So far, Beethoven has presented us with a fairly typical funeral march. Following the trio, one would expect a reprise of the march and the procession theme does return as anticipated. Beethoven was not content though, to present us with a simple A-B-A treatment and following the trio, undertakes a full development of the march. His departure from the expected begins with the procession theme where, at bar 110, the violins are left holding an A then climb to D. This portentous change of harmony will lead us to something quite unexpected. |