Piano Sonatas - Analysis: Hybrid Themes

Piano Sonatas - Analysis: Hybrid Themes

Piano Sonatas - Analysis: Hybrid Themes

OVERVIEW

Music from the proper classical period can seem simple from the surface but there is a lot of complexity hidden in its formal depths.

The hybrids are built up combining 5 of the functions used in the period and the sentence:

Antecedent, continuation, cadential, compound basic idea and consequent.

Hybrid types

The four possible continuations are:

Antecedent + Continuation

Antecedent + Cadential

Compound basic idea + Continuation

Compound basic idea + Consequent

Compound Basic IdeaThe compound basic idea consists of 2-m. basic idea followed by a 2-m. contrasting idea but it does not close with a cadence instead the underlying harmonic support is tonic prolongational.

Melodically and motivically it evokes and antecedent while harmonically it is clearly similar to a sentence.

It is an hybrid between antecedent and presentation functions

Antecedent + ContinuationUnlike a sentence this hybrid type always closes with a PAC complementing the waker cadence of its antecedent.

Its continuation usually doesn t exhibit any harmonic acceleration as the contrasting idea already started this process. On the contrary it tends to exhibit strong signs of motivic fragmentation.

It can modulate to another key

Antecedent + CadentialThe second phrase is an ECP or continuation=>cadential

It very rarely modulates.

Compound Basic Idea + ContinuationIt can end with any cadential type, including the HC.

The same as the sentence the continuation can end being understood as cadential ( continuation=>cadential ). It will still show continuation characteristics. If on the contrary it doesn t show any continuation characteristics whatsoever then it should be labelled cadential.

It can modulate to another key

Compound Basic Idea + ConsequentIt lacks a HC at the end of the first phrase. The return of the basic idea in the consequent is supported by a different harmony (much more often than in the period). This continuation can exhibit characteristics of harmonic acceleration.

The same as the period this hybrid can modulate.

Hybrid Themes in relation to Sentence and Period

SENTENCE

Hybrid

Hybrid

Hybrid

Hybrid

PERIOD

Presentation lt;/p>Continuation

CBI lt;/p>Continuation

Antecedent lt;/p>Continuation

Antecedent lt;/p>Cadential

CBI lt;/p>Consequent

Antecedent lt;/p>Consequent

CBI & Continuation (or cadential, or continuation=>cadential): The same as the sentence but includes a contrasting Idea in the CBI

Antecedent & Continuation: Equally similar to the sentence and the period.

Antecedent & Cadential: It can be considered more periodical as continuational features are weaker.

CBI & Consequent: It is almost the same as a period but it lacks a weak cadence.

The basic idea and its appearancesBoth in the sentence and in the period the basic idea appears twice the same as in the CBI + consequent.

In the remaining three hybrid types the basic idea appears only once. The single appearance of the basic idea helps the modulation to a neighbouring key -with the exception of the antecedent+cadential -