me maintaining a job and/or income. I’ve been unemployed for over two years now, having to live with my parent out in the country. I’m the only one into Classical music and it’s my one true passion!! So please know, you’re videos bring great amounts of joy to my day, and if I could support you more, or learn more from you, I would instantly!! (A quick interesting fact though, if you didn’t know, look up the link between Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D and Epilepsy! Really interesting!!) Again, thanks for the videos and all you do!! Look forward to the next one!
@@trevorcollins25 I really admire you. You are not allowing your epilepsy to rule your life. Keep enjoying music. I also grew up in a house with noone else wanting to listen to classical music. I can empathize in that area of your life. Keep up your lovely positive hope. The way forward will come clear when you least expect it. You are still young. I hope you have someone who can bring you to live performances occasionally, now that the lockdowns have passed. Glad you found this lovely channel.
Thanks ! Love the harmonic analysis, because it's not obvious as the chords are not written as in Jazz music sheet. Could you please make a quick Chords progression for maybe sonata 31 op.110 or so ? It will be chilling. Best regards, from Provence, AC.
Scientifically it's great. Makes perfect sense musically and it's a totally sound piece but for me does nothing else. It's almost like a study but has no emotional content for me. Exploring emotion in music for me is just as important as the science for me so this kind of classical style, doesn't suite me. So for you, is it the science or the human element of music you're interested in and does it favour either way? Also do you think that balance is something for composers to explore for themselves and is that a big part of individualism?
Composition must be creative “from the heart” but much boils down to the question of personal taste. Some people are moved by a work that doesn’t move others.
Your insightful analysis of compositional ideas contained within Beethoven's Op2/1 is most helpful. I am an enthusiastic amateur taking an autodidactic approach to this work as part of chosen repertoire for the dipABRSM. Writing out the score using Sibelius and analysing as I go helps with interpretation and memorization for practical piano purposes and being able to check my thinking is extremely valuable. If it is possible to do the same for JS Bach's BWV 878 Nos. 1 and 2 in E and Schubert's Impromptu in Gb Op.90 No.3 D899/3 at some future date it would be very much appreciated. Thank you so much for your highly respected tutorship and concise videos which I have been following for some time now.😊🎹🎼
My ABSOLUTELY; number ONE since l was a little kid! Thank you so much for this; My DAD 💔,was a music nut: we’d sit there together, listening to his jazz ( no trad or ‘3rd stream’, he used to call fusion ‘ confusion’ 😆 I’ll ) Music on 24/7.. l miss those times. My DAD💔, he went ‘home’ 2 years+ ago. But he left me the best gift; music. I’ve always loved my piano. Is there something wrong with me; l love theory!! 🥴😅😱
@@MusicMattersGB Thanks so much ; I’m so privileged to have had a warm, sweet, person like him. 💔 One day…. PA 💔❤️💫🌟⚡️✨ I’m sorry as well to hear about your DAD. What did he play? Did you both like the same music? Coz he was such a music nut, l wondered WHY he wasn’t a muso 🤔 He said ‘ l don’t want to KNOW how it’s done’. ; he also said he played the turntable. 😆.⚡️✨🌟💫
- Maestro Early Access Video!
th-cam.com/play/UUMO8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQg.html
Your analysis of composers is always my favorite part of the channel. I cannot wait to hear your analysis of Sonata Pathetique.
A pleasure. If you go to www.mmcourses.co.uk you’ll find a complete analysis of the whole Pathetique.
Beethoven's harmony is always full of many unexpected surprises. He is best known for breaking all the rules in harmony.
😀
your enthusiasm is infectious.. cheers
That’s most kind
Great lesson!
Many thanks. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Superb lesson! Thank you a lot!
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
The contrast between conjunct/scalar motion and disjunct/arpeggiated motion is common in the subjects of many fugues, that begin with a disjunct "head motive" followed by scalar motion afterwards. When the subject recurs in full counterpart, the disjunct head motive serves to bring attention momentarily to that particular voice.
Absolutely
that's so interesting and fun!!!! thank you. :D
Glad you enjoyed it
Fascinating. I used to compose using a guitar, and would always start with chords and build up a melody from there. But for some reason, when I began composing with a piano I abandoned that practice and started with the melody and built chords around it. In retrospect, starting with chords seemed to produce richer melodies.
Interesting
Like wise. I force myself to only play one note at a time sometimes, to see how long I can hold of adding any harmony. I end up thinking about one note samba and abandoning that approach.😁
😀
Your comments on melodies that leap up and down without passing tones reminds me very much of a piece of Bach clavier music rearranged for bass recorder that I am currently working on. Arpeggio after arpeggiated not quite arpeggio after arpeggio. It's a bit of a pain to play - I think it was rather better suited to the original instrument than to the bass recorder. Claviers don't need to breathe.
A very interesting video. Thank you.
Interesting comparison. Glad the video is helpful.
How lovely watching this analysis. Can we have one for poulenc if him a bit hard to analyse.
We could do something on Poulenc.
@@MusicMattersGB thank you, much appreciated.
😀
Delightful video! Even in his earliest works, Ludwig is teaching “all and sundry” how the simplest of ideas can be masterfully developed into a piece of musical artistry. ‘Tis roughly the equivalent of a child gathering together a pile of common wooden blocks and constructing a magnificent cathedral. Thanks so much for this video. It takes me back to the many happy hours spent in Music Theory and Music Lit classes at university.
