Shostakovish's 5th Symphony

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Give a detailed account of the exposition of the 1st movement of Beethoven’s Symphony no. 1 Beethoven’s first symphony follows the example of Haydn (Beethoven’s mentor, on and off, for around three years from 1792 – 1795) in a number of ways. In particular, it uses a slow introduction to the first movement and an orchestra which resembles that of Haydn’s later symphonies (from around 1792), which includes: • double woodwind • 2 horns • 2 trumpets • 2 timpani tuned to the tonic and dominant notes • the usual Classical string section The first symphony is from bars 13-33 (Allegro con brio), within this Beethoven eventually confirms the tonic key of C major in an understated manner – p dynamics, woodwind and horns have only the tonic chord on the first beat and the melody is played by 1st violins, accompanied by dotted crotchet chords in the rest of the string section. The first subject (1st violins) emphasises the tonic key by means of a strong dominant-tonic (G to C) relationship in the melody in bars 13 – 16. After a two-bar woodwind link, where the key modulates to D minor, the opening melody is repeated a tone higher than original (bars 19 - 23). In contrast to the introduction, Beethoven establishes the tonic key by engaging a harmony which is strongly related to C major. The harmony is in root position and the tonic-dominant link is mainly emphasised towards the end of the first subject (bars 29 - 33) with repeated G and C notes in the brass and timpani and a full orchestral texture. Just as the original idea had the function of linking the Introduction to the first subject, the related idea in bar 18 links the C major version of the tune with its repeat a tone higher, in D minor. The link of thematic ideas was an important feature of later Classical pieces and it would not be unusual for Beethoven to continue the practice. The
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