Sunday, February 20, 2005

piano sonata in a major (second mvt)

i figured i may as well listen to a piece that is going to be on my music history test tomorrow. c.p.e. bach's piano sonata in a major is pretty moving, as it is supposed to be. bach was one of the main exponents of the "empfindsam," or sentimental, style. there is quite a bit of ornamentation, which, according to my music history book, serves as "means of expression rather than as merely an accessory to melody." this piece is incredibly emotional--partly due to the multiplicity of rhythmic patterns and partly due to the nonharmonic tones heard throughout. there is really a wide range of rhythms...from symmetrical units such as quarter notes to very asymmetrical "flourishes" of 13 notes. at times it feels unsettling and restless. there are a lot of notes in this piece...and i mean a lot. not all of them sound correct, either, but that's what makes this sonata so interesting. i didn't really hear a clear cadence until halfway through the piece, which was a little bit frustrating.

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