It’s another beautifully crafted piece.
Another piece or two that I feel uses a similar technique are the minor key Mozart Symphonies. The opening movement of the 25th, after the syncopated intro notes the Violins play the theme by outlining chords, and in the Finale of the 40th arpeggios play a critical role in the main theme from bar one. Another Beethoven example is the Scherzo from his Symphony No. 5. Anyways, great video as always!! Love getting to watch you break down and analyze pieces like this! As a self-taught composer, there just aren’t enough out there. I feel people truly understanding and appreciating the Theory behind the music is becoming a lost art. But like I said, great job!
You do these videos on the composers… have you ever thought of doing a video on how Haydn uses just one theme in Sonata Form but changed it enough for the listener in a monothematic piece?
I agree with you on all of that. Good ideas for future videos.
@@MusicMattersGB After listening to it, another example of this pops up in the opening movement of Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 17 in B-flat. Being self-taught I’ve studied and analyzed Mozart’s music for a long time, and it always amazes me at how he can do abrupt and unexpected things in with his harmonies and melodies, but so much of it simply arpeggiated chords and scale runs!! Often so simple, but he finds a way to make it flow so much more naturally than other composers!!
Absolutely. A good comparison with the Mozart Bb.
@@MusicMattersGB Just for the record, if I could, I would undoubtedly be taking one of your courses. Unfortunately that’s not an option. I was planning on perusing Music Composition in College, but I suffer from Epilepsy. I’m nearly 30 and have never been able to drive and it’s prevented me maintaining a job and/or income. I’ve been unemployed for over two years now, having to live with my parent out in the country. I’m the only one into Classical music and it’s my one true passion!! So please know, you’re videos bring great amounts of joy to my day, and if I could support you more, or learn more from you, I would instantly!! (A quick interesting fact though, if you didn’t know, look up the link between Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D and Epilepsy! Really interesting!!) Again, thanks for the videos and all you do!! Look forward to the next one!
@@trevorcollins25 I really admire you. You are not allowing your epilepsy to rule your life. Keep enjoying music. I also grew up in a house with noone else wanting to listen to classical music. I can empathize in that area of your life. Keep up your lovely positive hope. The way forward will come clear when you least expect it. You are still young. I hope you have someone who can bring you to live performances occasionally, now that the lockdowns have passed. Glad you found this lovely channel.
Thanks ! Love the harmonic analysis, because it's not obvious as the chords are not written as in Jazz music sheet.
Could you please make a quick Chords progression for maybe sonata 31 op.110 or so ? It will be chilling. Best regards, from Provence, AC.
😀
Scientifically it's great. Makes perfect sense musically and it's a totally sound piece but for me does nothing else. It's almost like a study but has no emotional content for me. Exploring emotion in music for me is just as important as the science for me so this kind of classical style, doesn't suite me. So for you, is it the science or the human element of music you're interested in and does it favour either way? Also do you think that balance is something for composers to explore for themselves and is that a big part of individualism?
Composition must be creative “from the heart” but much boils down to the question of personal taste. Some people are moved by a work that doesn’t move others.
Little teabreak. 🤣 So English. I love it.
😀
beethoven is my favorite classical composer even if it‘s a little cliché.. his melodic writing is just so powerful
It certainly is
Your insightful analysis of compositional ideas contained within Beethoven's Op2/1 is most helpful. I am an enthusiastic amateur taking an autodidactic approach to this work as part of chosen repertoire for the dipABRSM. Writing out the score using Sibelius and analysing as I go helps with interpretation and memorization for practical piano purposes and being able to check my thinking is extremely valuable. If it is possible to do the same for JS Bach's BWV 878 Nos. 1 and 2 in E and Schubert's Impromptu in Gb Op.90 No.3 D899/3 at some future date it would be very much appreciated. Thank you so much for your highly respected tutorship and concise videos which I have been following for some time now.😊🎹🎼
That’s great. Good luck with your preparations
I think he get the idea of this sonata from the first movement of Mozart early G minor symphony K 183.
There are parallels
👍🏻🍀✝️🇺🇸👊🏻
😀
My ABSOLUTELY; number ONE since l was a little kid! Thank you so much for this; My DAD 💔,was a music nut: we’d sit there together, listening to his jazz ( no trad or ‘3rd stream’, he used to call fusion ‘ confusion’ 😆 I’ll ) Music on 24/7.. l miss those times. My DAD💔, he went ‘home’ 2 years+ ago. But he left me the best gift; music. I’ve always loved my piano. Is there something wrong with me; l love theory!! 🥴😅😱
Sorry to hear about your dad. Great that you’re into theory!
@@MusicMattersGB Thanks so much ; I’m so privileged to have had a warm, sweet, person like him. 💔 One day…. PA 💔❤️💫🌟⚡️✨ I’m sorry as well to hear about your DAD. What did he play? Did you both like the same music? Coz he was such a music nut, l wondered WHY he wasn’t a muso 🤔 He said ‘ l don’t want to KNOW how it’s done’. ; he also said he played the turntable. 😆.⚡️✨🌟💫
Absolutely. My dad was a musician who died after a long illness. I understand something of where you’re coming from.