Page 35

In the earliest sonata allegros, the recapitulation was often a nearly verbatim repeat of the exposition. Mozart and Haydn, in their later works, would introduce subtle changes in the reprise.  With the Eroica, Beethoven may cover the same ground twice but, he doesn't take the same route.

Ex. 32

As we attempt to retrace our steps through a recollection of the exposition, we find the previous uneasiness and tension is either resolved or absent.  The apprehension of bar 7 (Ex. 3 and 4) is replaced with optimism. Click for comparison.  The metric ambiguity at bar 25 (Ex. 7) that suggested struggle gives way to a gentle statement of the heroic motive.  Click for comparison.  By bar 425 we have been transported to the dominant key of B.

       


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