Gilbert: Freshman Studies: Fall 99: Beethoven, Symphony #5 in C Minor

Gilbert: Freshman Studies: Fall 99:
Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C Minor

Assignment for Monday, November 22

Everyone will work as part of a team of three or four. The teams (assigned randomly) are as follows:

Movements 1 and 2 Aubra, Brian, Patricia, Susan

Movements 2 and 3 Alison, Drew, Joey, Katie

Movements 3 and 4 Becky, Bob, Kirsten, Nate

Movements 1 and 4 Courtney, Mark, Steve

Your job will be to compare and contrast the two movements assigned in terms of these characteristics. Ask the questions of each movement and look/listen for specific passages as examples.

Tempo: is the movement fast? slow? both? does it vary wildly? does it start slow, get faster, then slow down again? what is the effect of the various tempos (tempi) within the movement and between the movements?

Mood: is the movement light? dark? ponderous? dance-like? martial? if the two movements differ in mood, what is the effect of that difference?

Rhythm: staccato (distinct)? legato (smooth)? when the rhythm changes, what is the effect of the change? does the movement make use of the 1-2-3-1 motif? how? where?

What is the relationship between the two movements? Do they flow from one into the other? Is there a sharp contrast? What is the overall effect of the two movements together? Or (in the case of 1 and 4), what is the effect of having these movements where they are in the symphony?

On Monday the 22nd, each team will have 5-10 minutes to present their findings. If there are distinctive passages in the movements that illustrate your points, note the timing on the Kleiber recording so we can play the section in class.

Note: You have to talk for at least five minutes and each person on the team must participate.

revised: 16-Nov-1999

Movements 1 and 2	Aubra, Brian, Patricia, Susan
Movements 2 and 3	Alison, Drew, Joey, Katie
Movements 3 and 4	Becky, Bob, Kirsten, Nate
Movements 1 and 4	Courtney, Mark, Steve